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As previously promised, new information on the second season ofThe Apothecary Diarieswas revealed today, including a new trailer.The Apothecary Diarieswas one of 2023 hits not everybody saw coming. Although the novel series was already somewhat big among a niche audience, it was not widely known likeShonen Jumptitles usually are (we’re talking aboutJujutsu Kaisen,Demon Slayer).
Tying together a good plot with good animation, the adaptation ofNatsu Hyuga’s novel serieswon fans' hearts. It’s well-deserved for the series, since the plot is indeed quite amazing. It’s really nice when animation that isa bit different from the usual mainstream stuffis able to trend among the public.
The new season is alreadyconfirmed to return with 24 episodes, and the first episode is scheduled to debuton June 10, 2025, and it will run for two consecutive cours. Nowthey dropped the main trailer, previewing the new opening theme(“Hyakka Ryoran”, by Lilas Ikuta). Check it out:
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Staff
There are a few changes in the main staff for the next season.Akinori FudesakareplacesNorihiro Naganumaat the direction. Apparently, this is Fudesaka’s directional debut, but he worked as assistant director in the first season, so it might not be such a huge change.
Naganuma is still working on the series, but now only as the head writer. Other staff names includeYukiko Nakatani(character design), Katsumi Takao (art director) andSatoru Kousaki, Kevin PenkinandAlisa Okehazama(music). Toho Animation Studio and OLM are still in charge of the series. Some people might link OLM withPokémonorYo-kai Watch, but they’ve also been doing pretty different stuff recently, likeODDTAXI.
The “Game of Thrones” Of Tang China
The story takes place in Imperial China, during what would be the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). The protagonist, Maomao, isa girl working as an apothecaryin the red-light district. However, one day she ends up in the Imperial Palace because she was sold as a servant.
A few years later, she uses her skills as an apothecary to solve a mystery regarding the illness of the emperor’s children and concubines. After that,she is often requestedto use her skills to solve many mysteries (often related to political conspiracies) in the royal court.
The Apothecary Diariesanime is available to stream on Crunchyroll, with subs and dubs in several languages. Square Enix (print) and J-Novel Club (digital) license the original novel in the US.
