Anime

October 22, 2025

Apothecary Diaries Season 3 and Movie Announced for 2026

The Apothecary Diaries anime is set to expand its universe with an exciting lineup of new content. Fans can look forward to the third season, which will be split into two parts. The first part is scheduled to premiere in October 2026, followed by the second part in April 2027. Additionally, an anime film is planned for release in December 2026, featuring a brand-new story penned by the original novel series’ author.

The announcement was accompanied by a “2nd Anniversary Commemorative Trailer,” which is now available with subtitles in multiple languages, including English, German, Spanish (Latin America), French, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).

The anime’s popularity continues to grow, with an exhibition tour planned throughout Asia. Starting in Hong Kong this November, the tour will also include stops in mainland China, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and other regions.

The first season of The Apothecary Diaries debuted in October 2023, with the first three episodes, and aired for two consecutive cours (quarters of a year). Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it aired in Japan and also provided an English dub. The second season premiered on January 10 on Nippon TV’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block and aired until July 4. Crunchyroll streamed the second season as it aired and is also streaming an English dub.

The story of The Apothecary Diaries revolves around Maomao, a young woman with a keen intellect and extensive knowledge of medicine. Kidnapped and sold into service in the imperial palace, she is recruited by the head eunuch, Jinshi, to serve as a taster for the Emperor’s favorite consort, ensuring the food is safe from poison. The narrative is rich with intrigue and wit, set against the backdrop of the imperial court.

The novel series, which serves as the foundation for the anime, was first serialized on the “Shōsetsuka ni Narō” (Let’s Become Novelists) website in October 2011. Shufunotomo began publishing the novels in print with illustrations by Shino in August 2014. An ongoing manga adaptation, illustrated by Nekokurage, launched in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine in May 2017. Square Enix Manga & Books is releasing the manga adaptation in English and is also publishing the novels in print.