The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2 to premiere in 2025
The best news from the anime world this week, for me and millions of others, is the confirmation of The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2.
The announcement of an upcoming second season of the smash hit historical mystery anime was made on the official The Apothecary Diaries social media, soon after the final episode of Season 1 aired in Japan yesterday.
Along with the announcement, we also got The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2 teaser trailer, a gorgeous new visual featuring our favorite “couple” Jinshi and Maomao, and a celebration illustration from Touko Shino, the light novels’ character designer.
That illustration also gives hints about the second season, as we see Maomao and her friend Xiaolan front and center, backed by Jinshi and the mysterious consort Loulan. (see below)
A consort who may not be who she appears at all, and who could get Maomao, Jinshi and others involved in something unexpected because of it.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 teaser trailer also hints that some of the events of the last few episodes of the first season of the anime may also be an important part of Season 2.
(So, no, don’t forget about them!)
RELATED: Is there much of an age gap between Maomao and Jinshi?
And with Loulan making an ominous appearance here as well.
What we know about The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2
Not much information about Season 2 was released other than that, expect for the statement that the second season would be arriving some time in 2025, along with the comment “What future awaits the two of them…?”
If you have read either The Apothecary Diaries light novel series or manga adaptation, you will know that future for Maomao and Jinshi is very complicated and extremely interesting.
So, Yay to Season 2, right!
We also don’t know yet whether we will get the same staff working on Season 2 as the superb first season, but I would say it’s likely as, let’s face it, they did a phenomenal job with Season 1.
Those people were headed by Norihiro Naganuma (The Ancient Magus’ Bride), who is the anime’s director and the man in charge of series composition and storyboards, with the full list of staff that worked on the anime (and it’s a huge list) available on My Anime List.
TOHO Animation Studio and OLM are also likely to be in charge of anime production again. (Come on, there isn’t a studio in Japan that could have done better!)
We will update you as more news about the anime’s second season becomes available.
Where to buy The Apothecary Diaries light novels and manga
The Apothecary Diaries is based on the original light novel series and manga adaptation written by Natsu Hyuga, with illustrations by Touko Shino.
Both the novel series and the manga have now sold millions of copies.
Square Enix is publishing both the light novel series and the manga, with Volume 1 of the light novel due out in May, and the 12th volume of the manga due in September, 2024.
The publisher describes The Apothecary Diaries plot like this:
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace.
Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her-until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi.
He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!
At her lady’s side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace-not all of it seemly.
Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?
Watch The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2 teaser trailer below, keep an eye on Loulan, then keep coming back to Leo Sigh for more information about the anime’s new season as soon as it’s released.
