Details about Maomao’s anime return have been announced via a second anniversary trailer, and they reveal the existence of not just a third season, but a movie as well.
The third season of The Apothecary Diaries will be a split-cour affair, with cour one premiering in October 2026 and cour two following in April 2027. The movie, which features an original story from creator Natsu Hyuga, will be released in-between them, in December 2026.
The staff lineups for the new anime weren’t revealed.
The sequel details weren’t the only announcements for The Apothecary Diaries. Also in store are:
• Theatrical screenings of recaps of the first two seasons, each of which will be split into four parts for the occasion. The first screening will take place on February 15, 2026 JST and the last will take place on May 24, 2026 JST.
• An Asia tour for The Apothecary Diaries exhibition, with locations including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taipei, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur.
• A special event called Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Natsu no Enyukai 2026 (The Apothecary Diaries: Summer Garden Party 2026) that will be held on August 15, 2026 JST. Expect new cast announcements.
In the meantime, you can check out a “super” teaser visual for the anime sequel and a visual for the exhibition’s Asia tour.
Plans for more The Apothecary Diaries anime were announced in July, following the end of Season 2. The first season premiered in 2023, while the first sequel season began airing in January 2025. Unlike the upcoming Season 3, both were consecutive-cour series.
The anime are based on Hyuga’s Shufunotomo-published light novel series, which began in 2014. The story follows the young Maomao as she is whisked off to the rear palace, where she uses the knowledge gained from her apothecary father and her smarts to navigate its complicated relationships and problems. Aoi Yuki voices Maomao in the anime, while Takeo Otsuka is Jinshi, first introduced as a formidable eunuch who takes an interest in Maomao.
Toko Shino illustrates the books, which are published under the Hero Bunko label and have 16 volumes as of May 2025. There are two manga, one published by Square Enix and the other by Shogakukan.
Netflix and Crunchyroll are streaming the anime, while the light novels are available digitally from J-Novel Club and in print from Square Enix.
The Apothecary Diaries started as a web novel on Shosetsuka ni Naro in 2011.
Season 2 staff (reprising Season 1 role unless stated otherwise)
• Chief director and series composer: Norihiro Naganuma (Season 1 director and series composer)
• Director: Akinori Fudesaka (Season 1 assistant director)
• Assistant director: Ko Nakagawa (Season 1 Episode 6, 13, and 19 storyboard artist and director, Episode 24 director)
• Character designer: Yukiko Nakatani
• Color designer: Misato Aida
• Background art director: Katsumi Takao
• Compositing director: Mayo Suzuki (The Apothecary Diaries project PV)
• Music composer: Alisa Okehazama
• Music composer: Kevin Penkin
• Music composer: Satoru Kosaki
• Animation production: TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM
Sources: TOHO animation channel, @kusuriya_PR
