2023 is shaping up to be a glorious year for animation. New and old series are either getting live-action remakes or getting first-time screen adaptations. Toho Animation and OLM Studios just announced that they are collaborating to adapt the long-running light novel series, The Apothecary Diaries, into an anime. 

Natsu Hyuga’s novel was first made available on the Let’s Become Novelist website in October 2011. It soon gained traction and Shufunotomo published the printed volume in 2014. Gaining massive popularity, the novel was soon turned into a manga as well by Nekokurage in 2017. Fans voted the novel to 10th place as the work they would like to see made into an anime. So far, the upcoming place intrigue anime has only released a visual trailer introducing the staff. 

The Apothecary Diaries anime trailer teases gorgeous visuals 

The teaser treats the fans to one of the best animation works. It mostly charts Maomao’s journey from her humble life to her adventure inside the palace walls. The makers have already roped in Aoi Yuki, reports Dual SHOCKERS. She voiced Lucy in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Tanya Degurechaff in The Saga of Tanya the Evil‘s  

The creatives behind the animation are veterans in the industry. The Ancient Magus’ Bride’s director, Norihiko Naganuma, is involved as a director and a composer. Akinori Fudesaka is also serving as a composer in The Apothecary Diaries anime. Shoji Hata is also attached as the director. Assisting them in capturing the vibrant world is cinematographer Rumi Ishiguro.

Katsumi Takao worked on world-building and art direction. The characters look lush thanks to Yukiko Nakatani and the credits for the colors go to Misato Aisa. Yu Nagai is the CGI director and editing is in the capable hands of Daisuke Imai. Made in Abyss’ Kevin Penkin and Jujutsu Kaksen’s Alisa Okehazama are also involved as composers. 

More on the historical fantasy novel

The story revolves around the main character, Maomao, a pharmacist. Her life is upended when she is kidnapped from her apothecary father’s place and sold in servitude in the palace. There she begins serving the queen consort, which leads her to make several shocking discoveries.

Anime fans will surely not run out of content to watch this year. Especially since Netflix is also producing a Pluto anime!  

Are you looking forward to the anime? Let us know in the comments.