sales of its manga and light novel suring nearly 40 million copies sold in digital and physical formats. With the rise of the anime’s second season, fans returned to the original source en masse, bringing more attention to the series in light of an already successful year.

Natsu Hyūga’s, The Apothecary Diaries, was originally released as an online light novel in 2011, and changed hands to an official publisher a year later, remaining an ongoing series with Shufunotomo. The manga was released later in 2017 by two different publishers, Square Enix and Shogakukan, each portraying their own unique illustrations. And lastly, the anime debuted in 2023 by Toho Animation and OLM, solidifying the novel’s popularity in yet another medium for fans to enjoy.

The Apothecary Diaries' Success Was No Fluke

Its Ever-Evolving Popularity Will Only Garner More Attention

What sets apart The Apothecary Diaries from other ongoing seinen anime, even from its very first conception as a web novel, is the depiction of the main character, Maomao herself. As a female lead, she is not captivated by the luxuries of the royal court or the infatuated Jinshi, instead only wanting to focus on her role as an apothecary while studying the unique effects of poisons. Rather than the illustrious lifestyle, through Maomao, the audience gains an insight into the unpleasant reality of a woman’s place in the court, regardless of whether she’s educated or has any social standings.

Hyūga’s work is based on fiction, but takes inspiration from the Tang dynasty in Imperial China. The Apothecary Diaries is captivating because it not only captures the beautiful aesthetics of the court ladies, but adds depth when combined with the historical depiction of the era it is derived from. For what is adorned in silk and precious jewels hides the seedy revulsion of human nature stemming from greed, lust, and conquest. Maomao navigates the inner workings of this new tumultuous world she can't help but get involved with due to her own curious and righteous nature.

The complexities of balancing what is meant to be a romance manga with elements of mystery-solving, historically-based narratives only adds to The Apothecary Diaries' compelling charm. Even better is that fans don't have to worry about ever running out of material, given the series' two different manga and the light novel, to experience the story in a whole new fashion.

The Apothecary Diaries Has a Bright Future Ahead

As Long As It Can Maintain The Quality It’s Set For Itself

Season 2 of The Apothecary Diaries has been met with wide acclaim and praise as the anime only continues to build on Maomao's adventures as her world expands ever slowly to a grander side of the court. The animation has never been left wanting with fan-favorite scenes beautifully depicting everything they've been eagerly awaiting from the original source. As long as the animated work continues to adapt the story faithfully and uphold the quality of the world's glamour thus far, then The Apothecary Diaries will only go on to reach greater milestones in both sales and popularity.