The second season of "The Apothecary Diaries" anime has unveiled its main trailer, which showcases the opening theme song by Lilas Ikuta of YOASOBI. The series is set to air over two consecutive cours beginning January 10, 2025, with animation production once again handled by OLM and TOHO Animation. The theme song, titled "Hyakka Ryoran," can be previewed in the trailer.
An additional cast member has been announced: Asami Seto will lend her voice to Shisui, a talkative and cheerful girl with a passion for insects.
Lilas Ikuta will debut her first solo anime theme song. The artist's comment can be found below.
“I truly felt the reception and impact of the first season, so being given the opportunity to handle the opening theme for the second season is a great honor. I personally feel deeply connected to The Apothecary Diaries. The warmth of the story, the love among its characters, and the introduction of new winds of change in the narrative all inspired me greatly as I worked on the song. I wanted to portray the mysterious atmosphere of the story’s world and the heroine’s strength and purity, while also expressing the mysteries and events that unfold through a vibrant and dynamic melody.
The song encapsulates the expansive world of the story, climbing as gracefully as a cat. Using my own experiences as a foundation, I aimed to create a song that resonates with fans of the show. It would make me very happy if you enjoy the song while immersing yourself in the mysteries and charms of The Apothecary Diaries.“
On October 22, a teaser trailer and visual for the anime were released, marking the one-year anniversary of the first season's debut in 2023.
TOHO Animation Studio and OLM, who animated the first season, are back with Norihiro Naganuma directing Season 2 alongside the original team. The crew also includes Akimi Fudesaka as director, Wataru Nakagawa as assistant director, Yukiko Nakatani as character designer, and a music team composed of Kevin Penkin, Satoru Kosaki, and Arisa Okehazama.
Crunchyroll, which streams the anime, has confirmed that the sequel will arrive on their platform in 2025. The voice cast includes the following members:
Aoi Yuki as Maomao
Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi
Katsuyuki Konishi as Gaoshun
Yui Ishikawa as Lihua
Misaki Kuno as Xiaolan
Yuko Kaida as Ah-Duo
Atsumi Tanezaki as Gyokuyo
Hina Kino as Lishu
Takuya Kirimoto as Lakan Kan
Ami Koshimizu as Pairin
Sumi Shimamoto as Narrator
Natsu Hyuga is the author of The Apothecary Diaries light novel series, which features illustrations by Toko Shino and is serialized by Shufunotomo. The series has two manga adaptations: one is written by Itsuki Nanao with illustrations by Nekokurage, published by Square Enix and serialized in Monthly GanGan; the other is both written and illustrated by Minoji Kurata, published by Shogakukan and serialized in Monthly Sunday Gene-X.
Additionally, there is a mini-anime series titled Maomao's Diaries (Maomao no Hitorigoto), where the protagonist Maomao narrates events that occurred during the regular TV anime episodes.
The Apothecary Diaries is licensed for English digital publication by J-Novel Club. Its manga adaptation is also published by Square Enix. The narrative follows Maomao, a young apothecary sold into the emperor's palace as a servant. Far from submissive, she aids Jinshi, an attractive palace official, earning a promotion. Amidst the palace's many mysteries, Maomao's adventures unfold, inadvertently deepening Jinshi's affections for her.