The Apothecary Diaries Director Addresses the Anime’s Global Surge

As someone who has been immersed in the captivating world of anime for over two decades now, I must say that “The Apothecary Diaries” has truly taken me by surprise with its enchanting allure and intricate storytelling. The anime adaptation of this series is a testament to the power of vibrant visuals, compelling characters, and an engrossing narrative.


The series “The Apothecary Diaries” has made a strong debut across various platforms. Originating as a novel series in 2011, the storyline revolving around characters Maomao and Jinshi expanded to include a light novel, manga, and anime adaptation, leading to significant sales success. Lately, we at ComicBook were privileged to speak with anime director Norihiro Naganuma about the popularity of “The Apothecary Diaries’ ” anime version and the factors that contributed to its success among viewers.

In his explanation, Director Norihiro Naganuma highlighted why the anime adaptation of “The Apothecary Diaries” has been successful among viewers worldwide. He believes that the series’ vibrant style is a significant factor in capturing international interest. To create an engaging drama within a limited timeframe, he focused on various aspects to evoke and amplify emotions for the audience, going beyond character movement or color usage alone.

Source Materials Vs Adaptations

At this year’s Anime Expo, Naganuma shared some fascinating insights about The Apothecary Diaries. When it comes to adapting the original novel for anime, he mentioned that we developed additional content to capture its intricate scenes and elements effectively. To ensure the story is vividly portrayed, we’ve used a variety of colors and visuals. I believe that understanding Maomao’s emotions, particularly her reactions during incidents and how those moments affect her, adds depth to the mystery of the anime.

If you haven’t watched the first season of “The Apothecary Diaries”, it’s currently available on Crunchyroll. The anime series follows Maomao, a skilled herbalist who finds herself serving in the palace despite yearning for freedom. However, things take an unexpected turn when she helps lift a curse affecting the imperial heirs and gains the attention of Jinshi, a handsome eunuch. But instead of settling into her new role as food taster, Jinshi has other plans for Maomao, leading her back to her roots of brewing potions and…solving mysteries?

Keep track of Maomao and Jinshi’s adventure! Catch up with the latest news about “The Apothecary Diaries” by following Team Anime on ComicBook.

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2024-08-06 21:40