[Anime Introduction] List 3. The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと) is a palace mystery romance anime set in a fictional Eastern empire, where Maomao, a genius apothecary girl from the pleasure district, unravels the conspiracies and mysteries of the imperial palace. • Production & Direction: Jointly produced by TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM, it aired under the direction of Norihiko Nagamuma (長沼範裕) across two seasons [Season 1 (24 episodes), Season 2 (24 episodes)]. • Story: It depicts a girl abducted as a servant in the inner palace who solves serious illnesses and poisoning plots threatening the imperial family with her exceptional knowledge of medicine and deductive skills. • Worldview: The story is set in a fictional imperial palace inspired by ancient China, meticulously portraying the closed-off space of the inner court, which is filled with splendor but also jealousy and political intrigue. • Characters & Visuals: Centered around Maomao (猫猫), an apothecary obsessed with poisons and herbs, and Jinshi (壬氏), a court eunuch of outstanding beauty, the anime features high-quality visuals that highlight elegant traditional court attire and Eastern aesthetics.