A new anime is in the works for a 2023 debut coming from the light novel series The Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyuga and Touko Shino. The announcement in February 2023 came with a lot of the basics and a teaser promo. The series was then set with an October 21st, 2023 premiere date for the show – which is certainly later than usual – but it came with an interesting twist that feels like it leans into the streaming formula a bit. The first three episodes premiered together on the 21st and this comes after they get a limited theatrical showing on October 1st, 2023 with special screenings in four theaters.
The second cour saw a January 6th, 2024 premiere, and now another cast addition has been revealed. The latest is that Kouki Uchiyama has joined the show with the upcoming 14th episode as Rikuson.
🍃『#薬屋のひとりごと』🍃
🎊追加キャスト発表🎉羅漢の部下・陸孫（リクソン）役に#内山昂輝 さんが決定✨
📺第14話は1/13（土）24：55～
日本テレビ系にて順次全国放送！ pic.twitter.com/TG7H1nHvCn— 『薬屋のひとりごと』アニメ公式 (@kusuriya_PR) January 12, 2024
Naganuma is also overseeing the scripts while Yukiko Nakatani is handling the character designs. TOHO and OLM are working on the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes:
- Aoi Yuki as Maomao
- Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi
- Katsuyuki Konishi as Gaoshun
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Gyokuyō
- Yui Ishikawa as Lihua
- Hina Kino as Lishu
- Yuko Kaida as Ah-Duo
- Megumi Han as Meimei
- Ami Koshimizu as Pairin
- Hiroki Nanami as Joka
- Kimiko Saitō as Yarite Babaa (Madam)
- Hiroshi Yanaka as Luomen
- Kenji Akabane as Lihaku
- Misaki Kuno as Xiaolan
- Mitsuaki Kanuka as Yabu Isha
The English dub has Shawn Gann as the ADR director working from the scripts by Clayton Browning and Kieran Flitton. The English cast includes Emi Lo as Maomao, Kaiji Tang as Jinshi, Alex Hom as Gaoshun, Alex Mai as Emperor, Bree Han as Xiaolan, Ciarán Strange as Pairin, Giovannie Cruz as Hongniang, Jim Foronda as Guen, Kelly Greenshield as Guiyuan, Kelsey Maher as Yinghua, Molly Zhang as Gyokuyou, Monica Flatley as Joka, Monica Rial as Ah-Duo, Naya Moreno as Ailan, Rebecca Danae as Meimei, Sarah Roach as Fuyou, Stephen Miller as Luomen, and Trina Nishimura as Lihua.
For the first cour, the opening theme song is “Hana ni Natte” as performed by Ryokuōshoku Shakai’s while Aina The End is performing the ending theme song “Aikotoba.” For the second cour, the opening theme song is “Ambivalent” as performed by Uru while wacci is performing “Ai wa Kusuri” as the new ending theme song. On the cast side, Takuya Kirimoto will play Lakan while Kaori Nazuka is on board as Surei.
The novels are released in English through J-Novel Club.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!
[Source: ANN]
