Crunchyroll Acquires The Apothecary Diaries Film For Global Theatrical Run
Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures are carrying the film into theaters outside Japan without a date, which puts a franchise still mid-broadcast on its third television season into the same distribution pipeline as a theatrical release.
Key Facts
- The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure opens in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026, with no international release date announced.
- Natsu Hyuga, the original light novel author, wrote the film's story as an original mystery rather than an adaptation of an existing volume.
- Norihiro Naganuma directs The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure at TOHO Animation STUDIO, and Mariya Ise joins the cast as Mu Qing.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 began its first cour in October 2026, with the second cour set to premiere in April 2027.
Reporting from 3 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner, OtakuKart Anime.
Crunchyroll acquired the North American and worldwide rights to The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure, the franchise's first theatrical anime film, the company announced Thursday. The deal covers every territory outside Asia, India included, and Crunchyroll will handle distribution with Sony Pictures Entertainment. No international release date is set. The film opens in Japanese theaters on December 11 with an original story from light novel author Natsu Hyuga, who writes a new mystery rather than adapting an existing volume. Norihiro Naganuma directs at TOHO Animation STUDIO. Mariya Ise joins the cast as Mu Qing. The plot sends Maomao and Jinshi to Binan-shu, a southern province ruled by the Bi clan, to return the remains of a concubine who died five years ago; pirates are hunting a treasure their late leader hid, and the funeral day brings a major incident. Season 3's first cour began in October 2026, with a second cour set for April 2027.
The film is a departure for the property in one specific way: Hyuga wrote a new story instead of letting the movie adapt a published arc, and the synopsis places Maomao and Jinshi in Binan-shu, the southern province ruled by the Bi clan, where the remains of a concubine dead five years are found in pristine condition. Pirates in the area are searching for a treasure their late leader concealed, and a large incident interrupts the concubine's funeral.
Naganuma's return to the director's chair ties the movie to the first television season, which he also directed, and TOHO Animation STUDIO handles the animation. Ise's casting as Mu Qing is confirmed, though the romanization of that name is not yet settled. The series itself runs as a light novel written by Hyuga with illustrations by Touko Shino, published by Shufunotomo, with two manga adaptations and an English release through J-Novel Club and Square Enix Manga & Books. Season 3's second cour is scheduled for April 2027.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network News Crunchyroll Acquires The Apothecary Diaries Anime Film
- Anime Corner The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure Anime Film Acquired by Crunchyroll for Global Theatrical Release
- OtakuKart Anime The Apothecary Diaries Movie Confirms North American Theatrical Release, With Original Story From Creator Natsu Hyūga