The Apothecary Diaries anime continues with Season 3, which premiered on October 2, 2026 and streams on Crunchyroll and Netflix, while a live-action series is set for 2028 on Prime Video and a film opens in Japan in December 2026.
The Apothecary Diaries franchise has expanded beyond its original light novel and manga into a multi-format operation, with a third anime season, a theatrical film, a console and PC game, and a live-action series all moving forward. The most recent stories center on the Season 3 premiere, which opened on October 2, 2026 and moved Maomao out of the Rear Palace and back to the pleasure district after her dismissal as a poison taster, while Jinshi publicly revealed himself as the Emperor's younger brother and joined government affairs. Crunchyroll streams the season at 8 a.m. PT, and Netflix also carries it. The season is split into two cours, with the second set for April 2027.
Ahead of the premiere, the production rolled out separately. The credits-free opening video, set to Yorushika's "Kumo wo Nuke Kaze Shita e Watashi Dake," arrived on October 2, and a Blu-ray release is scheduled to run to four volumes beginning February 17, 2027. Advance cuts from Episode 49, titled "Locusts," were released on October 1. A trailer on September 25 previewed Eve's ending theme "AIYOU" and showed Maomao and Jinshi confronting a new mystery involving a disaster threatening the country and a mysterious woman.
The adaptation side has widened as well. Koei Tecmo announced a mystery game, The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, during the September 9 Nintendo Direct, with release planned for early 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. A live-action series from Amazon Prime Video, co-produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios, is set for 2028 with Mana Ashida as Maomao and Yuki Saito directing, and the December 11 film, The Apothecary Diaries: The Movie - The Consort's Secret Treasure, remains on schedule.
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Magmix polled readers about which 2026 fall anime they had decided to watch before broadcast, drawing 168 votes. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 topped the list with 24 votes, a 14-vote margin over second place. Magic Knight Rayearth followed with 10 votes and The Ice Wall Season 2 took third with 9. Respondents cited trust in the sequel, nostalgia for the older version, and pacing across the three titles.
A week of physical anime and print manga releases ships on October 20. Crunchyroll handles the Blu-ray side with Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 2, Kaiju No. 8 Season 1 in Steelbook, My Hero Academia Season 7, and One Piece Collection 40, while Aniplex of America puts out the Puella Magi Madoka Magica film trilogy on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. Seven Seas leads the manga slate, with Viz, Kodansha USA, Square Enix Manga, and Vertical filling out the rest.
A pop up shop for The Apothecary Diaries opens at Ximen Underground Market Shop No. 6 in Taipei from Thursday, November 5 to Monday, November 30, 2026, running 11:00 to 21:00 with a 12:00 opening on the first day. It sells goods using original iced sweets themed illustrations of Maomao and Jinshi, following a Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka collaboration cafe held from July 24, 2026. Purchases of 770 yuan earn one random bromide from four designs, and web sales at the Anique shop in Taiwan follow from December 8.
The official website for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure presented a new trailer, main visual and character relationship chart on Thursday. The trailer names and previews the theme song "Haru ga Tomori" by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu. The film adapts a new story by original light novel author Hyuganatsu, following Maomao and Jinshi as they travel to the homeland of a concubine who died five years ago to return her remains. The site also announced a film novelization written by Hyuganatsu, on sale December 9, containing material not used in the film, with a first-edition wraparound band carrying the key visual. A short story by Hyuganatsu about Maomao and Jinshi, described as an epilogue, will appear in 1.5 million booklets distributed at participating theaters from opening day while supplies last. The film opens in Japan on December 11, with Norihiro Naganuma directing and TOHO Animation STUDIO on animation. Crunchyroll holds North American and worldwide rights excluding Asia but including India.
Koei Tecmo streamed a gameplay trailer for The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother and dated it for March 18 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. Players control Maomao as she explores, compounds, and investigates across the rear palace, red-light district, and capital. A Digital Deluxe Edition adds costume packs. The story follows Maomao working to uncover the truth behind the False Imperial Brother.
The third season's first three episodes, numbered 49 through 51, set up two long-running threats rather than single-episode problems. Loulan's warning about a coming locust swarm threatens harvests, and someone feeding the capital's poor ergot-laced food is compared to human experimentation. Maomao and Jinshi link the poisonings to a figure called the white lady, while the two sisters Maomao helps end up as apprentices at Verdigris House.
ABEMA has confirmed its fall 2026 anime lineup: more than 70 new and continuing titles running free on its anime channels. Every episode of The Apothecary Diaries, from season one through the latest season three episode, streams free through the end of January. Sgt. Frog☆, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus and the Demon Slayer-like桃源暗鬼 arc sit alongside earlier-first exclusives such as Reincarnated as a Sword II.
System Service is releasing two BRILLIANT Figure prize items based on The Apothecary Diaries. Maomao appears in jiangshi attire at roughly 21cm tall, and Jinshi appears in nine-tailed form at roughly 23cm. Both are scheduled to appear sequentially at amusement facilities from the fourth week of October 2026, while stock lasts. A follow and repost campaign runs from October 16 to October 21, 2026, with three winners drawn by lottery.
Crunchyroll announced on Thursday that its English dub for The Apothecary Diaries' third season begins streaming on Friday. Emi Lo voices Maomao and Kaiji Tang voices Jinshi, with Shawn Gann directing and Crunchyroll Studio producing. The season premiered October 2 on NTV's Friday Anime Night block; its second cours arrives in April 2027. A film, The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress' Treasure, opens December 11.
The Apothecary Diaries season 3 led the new arrivals in the Japanese animation TV ratings for September 28 to October 4, taking 4.8 percent in its NTV debut. Sazae-san topped the week at 7.9 percent, ahead of Detective Conan at 5.6 and Chibi Maruko-chan at 5.3. Tougen Anki: Nikko Kegon Falls Arc opened at 2.7 percent, and Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 closed at 3.4 percent.
Animate has revealed the illustrations for its bonus items and limited sets tied to The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Blu-ray First-Press Limited Edition, which releases in four volumes starting February 17, 2027. Per-volume buyers get a mini photo with different art each time, full-volume buyers get a storage box, a gradient glass, and a photo holder, and Volumes 2 and 4 carry Animate limited sets.
Episode 50 of The Apothecary Diaries, titled The Fire-Rat Robe, aired on October 9, 2026. Maomao and Zhaoyu find a white kimono a shopkeeper calls a heavenly maiden's robe. Maomao tests it with charcoal, and the robe is revealed as cloth woven from asbestos. Viewers reacted to the reveal, to the show's familiar background music, and to Jinshi and Gaoshun's scenes.
The October 4-10 North American release slate includes the Devil Survivor 2: The Animation Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks and the first volume of The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan's Story from Square Enix Manga, plus Blue Lock Full Color Selection: Yoichi Isagi from Kodansha USA and My Journey to Her, also from Kodansha USA. Print manga from Viz Media, Seven Seas, Kodansha USA, Vertical, Dark Horse, Tokyopop, Titan, and Nakama Press round out the week.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 2, titled "The Fire-Rat Cloak," aired on October 9, 2026 at 11:00 p.m. JST in Japan, per the series' official website. The episode follows Maomao as she goes to the main street market to buy a padded cotton garment for Chou-u. At a secondhand clothing store, Chou-u notices a white garment with vine-like embroidery on its sleeves, resembling the clothing of a foreign ethnic group. The shopkeeper calls it the "Robe of the Fire Rat" and tells the legend of a celestial maiden who disappeared into a lake. The third season premiered its first cour on October 2, 2026 in Nippon TV's Friday Anime Night block, with a second cour set for April 2027. Crunchyroll streams the season, and it also streams on Netflix. The season is produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM.
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.
Crunchyroll Manga launched in India, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka on October 7, 2026, according to a company press release. The service carries more than 250 localized English manga titles from J-Novel Club, Square Enix, and Yen Press, with launch titles including The Apothecary Diaries, My Dress-Up Darling, Bocchi the Rock!, Bungo Stray Dogs, Delicious in Dungeon, Lycoris Recoil, Sasaki and Miyano, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, and KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!. Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini announced the expansion during closing remarks at the company's inaugural Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum in New York City. The service works on iOS, Android, and web, with offline reading, full two-page spreads, and reading lists. Access is a premium add-on to Crunchyroll's streaming service or included with an Ultimate Fan membership in select countries; in India it requires an Ultimate Fan membership, priced at INR 299 per month or INR 999 annually. The service is powered by Link-U Group.
J:COM STREAM is streaming fall 2026 anime on a rolling schedule. The Apothecary Diaries season 3 and As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World season 3 lead the sequels, alongside The Reincarnated Great Saint Hides That She Is a Saint and Kyouran Reijou Nia Liston. Black Clover 2nd Season starts October 8.
Natsu Hyuga said on her official X account that she contributed additional material to the third season of The Apothecary Diaries so the story would not feel weaker than season two. The manga adaptation is still on the Shi clan rebellion arc at chapter 88, leaving season three to adapt light novel volume five without a storyboarded manga template.
Kadokawa is running an all-volumes-free fair for Mine Yoshizaki's manga Sgt. Frog on October 1 and 2, 2026, ending at 23:59 each day. Volumes 1 through 35 are readable at no cost on BOOK☆WALKER, BookLive, honto, Rakuten Kobo, au Book Pass, Reader Store, DMM Books, Comic Cmoa, LINE Manga, ebookjapan, Piccoma, and U-NEXT. The promotion is timed to the new Sgt. Frog anime, which begins airing Saturday, October 3, 2026. The manga has run in Monthly Shonen Ace since 1999 and is still ongoing. It follows an alien frog from Planet Keron who arrives to invade Earth, is captured by the Hinata siblings Fuyuki and Natsumi, and ends up living with the family as a lodger. A theatrical anime screened in June 2026. The fair notes that store end times, prices, and eligible products may differ by retailer.
Universal Studios Japan and The Apothecary Diaries announced on Thursday that the anime is returning to the park with an all-new attraction. It opens February 10, 2027 and is set during the events of The Apothecary Diaries movie, which opens this December. The two sides previously collaborated from July 1, 2025 to January 4, 2026 with a Mystery Walk attraction and three limited-time dishes.
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar announced a collaboration with The Apothecary Diaries on Thursday, running through October 31. It adds two limited-time dishes, Maomao's Soy Ginger Wonton Noodles and Jinshi's Fried Tuna Roll with purple panko, plus Bikkura Pon prizes including acrylic charms, magnet bookmarks, and sticker rolls. Dine-in guests earn prizes at 15 plates, 25 plates, and every 15 plates after. Rewards members get chopsticks and a cloth case at US$85 or more.
Universal Studios Japan will hold its Universal Cool Japan 2027 event in stages starting December 2, 2026. The first lineup announcement is a Sailor Moon collaboration tied to the park's 25th anniversary. Sailor Moon the Miracle 4-D ~Moon Palace Edition Deluxe~ returns as a theater show, and Sailor Moon x Story Ride runs for the first time. Both run December 2 to April 5, 2027. The second announcement is The Apothecary Diaries, which returns for a second USJ collaboration after 2025. Its new program runs February 10 to June 30, 2027 and is a full renewal of the 2025 Mystery Walk, tied to the film The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Departed Consort, which opens December 11. Universal Studios Japan says original food and goods are planned, with details to be announced later.
Singer-songwriter Eve has announced his move from Toy's Factory to Echoes, the Sony Music label that is also home to YOASOBI and Tatsuya Kitani. His first release after the transfer is "AIYOU," the ending theme for the first cour of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3. The song goes to streaming services at midnight on October 2, ahead of the anime's first broadcast that same day at 11:00 PM on Nippon TV's 30-station FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT block. Yorushika handles the opening theme. Season 3 shifts the story from the inner palace to the city streets, with the first cour running from October 2026 and the second from April 2027. The second promotional video centers on Jinshi, now back in his position as the Emperor's younger brother, facing a calamity and a mysterious celestial maiden, and was released alongside the theme announcement.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 begins on Oct. 2, 2026 with an episode titled Locusts. Maomao has been dismissed as a poison taster and returns to life as an apothecary in the pleasure district, while Jinshi has publicly revealed himself as the Emperor's younger brother and joined government affairs. Crunchyroll streams the season at 8 a.m. PT, with Netflix also carrying it.
The credits-free opening video for The Apothecary Diaries season 3 is out, set to Yorushika's opening theme "Kumo wo Nuke Kaze Shita e Watashi Dake." The season starts October 2 on Nippon TV's Friday Anime Night block. The Blu-ray series runs to four volumes from February 17, 2027, with the fourth volume carrying the August 17 stage reading as a bonus disc.
Advance cuts from Episode 49, titled "Locusts," of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 have been released ahead of the show's October 2 premiere on Nippon TV's FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT slot. The episode follows Maomao and Zhaoyu after simmered locusts are served at the Verdigris House. A non-credit opening video for Yorushika's "Kumo wo Nuke Kashou e Watashi Dake" is also scheduled for October 2 at 18:00.
The Apothecary Diaries and REJURAN COSMETICS are holding a collaboration pop-up event where visitors solve mysteries tied to the brand's c-PDRN ingredient alongside protagonist Maomao. Six campaign-limited products go on sale at the venue, ranging from 2,750 yen to 12,540 yen, each with purchase bonuses such as a pouch, acrylic stand, headband, compact mirror, or acrylic keychain. A web mystery-solving experience runs alongside, and event participation requires an advance lottery reservation by Tuesday, October 6.
Amazon published the Prime Video slate for October 2026 on September 30, and the month is carried by Japanese film. The Exit 8, the live-action adaptation of KOTAKE CREATE's 2023 anomaly-spotting game, starts unlimited streaming on October 2 with a reported domestic box office of 5.17 billion yen. Sakamoto Days, the live-action film of Yuto Suzuki's manga starring Ren Meguro and directed by Yuichi Fukuda, arrives October 30. The Apothecary Diaries season 3 begins October 3, and Dragon Ball Super Beerus streams from October 12. Maronie Kingdom's Seven Knights, an adaptation of Nao Iwamoto's fantasy manga, is set for October 4. Anime titles include Aoashi, Blue Exorcist season 2, and A Sign of Affection season 2. The overseas film section carries all 25 James Bond films, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Minecraft: The Movie, which began streaming October 1.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 released a new trailer on September 25, 2026, previewing the ending theme song "AIYOU" by Eve. The trailer shows Maomao and Jinshi confronting a new mystery involving a disaster threatening the country and a mysterious woman causing a stir among the people. The season's first cour premieres on October 2, 2026, with the second cour set for April 2027. An anime film titled The Deceased Empress' Treasure is scheduled to premiere in Japan in December 2026. Eve also shared a comment alongside the trailer, saying the song was born from thinking about the mysteries of the heart. Eve described wanting to capture the desire to see the real person that exists beyond someone's role and position. The official website posted the trailer and the comment.
At the ABEMA Anime Festival 2026 stage for The Apothecary Diaries, Aoi Yuki, Takao Otsuka, and Ryumaro Tachibana talked about behind-the-scenes dubbing on Season 3 and on The Apothecary Diaries: The Movie - The Consort's Secret Treasure, which is scheduled for release on December 11. The stage covered dubbing that ran in parallel with the TV season and characters to watch in the film.
Natsu Hyuuga, the author of The Apothecary Diaries, will not attend the Overload NZ Anime & Manga Convention in New Zealand on Sep 26-27. The official series X account cited health reasons, and Hyuuga said she is hospitalized with blood test results not yet at a satisfactory level. She will still take part in a live online Q&A during the convention.
Hands-on gameplay for The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother was shown at a stage event on September 20 at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The mystery adventure game, developed by Koei Tecmo Games' Gust brand and TOHO Games, lets players control Maomao to gather medicine ingredients in the mountains and solve cases like the Poison Face Powder Incident by choosing answers from options. It is scheduled for release in early 2027.
A new official website opened on Friday to announce that The Failure at God School, the manga written by Natsu Hyuga and drawn by Modomu Akagawara, is getting a television anime. The site posted a teaser visual, and Akagawara shared a commemorative illustration through the anime's X account. Yen Press publishes the manga in English. The story is set in a modern Japan where people with supernatural abilities can be licensed to serve as gods at shrines, and it follows Nagi, a high schooler who enrolls at a school that trains future gods after discovering powers of her own. Hyuga and Akagawara launched the manga in Hakusensha's Hana to Yume magazine in August 2021. Hakusensha published the 15th compiled volume on Friday, the same day as the announcement. A novel adaptation began in January 2022, and Star Seas Company released the novels' fifth volume in Japan on May 27. Both creators issued comments. Hyuga wrote that readers will see Nagi, Takeru, Tsukuyomi and Tota move and speak, and Akagawara said she is looking forward to seeing the characters come to life.
Koei Tecmo Games presented a development talk stage for The Apothecary Diaries: The False Younger Brother of the Emperor at Tokyo Game Show 2026 on September 17. Director Akari Takinami and Toho producer Takayuki Onishi described an original mystery adventure story built on five mysteries and five curses, with an original character named Guanyu. Platforms are Switch 2, PS5 and Switch, with an early 2027 release planned.
Crunchyroll confirmed its fall 2026 streaming slate, with premieres running from September 26 through October 16. A Wild Last Boss Appeared! Season 2 opens the season on September 26, followed by Overgeared on September 27, The Prince of Tennis II U-17 World Cup: Final Member Selection Match on September 30 and FX Fighter Kurumi-chan on October 1. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 arrives October 2 and Black Clover Season 2 on October 3, the same day as A Tale of the Secret Saint, Magical Explorer, Romelia War Chronicle, VERTEX FORCE and #I'm Looking For a Zombie. October 4 brings Reborn as a Space Mercenary, Aoashi Season 2, HOTEL INHUMANS Season 2, Uncle's Obsession with Cute Things and Even Though I'm a Super Timid Noble Girl, I Accepted the Bet From My Cunning Fiance. Magic Knight Rayearth lands October 7, Firefly Wedding October 9 and The Vermilion Mask October 10. PSYREN is listed under coming soon. Red River, The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System, Please Excuse My Younger Brothers, Case Closed and Star Detective Precure! continue from summer 2026.
Nendoroid Plus rubber mascots of Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries are up for preorder at AmiAmi in two versions: the standard Maomao and Maomao Garden Party Ver., priced at 1,500 yen and 1,550 yen with tax respectively. Prototype production is by Matsuda Model, and release is scheduled for March 2027. The standard mascot is about 70mm tall, made of PVC.
Koei Tecmo announced The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, a new mystery game based on the light novel series, during the Nintendo Direct livestream on September 9. The game launches for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in early 2027. Players control Maomao as she explores, compounds, and investigates to solve mysteries.
Manta, the global content platform, announced worldwide distribution deals with KADOKAWA, Square Enix, and Square Enix's Manga UP! platform. More than 300 titles are being added, including The Apothecary Diaries, Proud to be the Villainess, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Tokyo Ravens. The company launched its manga category in April with Kodansha titles.
Oricon's monthly comic ranking for August 2026, tracking sales from August 3 to 30, places Kingdom's 80th volume at #1 with 365,379 copies. Blue Lock's 40th volume and The Apothecary Diaries' 17th volume follow. The top 20 list includes titles from Shueisha, Kodansha, Square Enix, and others.
At Prime Video Presents Tokyo on September 3, 2026, Mana Ashida, who plays Maomao in the live-action adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, said, 'Being able to play a beloved character is the greatest happiness.' The event also featured cast and creators from Bless, Jinko Glico, Please Save My Earth, and The Silent Fleet, with Prime Video announcing doubled investment in Japanese original works over the next two years.
Amazon Prime Video announced on Thursday that it is producing a live-action series adaptation of Hyuganatsu and Touko Shino's The Apothecary Diaries light novel series, with Mana Ashida cast as protagonist Maomao. The series will stream exclusively worldwide on Amazon Prime Video in 2028. It is co-produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios, with Yuki Saito directing and Erika Yoshida writing the screenplay. A teaser visual featuring Ashida as Maomao was revealed alongside the announcement. Ashida, who said she was already a fan of the novels, described the filming period as one where she poured her heart into her love for Maomao and the series. Original author Hyuganatsu welcomed the adaptation, saying she felt confident after Ashida was chosen, and that she visited the set several times, impressed by the elaborate sets and costumes. The Apothecary Diaries began as a web novel in October 2011, with print novels starting in August 2014 and a manga adaptation in May 2017. The story follows Maomao, a young apothecary sold into service in the emperor's rear palace, where her medical knowledge catches the attention of the head eunuch Jinshi. The series has two anime seasons, with a third season premiering October 2, 2026, and an anime film opening December 11.
The TV anime The Apothecary Diaries is getting two new deformed figures in the OSHI WORKS Mini series: Maomao and Maomao (Garden Party Ver.). Each figure costs 1,980 yen including tax and is scheduled for February 2027. Reservations are open now at AmiAmi, both online and at the physical store.
TV anime The Apothecary Diaries and ladies' brand jouetie are releasing four collaboration items. Preorders open September 4, 2026 at the official RUNWAY channel store and ZOZOTOWN. The lineup includes a satin jacquard tunic shirt woven with flower and butterfly motifs, a 2WAY knit cardigan with scallop lace, and a graphic pullover and slit pants that pair character art with jouetie's rose icon. General release follows in early October 2026.
Two new web videos in the collaboration between The Apothecary Diaries TV anime and eye care brand Enkin are now available. The Supporting The Apothecary Diaries segment looks at the production site, while Maomao's Monologue special edition features Maomao and Jinshi. Aoi Yuki voices Maomao, and Takeo Otsuka voices Jinshi. The franchise surpasses 45 million copies in circulation, with season three starting October 2 and a film on December 11.
The TV anime The Apothecary Diaries is collaborating with Kimono Rental VASARA and Kabukiza for a campaign running from Tuesday, September 15, 2026, to Saturday, October 31, 2026. The campaign features newly drawn illustrations of Maomao, Jinshi, Xiaolan, and Shisui wearing kimono, a departure from the series' usual Chinese-style court attire. The illustrations depict the four characters heading out into the city in Japanese clothing. The collaboration includes original goods sales, character panel displays, and a limited rental plan. The rental plan costs 4,840 yen including tax and includes an original acrylic stand with a Kabukiza background, which can be combined with separately sold character acrylic stands to form a diorama. Original goods, including trading can badges, acrylic keychains, and muffler towels, are available for purchase without using the rental plan. Pre-orders for goods begin at 11:00 on September 15, 2026, at the Shochiku Store anime Froovie, with shipping scheduled from mid-December 2026. Character panels will be displayed at select VASARA stores and at Kabukiza's B2 floor Kobikicho Plaza.
Kotobukiya has introduced OSHI WORKS Mini, a new chibi figure line designed as a sister brand to its OSHI WORKS series, with a focus on affordable pricing and a global lineup. The first wave includes two versions of Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries, one in her everyday clothes and one in her garden party outfit, as well as the protagonist from Persona 3 Reload and Joker from Persona 5 Royal. Each figure is about 100 millimeters tall, priced at 1,980 yen including tax, and scheduled for release in February 2027. The figures feature a neck ball joint so collectors can adjust the face direction. They come with no accessories, which the sources say maximizes focus on sculpting and painting. The base and package sizes are uniform across the line, allowing figures to be displayed together neatly. Pre-orders for the first wave opened on August 25, 2026, across retailers including Amazon and Rakuten, as listed in one of the articles.
T-SPARK has previewed TOYRISE items to be announced at Tokyo Toy Show 2026, held from August 27 to August 30 at Tokyo Big Sight. The previews cover four franchises: Mashin Hero Wataru, Mado King Granzort, Absolute无敌 Raijin-Oh, and Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion. A Shinkalion with design concept by Shoji Kawamori was teased via silhouette on August 25 and appears as a gray prototype at the show. The T-SPARK official X account revealed image visuals for all four lines on August 26, with Wataru and Granzort shown together at the T-SPARK booth. The event's business days, August 27 and 28, are for trade visitors only; the general public can attend on August 29 and 30 with advance tickets at 2,000 yen or same-day tickets at 2,200 yen. Dengeki Hobby Web's breaking reports from the Takara Tomy booth confirmed the Kawamori Shinkalion prototype, plus items from Raijin-Oh, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wataru, and Granzort. Other Takara Tomy displays included a Captain Tsubasa: Tatakae Dream Team and ZOIDS collaboration, SYNEGENEX Evangelion Prime Unit-02, and Transformers-related items such as Adamas Machina Magna Regulus.
Bandai Spirits is launching a new Gundam figure brand called ABSOLUTE ACT, built around the ABSOLUTE ACTION SYSTEM for articulation. The first entry is the Strike Freedom Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, which received its world first display at TOKYO Toy Show 2026, running from August 27 to August 30, 2026. The approximately 185mm tall ABS/PVC figure features movable mechanisms in the neck, shoulders, and waist, plus a waist rail mechanism and shoulder pull-out mechanism for dynamic posing. It includes a high-energy beam rifle, two beam sabers, a connected saber handle, two beam shields, interchangeable wrist parts, and a base with a bendable support rod. Reservations begin August 27, 2026, at general retail stores, with release scheduled for March 2027 at 16,500 yen including tax. TOKYO Toy Show 2026's first two days are trade-only, with public access on August 29 and 30. The show also featured other Gundam items at the Bandai Spirits booth, including Gundam Miximize Gundam Zero and HG 1/144 Gundam Zero.
Anime Anime rounds up five fall 2026 sequel series, including The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Blue Box Season 2, and Black Clover 2nd Season, with recaps of prior seasons to help viewers catch up before new episodes air in October. The article highlights key plot points and new cast details for each show.
The staff for The Apothecary Diaries anime revealed during a special event on Saturday that the third season will premiere on October 2 at 11:00 p.m. JST in the Friday Anime Night programming block on NTV and 29 affiliated channels. The season will run for two cours, with the second cour starting in April 2027. A new trailer and key visual were shown, previewing the opening theme song "Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake" by Yorushika. Reina Ueda joins the cast as Bai Niangniang, a pale and mysterious nymph who has become the subject of rumors. The event also unveiled character visuals for 10 main characters, including Maomao and Jinshi. The third season will lead into a film titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress' Treasure, which opens in Japanese theaters on December 11 and features an original story by series author Natsu Hyuga. Studio OLM handles animation production, with Akinori Fudesaka directing. The first season premiered in October 2023, and the second in January 2025, both streamed by Crunchyroll with English dubs.