A mysterious death from five years ago, remains in an unusually good condition, and a treasure hidden somewhere in a southern province are at the heart of the next chapter of The Apothecary Diaries. The franchise’s first theatrical anime film is giving fans a closer look at a story that takes Maomao and Jinshi beyond the familiar palace setting, with newly revealed characters adding more intrigue to the investigation.

The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure has received a new trailer, key visual and theme-song announcement ahead of its Japanese theatrical release on December 11, 2026. The latest promotional material, unveiled on October 22, offers a deeper look at the original film while leaving the central mysteries unresolved.

The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure Gets a New Trailer

The latest trailer and key visual were revealed on October 22, 2026, as part of the franchise’s third-anniversary promotional activities. Alongside the new footage, the announcement confirmed that Japanese singer Kenshi Yonezu will perform the film’s theme song, “Haru ga Akari.”

The movie’s official Japanese title is Gekijōban Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō, while its English title is The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure.

The upcoming feature marks the first theatrical anime film in The Apothecary Diaries franchise. It is being produced by TOHO Animation STUDIO, with Norihiro Naganuma directing and series creator Natsu Hyuuga providing the original concept.

Rather than adapting an existing television-season storyline, the film presents a completely new story conceived by Hyuuga specifically for the theatrical production. That gives Maomao and Jinshi a fresh mystery to investigate, introducing a different setting and characters whose connections to the central case have not been fully revealed.

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Maomao and Jinshi Investigate a Five-Year-Old Mystery

The story begins with an order from the emperor that sends Jinshi on an unusual assignment. He must fulfil the final wish of a concubine who died five years earlier by returning her remains to her homeland.

However, the task takes an unexpected turn when Jinshi examines the remains and discovers that they are in unusually good condition. The circumstances surrounding the woman’s death consequently become a central mystery, prompting further investigation.

Jinshi takes Maomao along on the journey to Binan-shu, a southern province ruled by the Bi clan. Away from the palace, Maomao encounters an unfamiliar environment that offers new challenges for her distinctive knowledge of herbs and medicines.

According to the official synopsis, Binan-shu is a city built around water. Its surroundings introduce Maomao to herbs and medicines she has never encountered before, adding another dimension to the investigation.

But the mystery is not limited to the deceased concubine. Pirates are also searching for a treasure hidden by their deceased leader, bringing a second conflict into the story.

The official movie announcement connects the mystery surrounding the remains with the hidden treasure, although the complete relationship between the two remains undisclosed. How the investigation develops, and what the characters ultimately uncover in Binan-shu, will be part of the film’s unreleased story.

Who Are the New Characters in The Apothecary Diaries Movie?

The theatrical film expands the franchise’s cast with several characters who have not previously appeared in the television anime. Their introductions provide clues about the people and groups connected to the events in Binan-shu without revealing the full extent of their roles.

One of the newly introduced characters is Mu Qing, a young member of the Bi family, which rules the southern province. Promotional material has identified him as an important figure in the events surrounding Maomao and Jinshi’s arrival.

The film also introduces members of the Kaja group, whose activities are connected to the search for the hidden treasure.

The newly announced characters and their voice actors include:

Character	Japanese voice actor
Mu Qing	Mariya Ise
Suija	Kensho Ono
Eisho	Ryota Takeuchi
Kaja	Jiro Saito
Biro	Nobuo Tobita
Qiuyu	Kumiko Watanabe
Bisen	Hirofumi Nojima
Ruòqíng	Miyuki Sawashiro
Yinshan	Ai Mikami

Suija is associated with the Kaja group, while Kaja is its former leader. Eisho is another member of the group. Their individual involvement in the treasure hunt and the wider mystery has not been fully disclosed in the official promotional information.

Two other characters are especially important to the story: Ruòqíng and Yinshan.

Ruòqíng is the concubine whose remains prompt the investigation, while Yinshan is connected to her past and to the Bi family. Their relationship adds another link between the events surrounding the concubine’s death and the investigation in Binan-shu.

The returning central cast includes Aoi Yuki as Maomao and Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi, bringing the familiar protagonists into a story that moves beyond their usual palace environment.

Why Is Ruòqíng’s Death Important to the Story?

Ruòqíng’s death is one of the film’s principal mysteries. Five years before the events depicted in the movie, the concubine died, leaving behind a final wish that the emperor now orders Jinshi to fulfil.

The unusual condition of her remains complicates what might otherwise have been a straightforward journey to return them to her homeland. Jinshi’s discovery raises questions about the circumstances surrounding her death, giving Maomao a new mystery to investigate.

Yinshan’s connection to Ruòqíng and the Bi family adds another element to the case. Her introduction establishes a link between the deceased concubine’s past and the people Maomao and Jinshi encounter in Binan-shu.

However, the promotional material has not revealed the full explanation for the condition of Ruòqíng’s remains or the extent of Yinshan’s involvement in the events. These details remain part of the film’s central mystery.

For viewers, the premise combines the investigative element associated with Maomao with a new setting and a group of characters whose relationships are not yet completely clear.

The Hidden Treasure Adds Another Layer of Intrigue

While Maomao and Jinshi investigate the circumstances surrounding Ruòqíng’s death, pirates are searching for treasure hidden by the deceased former leader of the Kaja group.

The two mysteries become part of the same chain of events after the protagonists arrive in Binan-shu. The official synopsis establishes the connection between the remains and the treasure, while the promotional material introduces the characters associated with the search.

The official July announcement also described the film as combining the mystery surrounding the remains with the hidden treasure. It emphasised the change of setting, moving Maomao and Jinshi away from the palace and into a different environment.

The full connection between the treasure, Ruòqíng and the other characters has not yet been disclosed. The new trailer provides more information about the story but does not reveal the answers before the film’s release.

Kenshi Yonezu’s “Haru ga Akari” Is the Movie’s Theme Song

The October 22 announcement also confirmed that Kenshi Yonezu performs “Haru ga Akari”, the theme song for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure.

The song was announced alongside the latest trailer and key visual during a special programme marking three years since the television anime first premiered. The official franchise website had indicated that the programme would reveal the film’s latest promotional information, including its main trailer, key visual and theme-song artist.

The film’s official staff listing credits Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin and Arisa Okehazama with the music.

The theme-song announcement adds another major detail to the film’s promotional campaign as the Japanese theatrical release approaches.

When Does The Apothecary Diaries Movie Release?

The Japanese theatrical release date for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure is December 11, 2026. The production team officially announced the date in July.

For international audiences, Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment have confirmed theatrical distribution plans for North America and international territories outside Asia, including India.

However, an important distinction remains: the Japanese release date is confirmed, but specific international release dates and ticket-sale information have not been announced as of October 24, 2026.

Release detail	Confirmed information
Film title	The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure
Japanese theatrical release	December 11, 2026
International distributors	Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment
Announced international markets	North America and international territories outside Asia, including India
International release dates	Not yet announced
International ticket information	Not yet announced

Crunchyroll has stated that further information about North American and international release dates and tickets will be announced later. Indian audiences can therefore expect the film to receive an international theatrical release, but a specific Indian release date cannot yet be confirmed from the available announcements.

How Does the Movie Connect to The Apothecary Diaries Season 3?

The theatrical film is arriving while The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is airing as a split-cour season.

Season 3 began airing in Japan on October 2, 2026, with its second cour scheduled to begin in April 2027. Crunchyroll is streaming the television season as it airs, with its distribution information including the Indian Subcontinent.

The December movie falls between the two cours of the third season, but the theatrical feature and television series should not be treated as the same storyline.

The movie is a new original theatrical story based on a concept by Natsu Hyuuga. Season 3, by contrast, continues the television adaptation of the original series.

Their production teams also differ. Season 3 is directed by Akinori Fudesaka at OLM, while the theatrical film is being produced by TOHO Animation STUDIO under director Norihiro Naganuma.

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Conclusion

The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure is set to bring Maomao and Jinshi into a new mystery involving a deceased concubine, unusually well-preserved remains and a treasure hidden by a former pirate leader. The October 22 trailer has also confirmed Kenshi Yonezu’s theme song, “Haru ga Akari,” and introduced additional characters connected to the investigation.

With the Japanese theatrical release set for December 11, 2026, the film is approaching its debut while Season 3 continues on television. International distribution plans include North America and territories outside Asia, including India, although release dates and ticket details remain unannounced.

For now, the central questions surrounding Ruòqíng’s death and the hidden treasure remain unanswered, setting up an original theatrical mystery for Maomao and Jinshi.

Source and Research Disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the official announcements and reporting sources listed below. It reflects the information available in those supplied sources as of October 24, 2026, and does not imply independent verification beyond the material provided. International release dates, ticket information and other details may be updated by the production team or distributors.

Sources

• The Apothecary Diaries official website: December 11, 2026 movie announcement
• The Apothecary Diaries official website: October 22 movie information announcement
• Crunchyroll: New movie trailer, visual and Kenshi Yonezu theme song
• Crunchyroll: International theatrical distribution announcement
• The Apothecary Diaries official Season 3 broadcast information
• TOHO: The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 and theatrical film production announcement
• Crunchyroll: The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 premiere and production information
• Crunchyroll: Kaja group character trailer
• Crunchyroll: Additional movie cast and character trailer
• Crunchyroll: Ruòqíng and Yinshan character trailer

Featured Image Credit: Natsu Hyuuga / Shufunotomo / TOHO Animation STUDIO