Apothecary Diaries Tops Anime Category In Popular Japanese Streaming Service

by

Summary

  • The Apothecary Diaries was a surprise hit in Japan, ranking high in popularity polls and topping streaming services in 2024.
  • Maomao’s authenticity stands out in a sea of typical anime girl archetypes, making this historical anime adaptation unique.
  • The second season of The Apothecary Diaries will likely cover volumes 3-4, debuting in January 2025 with 24 episodes.

As a lifelong anime enthusiast with a penchant for historical settings and strong female leads, The Apothecary Diaries has undoubtedly stolen my heart. Having followed the manga since its inception, I was beyond excited to see it brought to life on screen, and boy, did it deliver!

The “Apothecary Diaries” turned out to be quite a surprise success for many, even though it consistently ranks among the best-selling novels each year and topped the Oricon chart this year. However, a significant number of international anime fans tend to favor not just anime but specifically shounen manga, so its popularity might have been an unexpected outcome.

In Japan, the anime adaptation of “Apothecary Diaries” was eagerly anticipated (it ranked 9th in AnimeJapan’s “Most Wanted Anime Adaptation” poll in 2019). Critics have also lauded the manga adaptation of the original novel.

Despite the predictions, “The Apothecary Diaries” turned out to be a smash hit during both the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 seasons, spanning two consecutive quarters. Interestingly, it seems to have garnered more popularity in Japan than globally, as popular streaming platform U-Next recently announced it led its anime category in 2024, outperforming series such as “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” (3rd place) and even the highly acclaimed “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc” (2nd place; however, it’s worth mentioning that some viewers might prefer the TV broadcast over streaming).

What Is The U-Next Streaming Service

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the success of U-Next, a colossal streaming platform in Japan boasting an impressive subscriber base of over 4.3 million strong! While they haven’t disclosed exact view counts for each series streamed, the impact is undeniably significant. For those unfamiliar with this streaming giant, it offers more than just audiovisual content; it also delves into the world of e-books.

  1. The Apothecary Diaries
  2. Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc
  3. Frieren
  4. Mashle: Magic and Muscles
  5. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S3
  6. Oshi no Ko S2
  7. Kaiju No. 8
  8. Jujutsu Kaisen S2
  9. Delicious in Dungeon
  10. My Hero Academia

The Apothecary Diaries Premise

The narrative takes place during a historical era, but it does not strictly adhere to historical truth regarding its characters and incidents. Drawing inspiration from Tang dynasty China (618-907 AD), the plot revolves around a young woman named Maomao who functions as an apothecary in our tale. Prior to her kidnapping and sale to the Imperial Palace, she had worked in a district known for its vibrant nightlife.

Initially serving in obscurity, she went unnoticed by influential figures for several years, until a string of illnesses struck several imperial children and concubines – her expertise as an apothecary allowed her to decipher the mystery. Subsequently, her abilities were in high demand, as she was frequently sought out to solve other mysteries and unravel conspiracies.

In the upcoming second season, we’ll probably follow volumes 3-4, picking up where the first one ended. Akinori Fudesaka takes over as the director for this new chapter, which marks his debut in that role. Previously, it was Norihiro Naganuma who helmed the direction, but he’s now serving as the head writer (having penned and directed the first season). The animation for the series is handled by studios Toho Animation Studio and OLM. The series will make its comeback with 24 episodes and is slated to premiere on January 10, 2025.

The Apothecary Diaries is available to stream on Crunchyroll, subbed and dubbed.

Read More

2024-12-15 05:06