Mu Qing

The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress' Treasure is the first theatrical film for this hit mystery series. It is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. AniList lists it as an original movie, which means it tells a new story made for the film rather than a known chapter from the books. The film comes out during the anime's third season, which begins in October 2026 and continues in April 2027. The franchise started as a light novel series written by Hyuganatsu, with art by Touko Shino, first published in 2014. It later became two different manga versions, both running since 2017. The TV anime, made by Toho Animation Studio and OLM, began in October 2023. The whole franchise is very popular. By August 2026, it had more than 57 million copies in circulation. A live-action drama for Amazon Prime Video is also planned for 2028. The series is set in Li, an invented country that looks like old imperial China. It follows Maomao, a young woman raised in the pleasure district by an apothecary, a person who makes medicine. From him, she learned a great deal about medicine, herbs, and poisons. Maomao is sharp and honest, and she is not very interested in court politics. She only cares about learning and about interesting poisons. Her skills pull her into life at the imperial palace. There she becomes known for solving strange cases, like sudden illnesses and secret poisonings, that nobody else can explain. At her side is Jinshi, a handsome and important man at court. He trusts her mind and keeps bringing her new problems. Their relationship is a key part of the fun. He is warm toward her, and she often pretends not to notice. The film's title points to a mystery about a treasure linked to a dead empress. In a story full of court secrets, that is the kind of puzzle Maomao is known for. However, only a small amount of plot detail has been shared so far. For that reason, this page does not guess at the story. More details should come closer to the release date. Fans can expect what the series does best: careful detective work, facts about old medicine, beautiful historical settings, and gentle comedy between Maomao and Jinshi. Because this is a movie for theaters, it will likely have a bigger scale and richer animation than a normal TV episode. New viewers should start with the first TV season, so they know the characters and the world before watching the film.