Maomao is heading to the big screen. Gekijōban Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō — The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure — opens in Japanese cinemas on 11 December 2026, marking the first theatrical film for one of Crunchyroll’s most-watched anime franchises of recent years.
Maomao’s Next Case: Treasure, Pirates, and an Imperial Secret
The film sends Maomao and Jinshi far outside the palace on a grim errand: escort the remains of a concubine — dead five years — back to her homeland. The mission turns dangerous fast. They encounter pirates, hidden treasure, and a mysterious boy named Mu Qing who holds the key to the dead woman’s secrets. It is a self-contained story set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3, corresponding roughly to volume 4.5 of the original light novel series.
New Character, Familiar Voices
The main cast returns: Aoi Yūki reprises Maomao and Takeo Ōtsuka is back as Jinshi. The film’s new face is Mu Qing, voiced by Mariya Ise — whose extensive CV includes Killua in Hunter x Hunter, Ray in The Promised Neverland, and Himeno in Chainsaw Man. Mu Qing is the mysterious boy at the centre of the film’s mystery, and his connection to the deceased consort is the thread Maomao has to unravel.
An Original Story, Written by the Author Herself
The screenplay is a fully original work by Hyūganatsu, the author of the Apothecary Diaries light novels — not an adaptation of an existing arc, but a story she describes as “more like the first draft of the novel.” Production is by the same team at Toho Animation STUDIO and OLM who built the television series. With Season 3 Part 1 confirmed for October 2026 and Part 2 in April 2027 — both expected on Crunchyroll — the film slots into the gap and gives fans an extra chapter while they wait for the next arc.
Japan Premiere on 11 December — International Window TBA
The premiere is Japan-only for now, with no international theatrical or streaming date announced. Both previous seasons of The Apothecary Diaries were available on Crunchyroll in Singapore, so a streaming release overseas is plausible — though Toho Animation has not set a timeline. For now, Season 3 Part 1 on Crunchyroll this October is the next guaranteed fix for Singapore fans. Stay tuned for updates as they come, and browse our anime and manga coverage for more on what is streaming this season.