The Apothecary Diaries movie is almost here, and fans just got their best look yet at Maomao’s first theatrical mystery. The film’s latest trailer and a striking new key visual dropped ahead of its December 11, 2026 theatrical premiere in Japan — and the biggest surprise is the music: the theme song is “Haru ga Tomori” (Spring Lights) by Kenshi Yonezu.
Maomao and Jinshi (Credits: Anime Corner)
The Apothecary Diaries Movie Release Date, Trailer and Story Details
Titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure, the movie is the first theatrical feature in the franchise, and it comes with a brand-new mystery written by original light novel author Natsu Hyuga herself. Norihiro Naganuma returns to direct, with animation production handled by TOHO Animation STUDIO.
The plot picks up with an unusual order from the emperor: Jinshi must grant the final wish of a concubine who died five years ago by returning her to her homeland. Examining her remains, Jinshi finds them in eerily pristine condition — beautiful, as if she were still alive. Dragging Maomao along, he travels to Binan-shu, a bustling city on the water in the Bi clan’s southern province, where pirates are hunting a treasure hidden by their late leader. On the day of the concubine’s funeral, a huge incident sets off a chain of events nobody saw coming.
Kenshi Yonezu’s Theme Song and the Novelization
The choice of Yonezu as theme-song artist is a heavyweight stamp of approval — his catalog includes some of the biggest anime openings of the past decade, so fans can expect a track worthy of the occasion. Meanwhile, Hyuga will also release a novel version of the movie story, titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure, adapting her own film plot with elements that couldn’t fit into the movie. Its first edition will carry a wide obi featuring the film’s first key visual.
International fans are covered too: Crunchyroll has already secured North American and worldwide distribution rights, so a global theatrical rollout should follow Japan’s debut.
Also Read: Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother Game Trailer Reveals March 18 Release Date
Source: Anime Corner — read the full story there.