The Apothecary Diaries watch order
Maomao, a sharp-tongued apothecary's daughter from the pleasure district, is kidnapped and sold into the imperial rear palace, where her knowledge of poisons gets her noticed by the beautiful eunuch Jinshi. A mystery-of-the-week drama with a long court-intrigue plot underneath, based on Natsu Hyuga's light novels.
First time? Watch Season 1, Season 2 and Season 3 in order. The Maomao's Diaries chibi shorts are optional extras, and the December 2026 film is a standalone mystery.
Story order
Story order is release order: each season continues straight from the last, and the shorts comment on the episode they came with. Where the film sits in the timeline hasn't been stated; it's an original standalone mystery, so watch it any time after Season 2.
- The Apothecary Diaries (Season 1)
Adapts the first two light novels. Maomao is sold into the rear palace as a servant, quietly solves a poisoning, becomes Consort Gyokuyou's food taster and gets pulled into Jinshi's investigations. Two straight cours; no recap episodes.
- Maomao's Diaries (Maomao no Hitorigoto, Season 1 shorts) (optional)
One-minute chibi shorts, one per episode, in which Maomao explains an item or fact from that week's episode (face powder, chocolate and so on). Trivia and comedy, not story. Released free on TOHO animation's YouTube channel. Optional.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Adapts novels three and four: Maomao returns to the rear palace, and the Shi clan storyline builds to a rebellion while the big mysteries left hanging from Season 1, including Jinshi's identity, are answered.
- Maomao's Diaries (Season 2 shorts) (optional)
Another 24 chibi trivia shorts to go with Season 2's episodes, again on YouTube. Optional.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Part 1
Picks up from novel five. Maomao's palace contract has ended and she is back in the pleasure district as an apothecary when a locust plague starts to loom and the court's politics shift. Airing from October 2026; Part 2 follows in April 2027. Season 3 is animated by OLM alone.
- Maomao's Diaries (Season 3 shorts) (optional)
The third batch of chibi trivia shorts, numbered from 49, released on YouTube alongside Season 3. Optional.
- The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure
A theatrical film with an original story by the novels' author, in Japanese cinemas from December 11, 2026, between the two halves of Season 3. Jinshi is ordered to return the strangely preserved remains of a concubine to her southern homeland, and he and Maomao end up in a hunt for a pirate treasure. A standalone mystery; Crunchyroll and Sony have the international cinema rights, dates to be announced.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Part 2
The second half of Season 3, due in April 2027.
Release order
Season 1 ran from October 2023 to March 2024, Season 2 through the first half of 2025, and Season 3 is split around the December 2026 film, with its second half in April 2027. Each season's chibi shorts came out week by week alongside it.
- The Apothecary Diaries (Season 1)
Adapts the first two light novels. Maomao is sold into the rear palace as a servant, quietly solves a poisoning, becomes Consort Gyokuyou's food taster and gets pulled into Jinshi's investigations. Two straight cours; no recap episodes.
- Maomao's Diaries (Maomao no Hitorigoto, Season 1 shorts) (optional)
One-minute chibi shorts, one per episode, in which Maomao explains an item or fact from that week's episode (face powder, chocolate and so on). Trivia and comedy, not story. Released free on TOHO animation's YouTube channel. Optional.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Adapts novels three and four: Maomao returns to the rear palace, and the Shi clan storyline builds to a rebellion while the big mysteries left hanging from Season 1, including Jinshi's identity, are answered.
- Maomao's Diaries (Season 2 shorts) (optional)
Another 24 chibi trivia shorts to go with Season 2's episodes, again on YouTube. Optional.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Part 1
Picks up from novel five. Maomao's palace contract has ended and she is back in the pleasure district as an apothecary when a locust plague starts to loom and the court's politics shift. Airing from October 2026; Part 2 follows in April 2027. Season 3 is animated by OLM alone.
- Maomao's Diaries (Season 3 shorts) (optional)
The third batch of chibi trivia shorts, numbered from 49, released on YouTube alongside Season 3. Optional.
- The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure
A theatrical film with an original story by the novels' author, in Japanese cinemas from December 11, 2026, between the two halves of Season 3. Jinshi is ordered to return the strangely preserved remains of a concubine to her southern homeland, and he and Maomao end up in a hunt for a pirate treasure. A standalone mystery; Crunchyroll and Sony have the international cinema rights, dates to be announced.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Part 2
The second half of Season 3, due in April 2027.
Explained
Are the Maomao's Diaries shorts worth watching?
They're one-minute chibi bits where Maomao explains a detail from that week's episode, made as bonus content and put on TOHO animation's YouTube channel. Nothing in the main story depends on them. Watch them after the matching episode if you like the character, or skip them.
Which manga matches the anime?
There are two manga adaptations running at the same time: the Square Enix one (art by Nekokurage) and the Shogakukan one, published in English as Maomao's Notes on the Inner Palace. Both adapt the same light novels independently, and the anime adapts the novels directly rather than either manga. Fans generally say the Nekokurage version feels closest to the anime.
Where do I pick up the light novels?
Season 1 covers novels 1–2 and Season 2 covers 3–4, so after Season 2 start with novel 5. Season 3 adapts from novel 5 onward, and the author has said it adds material and moves ahead of the manga, so wait until the season ends to know where to pick up next. The English novels are published by J-Novel Club (digital) and Square Enix (print).
Is the film canon, and do I need it before Season 3 Part 2?
The Late Lady's Treasure is a new story written by the novels' author, not a recap. It's a self-contained mystery, and nothing announced so far says Part 2 depends on it, so treat it as an extra you can watch whenever it reaches your country.
Is there an English dub, and where does it stream?
Yes. Crunchyroll streams every season outside Asia with an English dub (Emi Lo as Maomao, Kaiji Tang as Jinshi), and Season 3's dub started two weeks after the Japanese premiere. Season 1 is also on Netflix in the US.