The world of The Apothecary Diaries anime is colorful but intricate. The anime’s source material is Natsu Hyuga’s light novel series, which TOHO Animation and OLM Studios have adapted. It has made the anime watchlists this 2023. The anime is set in a reimagined ancient Chinese setting and follows a young maiden.
Maomao, at the tender age of seventeen (17), despite purposely making herself less conventionally attractive, is kidnapped and sold into servitude at the rear palace of the emperor, where she is more than just another face in the crowd.
While serving at the emperor’s rear palace, Maomao proves herself an unlikely sleuth with the help of the charming head eunuch, Jinshi. She is a delightful mad scientist with a sharp tongue and implied ace, emotionally unavailable and sharp—crafted in the image of Gregory House and Sherlock Holmes.
Art
If you’re a gambler, you might want to visit https://www.onlinecasinoreviews.ph/ to learn more. In anime, reviews can make a difference. The Apothecary Diaries has been getting a lot of good reviews. The series is not as action-heavy, but it does have a lot of quality to it, especially with the artwork and animation.
The show’s luxurious animation deserves its due. Striking character designs and colour palettes are part of the show’s charm, and it holds its own against titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren. Toho Animation Studio and OLM helm the animation work. Although the former is a newcomer, OLM has worked on massive franchises, especially Beyblade. It’s clear, however, that both studios have worked to improve the quality of the anime.
Maomao and Jinshi
Maomao’s arc in the palace has many unexpected twists and turns. She is intelligent and witty, with unwavering determination. Despite claiming to be apathetic, she wants to be just. She is also emotionally unavailable, traumatized from the life that has shaped her: a life in a brothel and being abandoned by her parents.
It’s also not hard to fall in love with Maomao. Maomao is intelligent, snarky, a little morbid, socially awkward, and morbid, thanks to her thing for poisons and eagerness to test them on herself. It’s hard for her to continue holding her head down, given her brilliance and a degree of intellectual curiosity that betrays her attempts to hold herself aloof from others. The way she is written is not out of place with its Chinese setting or period (as vague as that might be). Her prickliness makes her more charming.
On the other hand, it’s easy to also fall for Jinshi, Maomao’s boss. He acts unhinged, struggles with self-esteem issues, and works hard to overcome his weaknesses. He is also happy that Maomao sees him as a bug rather than a beautiful man.
Their dynamic is also one of the driving forces of the story.
Plot
The romantic centre of The Apothecary Diaries is a slow-burn one. Character drama drives the plot of the series. At the heart of the series, the conflict lies with the intrigue. Maomao often investigates or walks on happenings, but her curiosity moves the plot forward and even lands her in hot water.
The series thus is a fun watch.
Wrapping Up
As one of the best animes this season, The Apothecary Diaries is a fun watch, especially if you’re into period drama, intrigue, or mystery—or just want to be entertained. The characters are unhinged, but they also have a human touch.
