The Apothecary Diaries is Unique and Something We Want More of In Anime

Season aired: Fall 2023

Number of episodes: 24

Watched on: Crunchyroll

Translated by: ?

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Historical

Thoughts: The Apothecary Diaries is a personal anime to me in more ways than one. I’ve written an article exploring how aspects of the story and characters have a direct connection to the history of my own Chinese family, but it is also personal because of the rarity in seeing other Asian cultures depicted in anime. Where fantasy anime’s settings tend to resemble Europe, contemporary anime, understandably, take place in Japan. Even Ya Boy Kongming, whose titular protagonist is a Chinese historical figure, happens in Japan. However, The Apothecary Diaries is proudly inspired by dynastic China through its world, the costumes, and the very names of the characters. Through this new cultural setting, the anime is able to stand out drastically amongst the sea of other anime.

Nothing is more iconic of dynastic China than the emperor, his concubines, and the intrigue that happens at court – specifically involving the women whose main political power is through the emperor’s affections. The Apothecary Diaries chooses to focus on this intrigue through Maomao, a young girl who is kidnapped and sold to the palace as one of the many thousand servants working for the concubines. However, Maomao is no ordinary girl. Growing up in the red light district and raised by an impoverished but prodigal doctor gave her skills no ordinary common girl would have. When her intellect catches the eyes of Jinshi, the administrator assigned to look after the concubines, her world is quickly thrown headfirst into the dangers and excitement of court life.

Maomao is the shining star of this series. We’re used to seeing strong female characters in stories, but it’s hard to find one so wholly unique. Maomao snatches that title. She’s not just intelligent – she’s crazy. Obsessed with pharmaceutical discoveries, she happily applies herself to poison tasting just to experiment on her own body for its effects. Yet this maniacal behavior doesn’t come with the usual crazy anime girl tropes. She’s reserved, she has a keen eye to stay out of trouble, and her addiction to discovering new concoctions never gets in the way of her greater logic to navigate a tension-filled world. The many layers of her personality and character bring out a charisma that sends viewers flocking to watch her.

This charisma is largely thanks to the incredible performance by Maomao’s voice actress. Aoi Yuuki is one of the most well known and celebrated voice actresses – capable of completely camouflaging her tone and pitch to the character she plays time after time. She does it again for Maomao, showcasing her wide range of voice acting including being calm and logical, detached and cold, and gremlin chaos, often transforming in a matter of seconds.

However, Aoi Yuuki isn’t the only performance to be praised. Takeo Ootsuka as Jinshi deserves equal praise as he not only matches with such a powerhouse, but even outperforms her at times. While Maomao enraptures audiences and myself with her steadfast confidence, Jinshi is equally fascinating as a character who has complexity and insecurities. He comes off as a suave and confident administrator, but has subtle fluctuations in his character that Takeo Ootsuka manages to bring to life. A hitch in the voice would immediately smooth to fake confidence. Outwardly flamboyant, his internal monologues are filled with determination but also desperation. The character gives Takeo Ootsuka range to show off, and the voice actor doesn’t let a single moment slip from his grasp.

Their relationship also helped fuel the events of the story. Many of Maomao’s adventures would’ve never happened if not for Jinshi’s position and his own interest and attraction towards Maomao. Unlike the usual cat and dog dynamics, their relationship is more of a cat and “cat person” routine, bringing a lot of humor and chemistry between the two and making it easy for the viewer to root for a deeper relationship.

Many of the arcs feel separate and almost episodic. About two to three episodes are dedicated to a mystery that Maomao must solve, and at first, I could see how this could dissuade some viewers who don’t prefer the more episodic format. However, I must insist on not judging The Apothecary Diaries too quickly. In a brilliant and unusual twist, all the mysteries are tied together, leading to a climatic episode that left my heart pounding against my chest.

With excellent characters and an intriguing plot, what ties the series together is its production values. Character designs stand out for both their historical accuracy in clothing style and easily distinguishable faces. The palaces are almost a carbon copy of the Forbidden City of China – a historical site of the palaces Chinese emperors once lived in. Kevin Penkin, now a legend in the anime sphere, lends his musical touch to the series through a Chinese-influenced soundtrack, while insert songs tell the story of important scenes without dialogue. The direction of the series is instrumental to its impact on the audience.

It’s incredible to see The Apothecary Diaries thrive when it aired. People originally brushed off the series because of its Chinese setting, and with other large anime adaptations coming out in Fall of 2023, many assumed it would lose the fight against the others. Instead, The Apothecary Diaries soared above everyone’s expectations, and it made my own heart soar at seeing my culture portrayed so powerfully in a now-beloved anime.

Rating

Plot: 9 (Multiplier 3)

Characters: 9 (Multiplier 3)

Art/Animation: 8.5 (Multiplier 2)

Voice acting: 8

Soundtrack: 8

FINAL SCORE: 87