Crunchyroll has acquired the North American and worldwide distribution rights for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure (aka The Deceased Empress’ Treasure), the first feature film in The Apothecary Diaries anime franchise.
The worldwide distribution will include India but exclude other regions in Asia.
The upcoming mystery film features an original story by series creator Natsu Hyuga. Norihiro Naganuma, who directed Season 1 and oversaw series composition before serving as chief director for Season 2, will helm the film, with Toho Animation studio handling the animation.
The film’s story centers on a mysterious assignment given to Jinshi by the emperor. He must fulfill the final wish of a concubine who died five years earlier by returning her remains to her homeland.
Crunchyroll describes the plot of the film as:
The curtains rise on a new mystery surrounding a secret treasure hidden in a city on the water.
The emperor gives Jinshi an order. He must grant the final wish of a concubine who passed away five years ago by returning her to her homeland.
In order to return her to her family, Jinshi examines the remains, only to discover that they’re in pristine condition. She’s beautiful, as if she were still alive.
To solve the mystery of the remains, Jinshi drags Maomao along on a journey to Binan-shu, the southern province ruled by the Bi clan.
They arrive at a bustling city on the water. Maomao is excited to see herbs and medicines she has never seen before, but tensions are high in the area, as pirates are viciously trying to find the treasure their late leader hid away.
“I hope nothing happens…”
Jinshi’s premonition comes true. On the day of the concubine’s funeral, a huge incident occurs, triggering a chain of events that nobody could see coming.
While the film is slated to hit the Japanese theatres on Dec 11, 2026, Crunchyroll and Sony, who will be jointly distributing the film, are yet to announce a worldwide release date.
The announcement comes as The Apothecary Diaries continues its run on Crunchyroll.
The anime’s first season premiered in October 2023, followed by its second season in January 2025. Season 3 premiered on Crunchyroll on Oct. 2, with all three seasons available to stream on the platform.
Source: Press Release
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