The Apothecary Diaries Movie: New Title, Full Cast, Crunchyroll Deal

The Apothecary Diaries Movie: December 11 Premiere, the Ichiban Kuji, and Figures Collectors Should Know

The Apothecary Diaries movie has a new English title, a confirmed international distributor, and a full villain lineup — all revealed in the span of one week. The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure (formerly translated as "The Deceased Empress' Treasure") still opens in Japan on December 11, 2026, but the film just went from a release date with a vague overseas plan to a film with a named global distributor, a director, and daily character-trailer reveals. Here is what changed and what is still confirmed from the original announcement.

What Just Changed for the Apothecary Diaries Movie

Three things moved since this film was first announced in July: the English subtitle was re-translated, Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures locked a worldwide theatrical deal, and TOHO animation STUDIO began rolling out daily character trailers from October 10 through October 14, 2026. The Japanese title never changed; the English localization shifted from "The Deceased Empress' Treasure" to "The Late Lady's Treasure" for the international release, which is the title Crunchyroll is now using in its own marketing.

The trailer rollout also confirmed something the July announcement did not: a director. Norihiro Naganuma is directing, with TOHO animation STUDIO handling production — the franchise's first theatrical feature, built around an original mystery written by series creator Natsu Hyuga rather than an adaptation of an existing light novel arc.

Anime Corner — The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure Anime Film Acquired by Crunchyroll for Global Theatrical Release
Image: Anime Corner

Release Date and Global Distribution

The Apothecary Diaries movie opens in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. Outside Japan, Crunchyroll has acquired North American and worldwide theatrical distribution rights, with Sony Pictures Entertainment co-distributing the global rollout. The deal excludes most of Asia but explicitly includes India. No exact theatrical dates outside Japan have been announced yet — only that a global release is locked in.

If you are weighing whether to wait for a theatrical date near you, note that none of the tie-in merchandise is tied to that date. The Ichiban Kuji draws in Japan on December 5, regardless of when the film reaches other markets. Collectors who want Ichiban Kuji figures in hand sooner rather than later can browse Akibato's in-stock Ichiban Kuji collection, which ships current sets worldwide while this film's kuji is still weeks from its draw.

Get Your Comic On — Crunchyroll and Sony Bring The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure to Cinemas Worldwide
Image: Get Your Comic On

The Story: A City on the Water

The film follows Maomao and imperial official Jinshi as they travel to Binan-shu, a coastal city on the water ruled by the Bi clan, to carry out an imperial mandate: returning the remains of a concubine who died five years earlier to her hometown. During the funeral, "a huge incident occurs, triggering a chain of events that nobody could see coming," according to the official synopsis. The mystery pulls in the Bi clan's own secrets and the Kajadan Pirates, who are hunting treasure hidden by their late leader.

It is an original story, not an adaptation of a specific light novel volume, which means even readers caught up on the source material are going in without a script to reference.

Who's in the Cast

The daily trailer rollout exists specifically to introduce this film's new characters, who split into two factions: the Bi clan at the center of the mystery, and the Kajadan Pirates circling it.

Returning Characters

  • Aoi Yuki as Maomao
  • Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi
  • Katsuyuki Konishi as Gaoshun
  • Tatsumaru Tachibana as Basen
  • Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Lahan

New Cast: The Bi Clan

Character Role Voice actor
Birō Bi clan head Nobuo Tobita
Shūu Birō's wife Kumiko Watanabe
Bisen Eldest son Hirofumi Nojima
Mu Qing Son, key to the mystery Mariya Ise

New Cast: The Kajadan Pirates

Character Role Voice actor
Suija Current head Kenshō Ono
Eishō Loyal subordinate Ryōta Takeuchi
Seisei Suija's older sister Undisclosed
Kaja Deceased former leader Jirō Saitō

The Tie-In Ichiban Kuji and Figures

None of the merchandise plans changed with the title update. Bandai Spirits is still running an Ichiban Kuji tied to the film, drawing from December 5, 2026 in Japan at 800 yen per draw, with prizes graded A through H plus a Last One Prize and a Double Chance Prize. (New to the format? Here is how the Last One Prize works.)

Item Type Reference price Availability
Ichiban Kuji (A/B Dioramiquemaster, Last One Maomao) Prize figures 800 yen per draw Draws from Dec 5, 2026 (Japan)
Kotobukiya OSHI WORKS Maomao Non-scale statue (~20 cm) 8,800 yen ~November 2026
Kotobukiya OSHI WORKS Jinshi Non-scale statue (~25 cm) 9,350 yen ~December 2026

The A and B prizes launch a new "Dioramiquemaster" diorama line: Maomao and Jinshi seated on scenic bases with flowers, wooden planks, and water effects. The Last One Prize is a standing Maomao shielding her eyes from the sun. Kotobukiya's OSHI WORKS statues are built as a pair — each base carries a magnet so the two figures connect and their spacing can be adjusted on a shelf.

FAQ

Is "The Late Lady's Treasure" the same movie as "The Deceased Empress' Treasure"?

Yes. The Japanese title never changed; only the English subtitle was re-translated for the international release that Crunchyroll and Sony are now distributing.

When can I watch it outside Japan?

No exact date yet. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures confirmed a worldwide theatrical deal (excluding most of Asia, but including India), with specific dates still to be announced after the December 11 Japan premiere.

Do I need to watch Season 3 first?

Not strictly — the film tells a self-contained story — but Maomao and Jinshi's relationship and the imperial court politics carry over. If you are catching up, see our Apothecary Diaries Season 3 guide for where the story stands going in, and our original Ichiban Kuji breakdown for the full prize list as it was first revealed.

Bottom Line

  • The film is now officially "The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure" (re-translated from "The Deceased Empress' Treasure"), opening in Japan December 11, 2026.
  • Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment hold worldwide theatrical rights (excluding most of Asia, including India); no international dates are set yet.
  • Director Norihiro Naganuma and TOHO animation STUDIO are behind the franchise's first theatrical feature, an original story by creator Natsu Hyuga.
  • The new cast splits into the Bi clan (Nobuo Tobita, Kumiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Nojima, Mariya Ise) and the Kajadan Pirates (Kenshō Ono, Ryōta Takeuchi, Jirō Saitō).
  • The tie-in Ichiban Kuji draws December 5 at 800 yen per draw; Kotobukiya's magnet-paired OSHI WORKS statues follow in November and December.

The Apothecary Diaries kuji does not draw until December, and its figures ship later still. If you want Ichiban Kuji figures you can actually own now, Akibato's in-stock Ichiban Kuji collection ships current sets worldwide — and if you are new to ordering these, here is how to buy an Ichiban Kuji set from outside Japan.

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