Crunchyroll Secures Global Theatrical Rights for The Apothecary Diaries Film

Crunchyroll announced on October 8 that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure in North America and international markets outside Asia, with India included. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the anime film, extending the franchise's first theatrical feature beyond its December 11, 2026 opening in Japan.

What the distribution deal covers

The agreement gives Crunchyroll rights across North America and other territories worldwide, excluding Asia while making an exception for India. Sony Pictures Entertainment will work alongside Crunchyroll on the theatrical rollout. Dates and ticket information for markets outside Japan have not yet been announced.

That distinction matters because the Japanese premiere already has a firm date. The Late Lady's Treasure is scheduled to open there on December 11, placing the domestic launch ahead of the international release plan covered by the new acquisition.

The film also marks the first theatrical anime entry for The Apothecary Diaries. Series creator Natsu Hyuuga provided the concept for its original mystery, giving the feature a story made for the screen instead of a simple recap of television material. Norihiro Naganuma is directing at TOHO Animation STUDIO. Naganuma also handles series composition for the currently airing third season.

The licensing announcement arrives as the anime's third television season is underway. Its first part began on October 2, 2026, while a second part is scheduled for April 2027. That keeps the television story active as preparations continue for the film's international theatrical release.

The new mystery facing Maomao and Jinshi

The official premise begins with an order from the emperor. Jinshi must carry out the final wish of a concubine who died five years earlier by returning her remains to her homeland. When he examines the body, however, he finds it preserved in remarkably pristine condition.

Jinshi brings Maomao into the investigation and travels with her to Binan-shu, a southern province governed by the Bi clan. Their destination is a busy city built around water, where Maomao encounters unfamiliar herbs and medicines. The setting also has a more dangerous conflict in motion: pirates are searching for a secret treasure hidden by their late leader.

The concubine's funeral then triggers a major incident, turning the journey into a wider mystery involving the preserved remains and the hidden treasure. The setup keeps the series' familiar investigative pairing at the center while moving Maomao and Jinshi away from the imperial palace and into a new region.

The wider franchise began with light novels written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino. Imagica Infos publishes the series in Japan under its Hero Bunko imprint, while English editions are available digitally from J-Novel Club and in print from Square Enix.

The December 11 Japanese premiere is the next confirmed milestone for The Late Lady's Treasure. The new rights agreement establishes Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment as the film's theatrical distributors across the covered international markets.