Few anime series in recent memory have had the same impact as 2023 The Apothecary Diaries. Based on a series of novels by Natsu HyÅ«ga, the series was a huge success that impressed fans with its medical mysteries and deep characters. The series’ protagonist, Maomao, is one of the most refreshing anime protagonists in recent years, as she is both kind and cunning and calculating in her own way. The result is a compelling series that has found legions of fans who are currently eagerly awaiting the release of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 in early 2025.
Part of the reason for the anime’s success was the direction courtesy of season 1 director Norihiro Naganuma. Naganuma is a talented animator who has directed hits such as The Ancient Wizard’s Bride while also providing storyboards and artistic support for series such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titanand Vinlândia Saga. With Naganuma at the helm of direction and writing, The Apothecary Diaries’ The genre story of the original novel series was faithfully translated into the anime adaptation, helping it become the hit that it is.
In anticipation of the series’ second season, we sat down with Naganuma to discuss what it was like working on the series and why he thinks Maomao is such an interesting protagonist.
Screen Rant: So you took on writing and directing duties for this series. It was particularly difficult to take on these dual roles. Or did doing one make the other easier?
Norihiro Naganuma: As a director, to express what I wanted, it was very important to be able to be part of the structuring, the script and all of this so that I could have full creative expression. So it was very essential for me to not only direct but also write. Even during the structuring, I was thinking about how to use the sound of the music, for example. So it was like that throughout the process and it helped me to direct better.
What was your favorite episode of the first season? Was there a specific episode you were really proud of?
Norihiro Naganuma: the first episode and the final episode. The first, of course, presents the show to the public. So I was really nervous about how the audience would feel after watching that. So episode 24 is obviously the end of the entire season. And so I wanted to make sure that we had a proper conclusion and that the theme was delivered to the audience successfully. And that’s why I was really paying attention to those two.
Was there a specific moment or quote from the season that really resonated with you?
Norihiro Naganuma: Then in episode 24, I can’t remember the exact full quote, but the line says, “Do you know the little finger? Even if it is cut off, it will grow back.” So that was the one that left the most lasting impression on me. This specific line represents the fact that Maomao’s own trauma, the trauma of his birth, his mother, and his father, can also be healed. And the fact that Maomao is telling this to Jinshi shows her growth as a human.
Maomao doesn’t understand love, so there are many scenes in each episode where she looks at her little finger, and this is an act. So being able to say that line to Jinshi, and then the fact that the little finger can even heal and grow back, really shows Maomao’s character arc in a beautiful way.
Since you’re talking about the pinky line, a big theme of the series is overcoming trauma. Was this something you were actively trying to promote as a main message of the series?
Norihiro Naganuma: Therefore, the main theme of this series is self-love and the love between mother and child. And so, there are pieces of this puzzle scattered throughout each episode. So I paid attention to putting these pieces in the right place, like a puzzle. So every piece of every episode will come together in the end.
Do you have a particularly favorite character in the series?
Norihiro Naganuma: Not as a director, but on a personal level, I like Gaoshun more. The fact that he can step back and look at things more objectively is why I think he’s in the best position to observe Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship.
Have you had any interesting encounters with fans of the series and do you follow fan conversations about the series?
Norihiro Naganuma: I was too busy creating this, so I didn’t have time to pay attention to what the fans were saying. So my wife’s reaction is the easiest and most effective way to gauge how I’m doing on the project, but my wife kept saying, “Oh, I want to see the next one, I want to see the next one!”
Maomao is a very morally upright character, but still has a lot of nuance and depth that makes her really compelling to watch. What do you think is the key to making characters like her so interesting?
Norihiro Naganuma: So it’s all thanks to Natsu HyÅ«ga’s original characters. But there’s this audio drama where Maomao is a little more emotionless. In this, her feelings are much more hidden, but in the animation I pay attention to how we can make her more expressive and more willing to show emotion. We want to create moments where, if she loves something, she expresses it. So we had to emphasize these moments.
Thanks to Norihiro Naganuma for speaking with us! Looking forward to The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 when it releases in early 2025!