The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Unveils Its Opening

The Apothecary Diaries is officially back with its third season, and a new creditless opening sequence has been released to mark the beginning of Maomao and Jinshi's latest journey. The opening features “Kumo wo Nuke Kazashimo e Watashi Dake,” performed by Yorushika, a song built around delicate vocals, guitar-driven instrumentation and a light atmosphere that reflects the sense of travel surrounding the new storyline. The accompanying animation also contains several visual clues that appear to foreshadow some of the mysteries awaiting the two central characters.

The new opening was directed by animation creator Ayaka Nakata, who previously worked on the second season's opening sequence for “Hyakka Ryoran.” Her latest contribution once again relies on carefully constructed imagery and subtle visual details, encouraging viewers to pay close attention to each scene. Aoi Yuki, the voice actress behind Maomao, praised the sequence after seeing it during an advance screening held on September 27, highlighting both its unusual visual interpretation and the hints it provides about future developments.

Season 3 begins airing in Japan on October 2, 2026 through Nippon TV's FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block and will be divided into two cours. The first is scheduled for October 2026, while the second will follow in April 2027. The series continues the story of Maomao, a highly observant young woman whose expertise in medicine and poisons repeatedly draws her into mysterious incidents within and beyond the imperial court. The franchise has grown considerably since the anime debuted in October 2023, while the original series has now surpassed 45 million copies in circulation.

The Apothecary Diaries will also expand beyond television this year. The franchise's first theatrical movie, The Apothecary Diaries: The Treasure of the Late Empress, is scheduled to open in Japan on December 11, 2026. Meanwhile, the Season 3 Blu-ray collection will begin releasing on February 17, 2027 across four volumes. The first release will contain episodes 49 through 54 alongside bonus material including promotional videos, creditless opening and ending sequences, a special booklet and additional collector-oriented content.