The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), the historical fiction light novel series written by Hyūganatsu, is gearing up for a trifecta of new journeys, including a third season of the anime by Toho Animation Studio and OLM, a new film titled The Deceased Empress’ Treasure set to premiere later this year, and a live-action Amazon series adaptation. To celebrate protagonist Maomao’s journey, a special exhibition has popped up right here in Singapore, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the beloved anime series.
Making its local debut after captivating fans in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea, The Apothecary Diaries Exhibition will be held at Fever Exhibition Hall from now until 1 November 2026, and offers a look at over 250 pieces of production material behind the hit anime, giving fans a peek behind the curtain at what makes the show tick.
Stepping into the massive 1,207-square-metre space, fans will be immediately greeted by a “family tree” which outlines the relationships between the show’s various characters, from Maomao’s complicated family history to the adoptive one she found with the Verdigris House and the Three Princesses, as well as Jinshi’s royal bloodline.
Adorning the exhibition’s walls are numerous pieces of The Apothecary Diaries production material, which give insight into the work that goes into developing such a massive anime. These range from detailed storyboarding sketches comprising each frame of select Season 1 episodes, such as the iconic pilot, “Maomao”, to Episode 19, “Chance or Something More”, which featured the pivotal moment where Maomao risks her life to save a man from a collapsing pillar, only to find out that it was Jinshi.
Accompanying these storyboards are detailed hand-drawn sketches of key scenes in the anime made by the production team, alongside episode key highlights from director Norihiro Naganuma, which help give a better understanding of what each episode of Season 1 was trying to convey. Other highlights of the exhibition include concept sketches for each of its main characters, the logic that went into crafting one of the season’s most complex cases – the series of three seemingly unrelated mishaps that eventually overlapped in “Strange Coincidences and a Brave Girl” – and even how the team made use of 3D rendering to map out the environment and give the anime’s scenes more spatial depth.
Finally, look out for a special commemorative wall right at the end of the exhibition, which features hand-drawn The Apothecary Diaries artwork from Animation director Kanari Yamada and other members of the show’s creative team, alongside handwritten messages from Maomao and Jinshi voice actors Aoi Yūki and Takeo Otsuka, respectively, and the original light novel’s author, Natsu Hyūga.
The Apothecary Diaries Exhibition isn’t just designed to give fans an inside look at the anime’s development process, it also provides ample photo opportunities, with numerous exclusive character standees of Maomao, Jinshi, Gaoshun and more to snap a quick selfie with, or even more intricate sets and exhibition pieces, such as props like Maomao’s cluttered medicine cabinet, Lakan and Fengxian’s game of Go, or even replicas of the hairpins given to Maomao by Jinshi and Lady Lihua. Best of all, the event is cosplay-friendly, so fans can come in their best fits and capture the moment (A huge thanks to cosplayer @xiaoyukiko, who helped make our event images extra special with her cosplay of one of Maomao’s most iconic outfits).
Of course, no event would be complete without a merchandise store, and The Apothecary Diaries Exhibition is no different. Fans can commemorate the occasion by taking home merch like acrylic stands, pins, keychains, or stickers, including some event-exclusives up for grabs too. Fans looking for something truly special can also check out the instant-print random collectable card machine, with 12 designs to collect.
The Apothecary Diaries Exhibition will run at Fever Exhibition Hall, 25 Scotts Road, from 3 October to 1 November, with pricing details as follows:
- Child (3-12): S$25 to S$27
- Adult (13+): S$28 to S$30
- VIP (Adult/ Child): S$63 to S$65 (includes two metal bookmarks of random designs and one S$10 merchandise voucher)
- Bundle of 3: S$81 to S$87
- Bundle of 4: S$106 to S$114
Product images were shot using a Sony α7 IV Full-Frame Hybrid Camera equipped with the following lenses: Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G, and 28-70mm F2 GM.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
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