[Comparative Study] Summary of the differences between the second season of the anime “The Apothecary Diaries” and the original manga and manga | What was “depicted” and what was “not” depicted
The second season of the anime “The Apothecary Diaries” has come to a close with great success, but one thing that people are wondering about is, “What are the differences from the original novel and comic book version?”
In fact, some changes have been made to the tempo, direction, and character portrayal when it was made into an anime. This time, I will introduce these differences in an easy-to-understand way from the perspective of someone who has read the original novel and manga.
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① The anime prioritizes tempo and prioritizes “incidents”
The second season of the anime is based on the latter half of volume 5 to volume 8 of the original novel (mainly the Hinata Natsu version). It is characterized by a well-paced structure that focuses on incidents overall.
For example,
• **The “distance” and “psychological depiction” between Nekoneko and Jinshi** are depicted more carefully in the original
• Some episodes (e.g. light daily episodes, short stories about peripheral characters, etc.) are cut or shortened in the anime
• The hints about Jinshi’s true identity seem to be built up more carefully in the original
While the anime has a good tempo, some people may have found it difficult to read between the lines of the characters’ feelings.
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②There are two types of comic book versions! Each has its own position
Did you know that there are two types of comic book versions of “The Apothecary Diaries”?
●Big Gangan version (art: Neko Kurage)
This is the one on which the anime is based. It is characterized by beautiful illustrations and a development that is quite faithful to the original.
• The dialogue and character movements are depicted in detail, making it more complementary than the anime.
• Nekoneko’s “emotional fluctuations” and “implied reactions” are depicted with rich expressions.
• It also picks up on small details and episodes omitted in the anime, giving it a similar atmosphere to the original.
●Sunday GX version (Art: Kurata Sanro)
This is a comic version drawn with another interpretation. Although the content is different from the anime, it is also popular with fans of the original. The atmosphere and depiction are more mature and sophisticated.
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③ Intention of the anime-original direction and cuts
In the second anime season, there were some arrangements here and there to make it easier to understand for those who are watching the anime for the first time.
For example:
• The depiction of Jinshi’s emotions is “a little easier to understand.”
→ In the original work, it’s more of a “I don’t know what he’s thinking” type, but in the anime, there are more scenes that hint at it through facial expressions and direction.
• The explanation of the truth of the incident was slightly simplified
→ Editing prioritized the viewer’s understanding (some overly technical talk about poison was cut)
• The number of scenes with Nekoneko’s knowledge of poison was slightly reduced
→ In the original work, there are many very nerdy explanations of poison, but in the anime, some were omitted in order to prioritize tempo
These differences can be seen as a way for the anime to make it easier to enter the world of the work.
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④ Still, the core remains the same
Although there are small differences between the anime, original work, and manga, what all the media have in common is
“A story about a girl who interprets the world through “poison””
“A quiet harem drama where human deeds and love intersect”
The core of the work.
Especially in the second season, the focus has shifted to “human drama” rather than the truth of the incident, so I think the colors of each medium are more easily expressed.
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Summary: Enjoy the “between the lines” with the original novel and manga
If you’re hooked on “The Apothecary Diaries” because of the anime, you should definitely pick up the original novel and manga version.
In particular, the subtleties of the “too delicate relationship” between Nekoneko and Jinshi, which the anime couldn’t fully express, and the feelings of the people behind the incident are depicted more deeply and quietly.
The anime is perfect as an “entrance to broaden your horizons.”
But the real depth lies in the printed word and manga. This is the kind of work that makes you feel that way.
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