Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries)
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| Maomao | |
|---|---|
| The Apothecary Diaries character | |
.png) Maomao as illustrated by Touko Shino | |
| First appearance | Chapter 1: "Maomao" (2011 webnovel, 2012 novel, 2014 light novel) |
| Created by | Hyūganatsu |
| Voiced by | |
Maomao (Japanese: 猫猫) is the main protagonist of Hyūganatsu's light novel series The Apothecary Diaries. Set in a fictional country based on Imperial China during the Tang dynasty,[1] Maomao is a girl working as an apothecary in a red-light district, who was kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as an indentured servant, and gradually rises to the station of court pharmacist.
Maomao has an unquenchable thirst for scientific knowledge on chemistry and toxins, a deadpan personality, sarcasm in her veins, a knack for deductive reasoning, and a secret sense of justice. She still retains her curious, eccentric and hyper-observant personality even as an indentured servant, and plans to work at the palace until her two years of servitude are over. After learning that the emperor's newborns and concubines are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause. Using her experience as an apothecary, she successfully solves the mystery of their illness. Even though she intended to remain anonymous, her actions catch the attention of Jinshi, an influential eunuch. She then undertakes the solving of mysteries for the royal court.
Hyūganatsu developed Maomao to come across as a strong character who gradually becomes a more sympathetic individual through her constant work in the district and her relationship with Jinshi. Anime director Norihiro Naganuma described the anime version of Maomao as a person who is expressing her emotions for the first time in contrast to her more emotionless state from the drama CD. The character was praised by critics for her strong personality and work involving medicine while also highlighting her subtle relationship with Jinshi, which Hyuganatsu wrote to provide an opportunity for gradual character development. In order to show Maomao as a more capable character, Hyuganatsu also created the skilled but flawed Doctor Guen to serve as a contrast to Maomao, who would overshadow him.[2]
Maomao is voiced by Aoi Yūki in the drama CD and anime adaptations[3][4] and Emi Lo in the English dub of the anime.[5] Yūki said Maomao does not appear to show notable growth in the anime due to her tendency to observe others and later loosen up.[6]
Yūki initially expected to follow the emotionless characterization of the already established drama CD, but the different plot and focus of the anime required her to take on a new approach to the character.[7] Regarding the anime version of Maomao, Yuki said, "the character design is cute, so I balanced it by removing a little sweetness."[8] Naganuma commented on Yūki's acting, "Yūki has a very high level of understanding and adaptability to the story. If it's an anime, she will properly adapt to the new approach of the anime. I feel that her response to direction is outstanding."[9] Yūki describes her work as a harem but was surprised by Takahiro Sakurai's work as Jinshi.[10] Lo was grateful to take on Maomao's role, seeing her as fun and at the same time relatable.[11]
Anime director Norihiro Naganuma said that Maomao shows notable growth as a human in the first season when discussing her trauma with Jinshi. Still, the director said Maomao does not understand love which is one of the main themes of the story. In contrast to the anime, Naganuma noted that Maomao is more emotionless in the drama CD.[12] Additionally, the anime adaptation had several plot changes to make Maomao's perspective the center of the story, sometimes even overshadowing the main events.[13]
The anime team suggested the idea of self-love as the subject matter for the anime's first opening theme "Be a Flower" by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, so Haruko Nagaya wrote the lyrics to connect the theme of self-love to the character of Maomao, whom she described as the opposite of a typical protagonist.[14] For "Hyakka Ryōran" performed by Lilas Ikuta, Maomao was illustrated and written as Alice in Wonderland, drawing parallels between both protagonists and how their new lives in the narrative affect their characterizations.[15]
