A Stacked Cast for a Palace Fantasy
Takeo Ōtsuka, who broke out as Aqua Hoshino in Oshi no Ko and followed up as Jinshi in The Apothecary Diaries, takes on another period drama lead as first crown prince 景雲 (likely Keiun). It's a fitting trajectory for an actor quickly becoming the voice of composed, calculating male leads in lavish historical settings.
Opposite him, Rina Hidaka (Silica in Sword Art Online, Filo in The Rising of the Shield Hero) plays 胡葉 (likely Koyō), a young woman whose surgical expertise makes her an outlier in a world that defaults to herbal remedies. Rounding out the initial lineup, Taito Ban (Sung Jin-Woo in Solo Leveling) voices Koyō's assistant Shingudamu (シングダム), and Shōya Chiba (Kiyotaka Ayanokōji in Classroom of the Elite) plays 時英 (likely Jiei), Keiun's personal attendant.
What Is The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom?
Written and illustrated by ひむか透留 (likely Tōru Himuka), the manga has been serialized in KADOKAWA's ASUKA magazine since 2018. The story unfolds in the fictional kingdom of Gekkakoku, where medicinal baths and herbal decoctions are the standard treatments for illness and injury. Koyō, a girl with advanced surgical skills including suturing, and Keiun, the realm's first crown prince, find themselves battling palace conspiracies, mysterious cults, and deeply rooted customs.
The premise will sound familiar to fans of The Apothecary Diaries — a resourceful heroine applying specialized knowledge to survive court intrigue. The English-language manga is published by Seven Seas Entertainment under the full title The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom, giving international readers an easy entry point.
Staff and Production
Studio Elle handles animation production, marking just its second lead studio credit after Bukiyō na Senpai in late 2025. Kōichirō Kuroda (黒田晃一郎) directs, with Aki Mizuki (水月秋, likely reading) on series composition and Akira Ono (小野晃) on character design. Hozumi Gōda (郷田ほづみ) serves as sound director, with Shiho Terada (寺田志保) composing the music and HIGHWAY STAR handling music production.
A teaser PV released on KADOKAWA's YouTube channel offers a first look at the main characters in motion. Manga creator Himuka also drew a celebratory illustration to mark the announcement.
Looking Ahead
No broadcast window has been announced — this is a production confirmation, not a premiere date reveal. International streaming rights haven't been disclosed either, so there's no word yet on a Crunchyroll, Netflix, or other platform pickup.
For fans who want to get ahead of the curve, Seven Seas Entertainment already publishes the manga in English. The official anime X account is currently running a postcard giveaway featuring Himuka's celebration artwork, open until June 19, 2026.