[Photos/Images] Pause Recommended! Maomao's Shocked Expression in The Apothecary Diaries—A Completely Off-Guard Face Worth Freezing the Frame For 1st

That's seriously a bit too much surprise! In episode 15 of the anime series The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao (CV: Aoi Yūki) shows such a shocked face—her art style even seems to have changed—that you'll feel the urge to pause and savor the moment (maybe!?). The impact is overwhelming.

Fans of The Apothecary Diaries are well-versed in the usual exchange: Jinshi (CV: Takeo Ōtsuka) pesters Maomao, and Maomao handles him with her trademark coolness. In episode 15, Jinshi shows up while Maomao is lost in thought and cheerfully asks, "What were you talking about?"

Caught off guard, Maomao is totally startled! Her eyes and mouth pop wide open in a look straight out of a Showa-era horror manga. Jinshi even retorts, "Honestly, even I’m a little hurt by that face."

Maomao’s incredibly impactful expression set the internet abuzz. Comments included “She looks like a character from a Kazuo Umezu manga, lol,” “Maomao, what’s with that face, lol,” and “That’s a terrible face, hahahaha.” Some even remarked, “Maomao’s face was the most intense it’s ever been, haha.” It's fair to say that episode 15 could be called one of the all-time top “funny face episodes.”

The currently streaming anime The Apothecary Diaries is adapted from the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. It has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines, and the series has exceeded 40 million copies in circulation. The TV anime aired for two consecutive cours starting October 2023 and became a huge sensation, thanks to the mystery deduced by Maomao—who works as a poison tester in the rear palace—and the hilarious interactions between Maomao and Jinshi. The second season of the anime began airing in January 2025.

(C)Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project

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