Thermae Romae
Thermae Romae | |
テルマエ・ロマエ (Terumae Romae) | |
---|---|
Genre | Comedy |
Manga | |
Written by | Mari Yamazaki |
Published by | Enterbrain |
English publisher | |
Magazine | Comic Beam |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | 2008 – 2013 |
Volumes | 6 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Azuma Tani |
Studio | DLE |
Licensed by | |
Original network | Fuji TV (Noitamina) |
Original run | January 12, 2012 – January 26, 2012 |
Episodes | 6 |
Manga | |
Thermae Romae Redux | |
Written by | Mari Yamazaki |
Published by | Shueisha |
Magazine | Shōnen Jump+ |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | February 6, 2024 – present |
Volumes | 1 |
Thermae Romae (Japanese: テルマエ・ロマエ, Hepburn: Terumae Romae) is a Japanese manga series by Mari Yamazaki. It won the third Manga Taishō[1] and the Short Story Award at the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. The manga has been licensed in North America by Yen Press.[2]
Fuji TV produced a live-action film adaptation released on April 28, 2012,[3][4] and a second film, Thermae Romae II, was released in 2014.[5] An anime television adaptation by DLE Inc. aired in Japan on Fuji TV's Noitamina block in January 2012.[4] The show has been licensed by Discotek Media in North America,[6] and by Siren Visual in Australia.[7]
An original net animation (ONA) series adaptation by NAZ titled Thermae Romae Novae was announced and premiered on Netflix in March 2022.[8][9][10] A sequel manga titled Thermae Romae redux began serialization on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ website and app on February 6, 2024.[11]
Plot
[edit]The story follows an ancient Roman architect named Lucius, who is having trouble coming up with ideas. One day, he discovers a hidden tunnel underneath a spa that leads him to a modern Japanese bath house. Inspired by the innovations found there, he creates his own spa, Roma Thermae, bringing the modern ideas to his time.
Each subsequent chapter follows Lucius facing some sort of a problem, just to be swept to Japan once again. He visits modern bath houses, personal baths, waterparks, fertility festivals, and even zoos. There, he always happens to find the inspiration to solve the exact problem he has been tasked with.
Characters
[edit]- Lucius Modestus (ルシウス・モデストゥス, Rushiusu Modesutusu)
- Voiced by: Frogman (2012 series), Kenjiro Tsuda (Novae)[12] (Japanese); David Wald (2012 series)[13] (English)
- A Roman thermae architect who excels in designs ends up discovering modern Japanese baths, believing them to be the baths of 'flat-faced slaves'. He uses these ideas in his own work back home, eventually inspiring others with his discoveries. His endeavours sometimes lead to unfortunate consequences, including costing him his marriage, arousing suspicion of being Emperor Hadrian's homosexual lover, and destroying businesses.
- Marcus Pietras (マルクス・ピエトラス, Marukusu Pietorasu)
- Voiced by: Hiroki Tōchi (2012 series), Chikahiro Kobayashi (Novae)[12] (Japanese); Christopher Guerrero (2012 series)[13] (English)
- Lucius's friend and a marble sculptor. Oftentimes, he becomes Lucius's carver in his projects.
- Hadrianus (ハドリアヌス, Hadorianusu)
- Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka (2012 series), Tsutomu Isobe (Novae)[12] (Japanese); Jim Foronda (2012 series),[13] Richard Epcar (Novae) (English)
- Emperor of Roman Empire. Initially commissioned Lucius of building a private thermae, then commissioned him for more baths.
- Lepidus (レピドゥス, Repidusu)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Shirokuma (2012 series) (Japanese); R. Bruce Elliott (2012 series),[13] Yong Yea (Novae) (English)
- Satsuki Odate
- A 28 year old Japanese woman who is both the town geisha, and an expert in Roman history. She is also a polyglot, can speak and translate Latin. Fell in love with Lucius.
Anime
[edit]A flash anime adaptation by DLE aired on Fuji TV in its Noitamina block between January 12, 2012, and January 26, 2012. The series was released on Blu-ray Disc on April 20, 2012, and included an unaired episode.[14] The ending theme is "Thermae Roman" (テルマエ・ロマン, Terumae Roman) by Chatmonchy.[15] Siren Visual released an English-subtitled version in Australia in October 2012.[7] The series was licensed for release in North America in 2013[16][needs update], and a re-release is planned on December 29, 2020, with an English dub.[17] An original net animation advertisement of toothbrush company Reach was released on April 15, 2014.[18]
Episode list (DLE)
[edit]No. | Title | Original airdate | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "The Roman Who Leapt Through Time" "Toki wo Kakeru Rōmajin" (時をかけるローマ人) | January 12, 2012 | |||||
"Swan Lake" "Hakuchou no Mizu’umi" (白鳥の湖) | |||||||
In Rome in the year 128 AD, a Roman named Lucius Modestus is having trouble coming up with ideas for architecture. While contemplating in a bathhouse, he discovers a strange drain than sends him to a bathhouse in Modern Japan. While confused by his surroundings, he becomes amazed by some of their innovations, such as fruit flavored milk. Taking these ideas back to Rome, he incorporates these ideas into a new bathhouse to great success. A year later, Lucius is commissioned by a sickly man to build an outdoor bath near Vesuvius. While inspecting a heated well, Lucius is once again sent to modern Japan, this time winding up in a hot spring, where he gets to sample slow cooked eggs and sake. These innovations help nurse the old man back to health. | |||||||
2 | "Shampoo Hat" "Sanpū Hatto" (サンプーハット) | January 19, 2012 | |||||
"The Melancholy of the Emperor" "Koutei no Yuu’utsu" (皇帝の憂鬱) | |||||||
As Lucius hears fancies about a bath closer to home, he once again ends up in modern Japan, this time in someone's bathtub. Mistaken as a foreign caretaker by the house's owner, Lucius comes to learn about more modern conveniences. After he builds a bath using this knowledge, his invention gets round to the Emperor Hadrian. There, Lucius suddenly finds himself with a strong urge to use the toilet, however he is summoned by the Emperor and has to bear it. He is to become the Emperor's new architect but he feels he is not worthy of such an honor. Not a moment later he is sent once again to modern Japan, this time in a toilet-showroom, where he sees sea life footage from a digital TV (which he interprets as an aquarium) and a modern bidet toilet. He then uses this knowledge to create these for the Emperor. | |||||||
3 | "The Power of Baths (First Part)" "Yu no Chikara (Zenpen)" (湯のちから・前篇) | January 26, 2012 | |||||
"The Power of Baths (Second Part)" "Yu no Chikara (Kouhen)" (湯のちから・後篇) | |||||||
Lucius is sent to a hot spring near Vesuvius to build some public baths, managing to enlighten some smelly robbers living there. When he slips up, he once again enters modern Japan, discovering a city filled with public hot spring baths. He samples the delights of an amusement stand and a ramen shop before bringing some souvenirs back to Rome, where he builds a village full of baths. | |||||||
OVA1 | "The Fascination of Pharos" "Miwaku no Farosu" (魅惑のファロス) | April 20, 2012 | |||||
Lucius is met with phallus worshipping in both past and present times. | |||||||
OVA2 | "I Want to Slip Honestly" "Hitasura Suberitai" (ひたすら滑りたい) | April 20, 2012 | |||||
"The Three Office Lady Sisters’ Thermae Murder Mystery" "Sanshimai OL Terumae Satsujinjiken" (三姉妹OLテルマエ殺人事件) | |||||||
"I Want to Feel Smooth" "Subesube ni Naritai" (スベスベになりたい) | |||||||
In the first part Lucius is sent to a water park looking for something for the children to do, in the second part he happens to resurface at a murder scene and in the last part he visits a spa. | |||||||
ONA | "Pietrada's Marriage" "Pietorāda no Kekkon" (ピエトラーダの結婚) | April 13, 2014 | |||||
Lucius is beseeched by his friend, Marcus, to help his younger sister, Pietrada, whose bad teeth turns away any potential marriage candidates. Travelling to modern day times again, Lucius discovers the wonder of toothbrushes. |
References
[edit]- ^ "Mari Yamazaki's Thermae Romae Wins Manga Taisho Award". Anime News Network. March 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ^ "Yen Press Adds Thermae Romae, Anything and Something, Umineko no Naku Koro ni". Anime News Network. April 7, 2012. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "Thermae Romae Bath Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on March 15, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ^ a b "Thermae Romae Bath Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- ^ "Thermae Romae Manga Gets Live-Action Film Sequel". Anime News Network. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
- ^ "Facebook - Log In or Sign Up". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005.
- ^ a b "Thermae Romae - Siren Visual". Siren Visual. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ "Netflix Hosts "Netflix Festival Japan 2021" on November 9-10". Netflix Media Center (Press release). October 3, 2021.
- ^ "Netflix Reveals Thermae Romae Novae Anime's 2022 Debut, Kenjiro Tsuda Cast". Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (February 15, 2022). "Netflix Anime Thermae Romae Novae Trailer Announces Worldwide Premiere Date of March 28". Crunchyroll. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 1, 2024). "Mari Yamazaki Draws Thermae Romae Sequel Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Thermae Romae Novae Anime Reveals 9 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. February 1, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Discotek Licenses Symphogear, Dokuro-chan, Medabots, Cleopatra, Battery, Great Passage, More Anime". Anime News Network. July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Thermae Romae Anime's 1st BD to Add Unreleased Episode". Anime News Network. January 18, 2012. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "Thermae Romae Anime to Be 3 Flash-Animated Episodes". Anime News Network. December 11, 2011. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "Discotek Licenses Thermae Romae TV Anime". Anime News Network. October 24, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "Discotek Releases Lupin III: Tokyo Crisis, Devilman Lady, Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter, More Anime on December 29". July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Thermae Romae Gets Collaboration Anime Short with Reach Toothbrushes". Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)
- Thermae Romae (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Manga series
- 2008 manga
- 2012 anime television series debuts
- 2024 manga
- Anime and manga about time travel
- Bathing
- Comedy anime and manga
- Comics set in ancient Rome
- Enterbrain manga
- Flash television shows
- Japanese animated films
- Japanese webcomics
- Japanese-language television shows
- Kadokawa Dwango franchises
- Manga Taishō
- Naz (studio)
- Noitamina
- Seinen manga
- Shōnen manga
- Shueisha manga
- Winner of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (Short Story Award)
- Yen Press titles