Thermae Romae
| Thermae Romae | |
|
Cover of the first manga volume | |
| テルマエ・ロマエ (Terumae Romae) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Mari Yamazaki |
| Published by | Enterbrain |
| English publisher | |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Comic Beam |
| Original run | 2008 – 2013 |
| Volumes | 6 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Azuma Tani |
| Studio | DLE |
| Licensed by | |
| Network | Fuji TV (noitamina) |
| Original run | January 12, 2012 – January 26, 2012 |
| Episodes | 6 |
Thermae Romae (Japanese: テルマエ・ロマエ Hepburn: Terumae Romae), styled as Thermæ Romæ, 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 and released on April 28, 2012.[3][4] A second film 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]
Plot
The story follows a 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 in 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
- Lucius Modestus (ルシウス・モデストゥス Rushiusu Modesutusu)
- Voiced by: Frogman
- A Roman architect who 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.
- Marcus Pietras (マルクス・ピエトラス Marukusu Pietorasu)
- Voiced by: Hiroki Touchi
- Hadrianus (ハドリアヌス Hadorianusu)
- Voiced by: Akio Ohtsuka
- Lepidus (レピドゥス Repidusu)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Shirokuma
Anime
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.[8] The ending theme is "Thermae Roman" (テルマエ・ロマン Terumae Roman) by Chatmonchy.[9] Siren Visual released an English-subtitled version in Australia in October 2012,[7] and Discotek Media has licensed the series in North America for release in 2013.[10] An additional original net animation episode was released on April 15, 2014 in collaboration with toothbrush company Reach.[11]
Episode list
| 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" "Hakuchō no Mizūmi" (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 boiled eggs and sake. These innovations help nurse the old man back to health. | ||
| 2 | "Shampoo Hat" "Shanpū Hatto" (シャンプーハット) | January 19, 2012 |
| "The Melancholy of the Emperor" "Kōtei no Yūutsu" (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" "Yu no Chikara" (湯のちから) | January 26, 2012 |
| 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 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 |
| 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 Satsujin Jiken" (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) | ||
| 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. | ||
Film
| Thermae Romae | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Hideki Takeuchi |
| Produced by |
Chihiro Kameyama Minami Ichikawa Atsushi Terada Hirokazu Hamamura |
| Written by | Shōgo Mutō |
| Starring |
Hiroshi Abe Aya Ueto Kazuki Kitamura Riki Takeuchi Kai Shishido Takashi Sasano Masachika Ichimura |
| Music by | Norihito Sumimoto |
| Cinematography | Kazunari Kawagoe |
| Edited by | Hiroshi Matsuo |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Toho |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 108 minutes[12] |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Box office | $74,091,903[13] |
Cast
- Hiroshi Abe[14] as Lucius
- Aya Ueto as Mami Yamakoshi[14]
- Kazuki Kitamura as Ceionius[14]
- Riki Takeuchi as Tateno[14]
- Kai Shishido as Antoninus[14]
- Takashi Sasano as Shūzo Yamakoshi[14]
- Masachika Ichimura as Hadrian[14]
- Midoriko Kimura as Yumi Yamakoshi[14]
- Katsuya as Marcus[14]
Reception
As of July 29, the film had a box office gross of US$74,091,903.[15] It was the second highest-grossing domestic film at the Japanese box office in 2012[16] and, as of January 5, 2015, is the 95th highest-grossing film in Japan, with ¥5.98 billion.[17]
Thermae Romae earned HK$1,498,789 at the Hong Kong box office.[18]
The film had its North American premiere in September 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival.[19][20]
References
- ↑ "Mari Yamazaki's Thermae Romae Wins Manga Taisho Award". Anime News Network. March 17, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Yen Press Adds Thermae Romae, Anything and Something, Umineko no Naku Koro ni". Anime News Network. 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
- ↑ "Thermae Romae Bath Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. March 12, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- 1 2 "Thermae Romae Bath Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. December 9, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Thermae Romae Manga Gets Live-Action Film Sequel". Anime News Network. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=518643544831411&set=a.196378827057886.55668.147168055312297&type=1&theater
- 1 2 "Thermae Romae - Siren Visual". Siren Visual. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
- ↑ "Thermae Romae Anime's 1st BD to Add Unreleased Episode". Anime News Network. 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
- ↑ "Thermae Romae Anime to Be 3 Flash-Animated Episodes". Anime News Network. 2011-12-11. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
- ↑ "Discotek Licenses Thermae Romae TV Anime". Anime News Network. 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-26/thermae-romae-gets-collaboration-anime-short-with-reach-toothbrushes
- ↑ "テルマエ・ロマエ : 作品情報 - 映画.com". Eiga. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
- ↑ "Terumae romae (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "テルマエ・ロマエ". Eiga.com. Eiga.com. August 31, 2012.
- ↑ "Japanese Box Office, July 28–29". Anime News Network. 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
- ↑ 2012年（平成24年 ） 興行収入１０億円以上番組 ） (PDF). www.eiren.org (in Japanese). Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ↑ 歴代興収ベスト100. www.kogyotsushin.com (in Japanese). January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Thermae Romae". HK Neo Reviews. 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ↑ "2012 Toronto International Film Festival Unveils Galas and Special Presentations" (PDF) (Press release). Toronto International Film Festival. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
- ↑ "Thermae Romae: Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
External links
- Thermae Romae at Enterbrain (Japanese)
- Thermae Romae (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Thermae Romae at the Internet Movie Database
