Thermae Romae
 

No forum for this one yet? It's subbed, so this should be moved to "Current Series" ASAP.

Not surprised there's little interest, because this is very odd. Extremely crude flash animation, only three episodes, esoteric as hell - but I enjoyed the first episodes. Very sly social commentary and some good gags. But why is Steve Buscemi in ancient Rome?

I haven't seen the episode, but this PV:



:heh:

But I'm suspecting this PV was a troll.

I think i watch the movie instead. It looks more interesting.

Again, another hugely popular series that western anime fans don't care, and they had the audacity to say there's too many moe and fan service series nowadays?

The problem is that they they don't like moe, they don't like fan-service, and they don't like/follow the non-moe series so they just bitch about everything.

Anyway, it's only 3 episodes because there is only 3 volumes of manga so far, yet those 3 volumes sold at a record pace for seinen series that even make every Shonen and Shojo series not named One Piece jealous.

So far the series has already break 5 million copies with just 3 volumes.

It even has a live action movie slotted later this year featuring a kick-ass, top line cast with Hiroshi Abe , Aya Ueto, Masachika Ichimura, and Kazuki Kitamura .


Edit: Which MrTerrorist beat me to it with the trailer...

Thermae Romae vol.4 is already relased. :D

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/914/thermae.jpg

I really love the manga a lot and the recent chapters are particularly hilarious. :heh: I'm so happy that the anime is released.

not even 3 weeks though, but agree. The manga is great, I can't wait for my Chinese version.

I also can't wait for the movie. That cast they have is a beast of a cast.

Hiroshi Abe is well known for his acting ability and ability to deliver cold, sharp comedic line. Same can be said with Kazuki Kitamura.

Masachika Ichimura is a well known stage/drama actor from a espect entertainment family.

And then you add a eye candy with Aya Ueto, that movie is looking really good from cast point.

Just when I thought nothing in anime/manga would surprise me any more, something like this turns up.

A very interesting concept indeed. And so apparently obvious, too, given the two cultures' shared love for public baths. You'd have thought that someone, especially a sociologist or a historian, would have hit upon this idea a lot sooner.

If there's ever an anime for broadening the medium's appeal to Italians, Thermae Romae would probably be it. Meanwhile, it's time to soak. :p

I didn't plan to pick this up because I wasn't even expecting anyone to bother subbing it. Imagine my surprise when someone did.

Anyway gonna watch it later.

I suggest you don't generalize people.

Not everyone who has been levying criticisms against the industry at the moment is as you say.

Then, you are NOT in the crowd that I'm referring to isn't it.

Have you checked General Anime discussion lately? There are at least 2-3 threads opened and then closed on the very topic in last month, none of them ended with remotely convincing argument from the accusing side.

Anyway, you're right, I probably should put the word "some" in it, though I stand by my point.

I am impressed by this anime!

And to think that some complained that this anime shelved aside other more anticipated projects!

I watched the first episode and although it produced some chuckles it's not ROFLMAO material so it's not enough for me to keep following.

I just wish there's more episodes of it instead of just 3.

The Manga is amazing.

But can't really argue with the decision when there are only 4 volumes out, (3 at time of announcement) and I rather they don't mess up on the adaption.



As for those whines, I'm just getting tire seeing "some" western fans complain about the state of the industry and blame it all on otaku and moe and fan service, when they have no concrete evidences nor arguments and are just pissed off because they thought there aren't as many stuff them want when in reality they are too lazy to spend time looking for stuff they claim no longer exist.

The best ever. The pure randomness made me giggle. I like the expressions of different characters so far. The crappy animation it may be, I cannot really criticise about anything. It was very wacky.

This is obviously a teaser project for the movies. Each episodes only consist a manga chapter.

I really hope that it become an actual 1-cour series.


My favorite part was when it modified the scene in manga and turn it into a perfect movie plug.

Lucius: "A giant, single block mirror!!! They have such a giant mirror!!? And the flawless detail in this advertisement portrait!!!" (looks at the Thermae Romae movie poster with Hiroshi Abe in the background.)

Flat-face Men: "You looked kind of like Hiroshi Abe!!!"



BTW, the mangaka Mari Yamazaki is from a musical family and she married to the grandson of an Italian pottery master, which is probably many many of her works deal with Italian family and culture. She is also currently live in Chicago and travels to Europe a lot.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...6384872338.jpg
Couldn't resist turning it into a meme... :heh:

Well, it's certainly different, and not in a bad way.

I wonder if this was rustled up in a hurry to fill a gap because Black Rock Shooter wouldn't stretch to 11 episodes? So it was done on a low budget as filler.
Because I think the concept would most likely work well as a 'proper' anime series, as well as be a good fit for the Noitamina slot.

People may scoff at the 'crappy animation', but hey, I grew up watching shows like Captain Pugwash which was all done with cardboard cutouts, and Roobarb, which was all hand-drawn in felt-tip pen, so while this may not be up to today's standards, I've seen far worse!

I did enjoy the first two episodes of this anime as it's very unique. I do wonder how long I will stay entertained though because I believe there's only so much one can talking about regarding bathing.

I didn't that it that funny either. However, the premise is original, interesting, and amusing, which is already more than I can say for a lot of series. That's enough to keep me watching. It's only three episodes long anyway, and it's not like I didn't enjoy this episode. I just didn't find it as hilarious as it could have been.

While looking up the show, I found out Lucius is voiced by a guy named FROGMAN (who also happens to be the executive director). That's awesome.

You'd be surprised, the chapters has being fairly formulaic in manga but the idea just keep popping out. (That's probably the wrong description consider the manga releases on a pace of roughly 1 volume a year.)

It really is a simple manga but very amusing to read. Kind of like 4-koma manga (K-On and co.) in an episodic story. Very sitcom like.