Thermae Romae Novae
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Thermae Romae Novae
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Thermae Romae Novae is an anime series focused on bath culture in both ancient Rome and modern Japan. There's some occasional strong language, bullying, shoving and fighting, and a few moments of fantasy violence. Drinking is sometimes shown. There are lots of naked male bottoms visible throughout as part of the bath house culture, and on occasion people are seen sitting on toilets. The overall series also includes informative documentary segments about Japanese baths.
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What's the Story?
Adapted from the manga series Thermae Romae, which also inspired a 2012 movie of the same name, THERMAE ROMAE NOVAE is a Japanese anime series about an ancient Roman architect traveling through time to visit modern-day Japanese baths. As a child, Lucias Modestus was proud of his father and grandfather's legacy as thermae (bath house) architects, and how they designed and built one of the city's finest bath houses. But as an adult he's struggling to come up with innovative ideas that will help him live up to his family's reputation. Down on his luck, he unexpectedly transports from a crowded Roman bath to a modern-day Japanese bathhouse, and finds himself inspired by what he discovers. Hoping to modernize Rome's thermaes, he continues to time travel to different Japanese baths to discover architectural designs and products that are ahead of his time. His plans for implementing these changes in the ancient city don't always work as planned, but he hopes that his contributions will make him a Roman legacy. At the end of each episode, Thermae Romae author Yamazaki Mari takes viewers on a tour of one of Japan's historic baths as a way of rediscovering Japan's bathing culture.
Is It Any Good?
The comedic anime series combines humor with a celebration of the role baths and bath houses play in both Roman and Japanese cultures. Thermae Romae Novae highlights how communal baths are a celebration of a way of life that allows the body to relax, heal, and rejuvenate. Yamazaki Mari's informative segments at the end of each episode offer viewers the opportunity to learn more about the history and rituals surrounding ancient Japanese bath culture, and how it continues today. But thanks to the cultural and generational differences between Lucias Modestus and the people he meets in Japan during his visits, there's lots of fun moments, especially since the cultural misunderstandings are offered in a way that is respectful of differences. Overall, Thermae Romae Novae is both creative and culturally significant; it's both fun and unique.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about baths and bath culture. Why did bath houses play such a central role in the lives of people in ancient Rome? Does it play a central role in modern Japan today? What other countries or communities celebrate a bath culture or ritual?
In what specific ways does Yamazaki Mari use Thermae Romae Novae as a vehicle for teaching people more about Japanese bath culture? How is each episode connected to the documentary segment featured at the end of it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 28, 2022
- Cast: Yamazaki Mari
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Adventures
- Character Strengths: Curiosity, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: June 13, 2022
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