Rumiko Takahashi Anthology
高橋留美子劇場 / 高橋留美子傑作集
(Takahashi Rumiko Gekijō / Takahashi Rumiko Kessakushū)
Manga
Written byRumiko Takahashi
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
ImprintBig Comics Special
Magazine
  • Big Comic Original
  • Other Shogakukan's magazines
DemographicSeinen
Original run1987 – present
Volumes5
Anime television series
Directed byAkira Nishimori
StudioTMS Entertainment
Licensed by
Original networkTV Tokyo
Original run July 5, 2003 – September 27, 2003
Episodes13

Rumic Theater (高橋留美子劇場, Takahashi Rumiko Gekijō), or Rumiko Takahashi Anthology (高橋留美子傑作集, Takahashi Rumiko Kessakushū), is a Japanese manga series composed of short stories written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. New stories are published annually in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original magazine (and other Shogakukan magazines), and have been since 1987.

A 13-episode anime adaptation of these short stories was produced by TMS Entertainment and broadcast on TV Tokyo from July to September 2003, followed by the sequel series Rumic Theater: Mermaid Forest, adapting Takahashi's Mermaid Saga. A two-episode Japanese television drama based on the stories was broadcast on NHK-BS Premium in July 2012.

Media

Manga

Rumic Theater is a series of manga short stories published periodically by Rumiko Takahashi Shogakukan's Big Comic Original and other Shogakukan magazines since 1987.[1] An English language collection by Viz Media was released in two volumes on June 5, 1996, and June 5, 1998,[2][3] the first corresponding to the volume The Tragedy of P, but the second being a release of Rumic World's One or Double collection.

Volumes

No. Title Original release date English release date
1The Tragedy of P
P no Higeki (Pの悲劇)		January 29, 1994[4]
978-4-09-184721-8		June 5, 1996[2]
978-1-56-931054-0
  • "The Tragedy of P"
  • "The Merchant of Romance"
  • "House of Garbage"
  • "Hidden in the Pottery"
  • "One Hundred Years of Love"
  • "Extra-Large Size Happiness"
2The Executive's Dog
Semmu no Inu (専務の犬)		May 29, 1999[5]
978-4-09-184722-5		–
  • "The Executive's Dog"
  • "Aberrant Family F"
  • "As Long as You Are Here"
  • "Living Room Lovesong"
  • "Middle-Aged Teen"
  • "In Lieu of Thanks"
3Red Bouquet
Akai Hanataba (赤い花束)		June 30, 2005[6]
978-4-09-184724-9		–
  • "One Day Dream"
  • "Grafitti Pop"
  • "Dutiful Vacation"
  • "Help"
  • "Red Bouquet"
  • "Permanent Love"
4Birds of Fate
Unmei no Tori (運命の鳥)		July 15, 2011[7]
978-4-09-183887-2		–
  • "Positive Cooking"
  • "Wrong for One's Age"
  • "Birds of Fate"
  • "Happiness List"
  • "Trouble with the Neighbors"
  • "Scene of the Crime"
5The Witch and the Dinner
Majo to Dinā (魔女とディナー)		September 18, 2019[8]
978-4-09-860432-6		–
  • "The Witch and the Dinner"
  • "A Guilty Happening"
  • "I Should Die"
  • "Amorphous Family"
  • "(Confidentiality) Renaissance"
  • "My Sky"

Anime

In June 2003, the July issue of Animage announced that an anime adaptation of Rumic Theater produced by TMS Entertainment and directed by Akira Nishimori would premiere on TV Tokyo on July 5, 2003.[9] The series ran for 13 episodes until September 27, 2003.[10]

In North America, Geneon Entertainment licensed the series for English language release. They released the series on four DVDs from January 11 to July 19, 2005.[11][12][13][14]

Episodes

Episode 1
"The Tragedy of P" (Pの悲劇, P no Higeki) – July 5, 2003

Summary: It follows the struggle of Mrs. Haga to keep her guest, Pitto the penguin, out of sight from Mrs. Kakei, the resident tattletale who will report the bird's violation of the pet free apartment building.

Characters
Yuko Haga (羽賀 裕子, Haga Yūko)
Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa (Japanese); Wendee Lee (English)
Mrs. Kakei (筧, Kakei)
Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese); Sally Dana (English)
Pitto (ピット)
Voiced by: Nao Nagasawa
Kota Haga (羽賀 浩太, Haga Kōta)
Voiced by: Minami Omi (Japanese); J.D. Stone (English)
Hiroshi Kakei (筧 ひろし, Kakei Hiroshi)
Voiced by: Junko Hori (Japanese); Adam Gordon (English)
Mr. Haga
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); Patrick Seitz (English)
Mitsue (美津江)
Voiced by: Haruna Ikezawa (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English)
Episode 2
"The Merchant of Romance" (浪漫の商人, Roman no Akindo) – July 12, 2003

Summary: A wedding chapel that has fallen on hard times struggles to stay in business while its young owner deals with her recent divorce and the burden of keeping her friends employed.

Characters
Yukari (縁)
Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino (Japanese); Michelle Ruff (English)
Betto (別当)
Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi (Japanese); William Markham (English)
Old gentlewoman
Voiced by: Natsumi Sakuma (Japanese); Barbara Goodson (English)
Old gentleman
Voiced by: Yousuke Akimoto (Japanese); Michael McConnohie (English)
Auntie
Voiced by: Minami Takayama (Japanese); Jody Jaress (English)
Pops
Voiced by: Jouji Yanami (Japanese); William Frederick (English)
Keiichi (圭一)
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese); Lance J. Holt (English)
Episode 3
"Middle-Aged Teen" (おやじローティーン, Oyaji Rō Tīn) – July 19, 2003

Summary: A tough, business-minded father loses his memory and believes he is a teenager. He meets a young school girl and cannot help but become smitten with her.

Characters
Toshio Furuda (古田 年男, Furuda Toshio)
Voiced by: Akira Kamiya (Japanese); Doug Stone (English)
Kazuko (和子)
Voiced by: Kazuko Sugiyama (Japanese); Sonja S. Fox (English)
Minoru Furuda (古田 稔, Furuda Minoru)
Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi (Japanese); Kevin Hatcher (English)
Emiri (絵美理)
Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino (Japanese); Jennifer Sekiguchi (English)
Episode 4
"Hidden in the Pottery" (鉢の中, Hachi no Naka) – July 26, 2003

Summary: Mrs. Asakawa suspects her neighbor of beating her elderly mother-in-law being responsible for the death of her husband. The mystery unfolds when Mrs. Asakawa makes a shocking discovery hidden inside a potted plant.

Characters
Yukie Asakawa (浅川 幸恵, Asakawa Yukie)
Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese); Tara Hudson (English)
Ruriko Tonegawa (利根川 ルリ子, Tonegawa Ruriko)
Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese); Megan Hollingshead (English)
Tonegawa Mother
Voiced by: Tomie Kataoka (Japanese); Barbara Goodson (English)
Tonegawa Husband
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese); Darrel Guilbeau (English)
Yukie's Husband
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); Sam Regal (English)
Episode 5
"Aberrant Family F" (迷走家族F, Meisō Kazoku F) – August 2, 2003

Summary: Hazuki's family is virtually in the poorhouse. Therefore, she is shocked when her father decides to go on an expensive family vacation. Soon she suspects that her father's motives may involve a suicide pact for her and her family.

Characters
Hazuki Fuwa (不破 はづき, Fuwa Hazuki)
Voiced by: Yuko Minaguchi (Japanese); Rachel Hirschfeld (English)
Hazuki's Father
Voiced by: Bin Shimada (Japanese); Doug Stone (English)
Hazuki's Mother
Voiced by: Hisako Kyouda (Japanese); Erica Shaffer (English)
Shohei Fuwa (不破 翔平, Fuwa Shohei)
Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese); J.D. Stone (English)
Aisaki (愛崎)
Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi (Japanese); Darrel Guilbeau (English)
Aisaki's Girlfriend
Voiced by: Kumiko Nishihara (Japanese); Hunter Mackenzie Austin (English)
Neighbor
Voiced by: Rikako Aikawa (Japanese); Megan Hollingshead (English)
Doctor
Voiced by: Toshihiko Nakajima (Japanese); Stephen Martello (English)
Episode 6
"As Long As You Are Here" (君がいるだけで, Kimi ga Iru Dake de) – August 9, 2003

Summary: When Mr. Domoto is laid off of his prestigious job as a salaryman, his wife falls ill and asks him to fill in for her at the convenience store. There, his rough personality doesn't mesh well with his co-workers, but he learns from a hard-working foreigner named Achara to persevere.

Characters
Domoto (堂本, Dōmoto)

Voiced by: Chikao Ohtsuka (Japanese); Alfred Thor (English)

Atchara (アッチャラー, Atcharā)
Voiced by: Keiko Han (Japanese); Reiko Matsuo (English)
Hosoda (細田)
Voiced by: Minoru Yada (Japanese); Reg Green (English)
Sumiyo (澄代)
Voiced by: Ikuko Tatsu (Japanese); Georgette Riley (English)
Episode 7
"One Hundred Years of Love" (百年の恋, Hyaku-nen no Koi) – August 16, 2003

Summary: Risa Hoshino comes back from the dead with amazing telekinetic powers. The old woman develops a crush on another patient and believes him to be the reincarnation of her jilted lover from decades ago.

Characters
Risa Hoshino (星野りさ, Hoshino Risa)
Voiced by: Hiroko Emori (Japanese); Louise Chamis (English)
Koizumi (小泉)
Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino (Japanese); Hunter Mackenzie Austin (English)
Takanezawa (高根沢)
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese); T. Axelrod (English)
Date (伊達)
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); Michael McConnohie (English)
Episode 8
"In Lieu of Thanks" (お礼にかえて, Orei ni kaete) – August 23, 2003

Summary: Mrs. Kobato finds herself in the middle of a battle between the stuck-up Mrs. Shiratori and the elderly Mrs. Ukai, who eventually bring a crab and a bird into the argument.

Characters
Kobato (小鳩)
Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino (Japanese); Michelle Ruff (English)
Shiratori (白鳥)
Voiced by: Michie Tomizawa (Japanese); Erika Schaffer (English)
Ukai (鵜飼)
Voiced by: Roko Takisawa (Japanese); Jody Jaress (English)
Kamoshita (鴨下)
Voiced by: Masayo Kurata (Japanese); Erika Weinstein (English)
Kyuu (九ち)
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); Jay Klein (English)
Kobato's Son
Voiced by: Asako Dodo (Japanese); Barbara Goodson (English)
Episode 9
"Living Room Lovesong" (茶の間のラブソング, Chanoma no Rabu Songu) – August 30, 2003

Summary: A middle-aged man loses his wife, yet his wife's soul is bothered by the fact that he does not cry at her funeral. Her spirit soon returns to haunt him as he begins to develop feelings for the young office worker at his company.

Characters
Ichiro Tadokoro (田所 一郎, Tadokoro Ichirō)
Voiced by: Kouji Yata (Japanese); William Frederick (English)
Makiko (牧子)
Voiced by: Nana Yamaguchi (Japanese); Barbara Goodson (English)
Hitomi (ひとみ)
Voiced by: Haruna Ikezawa (Japanese); Mia Bradley (English)
Odagiri (小田切)
Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese); Liam O'Brien (English)
Episode 10
"House of Garbage" (ポイの家, Poi no Uchi) – September 6, 2003

Summary: The Hirooka's front door is mistaken for a garbage drop spot, and when the Boss's wife starts throwing out his favorite things, Ritsuko and Yoshio have to do everything they can to save the tacky items, or risk losing a promotion.

Characters
Ritsuko Hirooka (広岡 律子, Hirooka Ritsuko)
Voiced by: Kumiko Watanabe (Japanese); Karen Thompson (English)
Yoshio Hirooka (広岡 良夫, Hirooka Yoshio)
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese); Patrick Seitz (English)
Manager
Voiced by: Ryuuji Nakaki (Japanese); Simon Isaacson (English)
Manager's Wife
Voiced by: Miyuki Ichijo (Japanese); Barbara Goodson (English)
Ritsuko's Father-in-Law
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); William Frederick (English)
Kenta Hirooka (広岡 健太)
Voiced by: Sachi Matsumoto (Japanese); Tara Platt (English)
Episode 11
"One Day Dream" (日帰りの夢, Higaeri no Yume) – September 13, 2003

Summary: Shinonome is a downtrodden company man who is going through life without finding true happiness. His junior high school reunion soon rolls around and his thoughts turn to a girl he once loved named Shima.

Characters
Mr. Shinonome (東雲, Shinonome)
Voiced by: Akira Kamiya (Japanese); Jackson Daniels (English)
Shinonome's Wife
Voiced by: Ai Orikasa (Japanese); Wendee Lee (English)
Tsuyoshi (ツヨシ)
Voiced by: Ikue Ootani (Japanese); Ted Sroka (English)
Seiko Shima (志摩 聖子, Shima Seiko)
Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto (Japanese); Jennifer Sekiguchi (English)
Shima-chan (シマちゃん)
Voiced by: Fuyumi Shiraishi (Japanese); Kirsty Pape (English)
Tajima (田嶋)
Voiced by: Daiki Nakamura (Japanese); Mike McFarland (English)
Oda (小田)
Voiced by: Mari Maruta (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English)
Episode 12
"Extra-Large Size Happiness" (Lサイズの幸福, L Saizu no Shiawase) – September 20, 2003

Summary: Ryuuichi's mother, Kayoko moves in with her son and his young wife, Hanako. But problems start to arise when Hanako starts behaving oddly and risking the anger of her mother-in-law who they are counting on to invest in their new home. Hanako claims a large spirit is the cause, but only she can see him.

Characters
Hanako (華子)
Voiced by: Gara Takashima (Japanese); Kirsten Potter (English)
Kayoko (加代子)
Voiced by: Masako Kyoda (Japanese); Sonja S. Fox (English)
Ryūichi (隆一)
Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese); Liam O'Brien (English)
Young Ryūichi
Voiced by: Asako Dodo (Japanese); Kirsty Pape (English)
Baby Ghost (座敷童, Zashiki Warashi)
Voiced by: Chie Kojiro
Episode 13
"The Executive's Dog" (専務の犬, Senmu no Inu) – September 27, 2003

Summary: The Kogure's are asked to take care of Mr. Matsurida's dog Gorgeous, but when his mistress moves in and the children draw eyebrows on the dog, things become complicated.

Characters
Matsuko Kogure (小暮 松子, Kogure Matsuko)
Voiced by: Ai Orikasa (Japanese); Kirsty Pape (English)
Yuji Kogure (小暮 祐二, Kogure Yūji)
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese); Chris Kent (English)
Kanna (カンナ)
Voiced by: Fumi Hirano (Japanese); Erica Shaffer (English)
Yuko Kogure (小暮 由布子, Kogure Yuuko)
Voiced by: Machiko Toyoshima (Japanese); Jennifer Sekiguchi (English)
Kosuke Kogure (小暮 甲介, Kogure Kosuke)
Voiced by: Mari Maruta (Japanese); J.D. Stone (English)
Matsurida (祭田)
Voiced by: Ryo Kamon (Japanese); Stephen Martello (English)
Mrs. Matsurida
Voiced by: Mari Mashiba (Japanese); Sonja Fox (English)
Gorgeous (ゴージャス, Gōjasu)
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (Japanese); Liam O'Brien (English)

Drama

A two-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on NHK-BS Premium.[15] The first episode adapted the "Red Bouquet", "Hidden in the Pottery" and "Aberrant Family F" stories, and the second adapted "The Executive's Dog", "Birds of Fate" and "As Long As You Are Here".[16] Both episodes aired on July 8 and July 15, 2012, respectively.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 年に1度のお楽しみ「高橋留美子劇場」今年は3月5日. Natalie (in Japanese). February 23, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Takahashi, Rumiko (1996). Rumic Theater, Vol. 1. Viz Communications. ISBN 1569310548.
  3. ↑ "Rumic Theater, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ 高橋留美子劇場 Ｐの悲劇 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ 高橋留美子劇場 専務の犬 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ 高橋留美子傑作集 赤い花束 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 11, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ 高橋留美子傑作集 運命の鳥 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ 高橋留美子傑作集 魔女とディナー (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ Macdonald, Christopher (June 16, 2003). "New Anime from Rumiko Takahashi". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  10. ↑ 高橋留美子劇場 (in Japanese). TMS Entertainment. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Rumiko Takahashi's Anthology - (V.1) Primal Needs". Amazon. 11 January 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Rumiko Takahashi's Anthology - (V.2) Happy Disaster". Geneon Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006.
  13. ↑ "Rumiko Takahashi Anthology - (V.3) A Touch of Magic". Geneon Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006.
  14. ↑ "Rumiko Takahashi Anthology - (V.4) Weird Stuff". Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  15. ↑ Loo, Egan (March 6, 2012). "Rumiko Takahashi's Rumic Theater Manga Gets Live-Action Project". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  16. ↑ Loo, Egan (April 8, 2012). "Rumiko Takahashi's Live-Action Rumic Theater Show Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  17. ↑ プレミアムドラマ 「高橋留美子劇場」 (in Japanese). NHK. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
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