Rumic Theater

Rumic Theater (高橋留美子劇場), or Rumiko Takahashi Anthology (高橋留美子傑作集), 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.

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. An English language collection by Viz Media was released in two volumes on June 5, 1996, and June 5, 1998, the first corresponding to the volume The Tragedy of P, but the second being a release of Rumic World's One or Double collection.

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. The series ran for 13 episodes until September 27, 2003.

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.

Episode 1
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.
 * "The Tragedy of P" (Pの悲劇) – July 5, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Yuko Haga (羽賀 裕子)


 * Mrs. Kakei (筧)
 * Pitto (ピット)
 * Pitto (ピット)


 * Kota Haga (羽賀 浩太)


 * Hiroshi Kakei (筧 ひろし)


 * Mr. Haga


 * Mitsue (美津江)

Episode 2
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.
 * "The Merchant of Romance" (浪漫の商人) – July 12, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Yukari (縁)


 * Betto (別当)


 * Old gentlewoman


 * Old gentleman


 * Auntie


 * Pops


 * Keiichi (圭一)

Episode 3
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.
 * "Middle-Aged Teen" (おやじローティーン) – July 19, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Toshio Furuda (古田 年男)


 * Kazuko (和子)


 * Minoru Furuda (古田 稔)


 * Emiri (絵美理)

Episode 4
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.
 * "Hidden in the Pottery" (鉢の中) – July 26, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Yukie Asakawa (浅川 幸恵)


 * Ruriko Tonegawa (利根川 ルリ子)


 * Tonegawa Mother


 * Tonegawa Husband


 * Yukie's Husband

Episode 5
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.
 * "Aberrant Family F" (迷走家族F) – August 2, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Hazuki Fuwa (不破 はづき)


 * Hazuki's Father


 * Hazuki's Mother


 * Shohei Fuwa (不破 翔平)


 * Aisaki (愛崎)


 * Aisaki's Girlfriend


 * Neighbor


 * Doctor

Episode 6
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.
 * "As Long As You Are Here" (君がいるだけで) – August 9, 2003
 * Note: Narration by Ichiro Nagai
 * Characters:
 * Domoto (堂本)


 * Atchara (アッチャラー)


 * Hosoda (細田)


 * Sumiyo (澄代)

Episode 7
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.
 * "One Hundred Years of Love" (百年の恋) – August 16, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Risa Hoshino (星野りさ)


 * Koizumi (小泉)


 * Takanezawa (高根沢)


 * Date (伊達)

Episode 8
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.
 * "In Lieu of Thanks" (お礼にかえて) – August 23, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Kobato (小鳩)


 * Shiratori (白鳥)


 * Ukai (鵜飼)


 * Kamoshita (鴨下)


 * Kyuu (九ち)


 * Kobato's Son

Episode 9
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.
 * "Living Room Lovesong" (茶の間のラブソング) – August 30, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Ichiro Tadokoro (田所 一郎)


 * Makiko (牧子)


 * Hitomi (ひとみ)


 * Odagiri (小田切)

Episode 10
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.
 * "House of Garbage" (ポイの家) – September 6, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Ritsuko Hirooka (広岡 律子)


 * Yoshio Hirooka (広岡 良夫)


 * Manager


 * Manager's Wife


 * Ritsuko's Father-in-Law


 * Kenta Hirooka (広岡 健太)

Episode 11
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.
 * "One Day Dream" (日帰りの夢) – September 13, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Mr. Shinonome (東雲)


 * Shinonome's Wife


 * Tsuyoshi (ツヨシ)


 * Seiko Shima (志摩 聖子)


 * Shima-chan (シマちゃん)


 * Tajima (田嶋)


 * Oda (小田)

Episode 12
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.
 * "Extra-Large Size Happiness" (Lサイズの幸福) – September 20, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Hanako (華子)


 * Kayoko (加代子)


 * Ryūichi (隆一)
 * Young Ryūichi
 * Young Ryūichi


 * Baby Ghost (座敷童)

Episode 13
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.
 * "The Executive's Dog" (専務の犬) – September 27, 2003
 * Characters:
 * Matsuko Kogure (小暮 松子)


 * Yuji Kogure (小暮 祐二)


 * Kanna (カンナ)


 * Yuko Kogure (小暮 由布子)


 * Kosuke Kogure (小暮 甲介)


 * Matsurida (祭田)


 * Mrs. Matsurida


 * Gorgeous (ゴージャス)

Drama
A two-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on NHK-BS Premium. 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". Both episodes aired on July 8 and July 15, 2012, respectively.