The January issue of Enterbrain 's Monthly Comic Beam magazine is announcing on Monday that a television anime adaptation of Mari Yamazaki 's Thermae Romae manga has been green-lit, along with the previously announced live-action film. A newspaper advertising had previously indicated, but not confirmed, the possibility of the anime.

Thermae Romae is a comedy about Lucius — an architect of public bath houses ( thermae ) in ancient Rome — who time-travels to various modern-day baths in Japan. Through manga and essay passages, Yamazaki explores the two cultures in the world "that have loved baths the most: the Japanese and the Romans!" Yamazaki launched the manga in 2008, and the third compiled book volume shipped on April 25. The live-action film will open on April 28, 2012.

The work won the Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize) award last year, followed by the Short Work Prize in the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes. It has since sold over 5 million copies. Although Yamazaki was born in Tokyo, she now lives in Chicago.

[Via Manga News]

Update: More information and image added.