Cells at Work: Working in Perfect Harmony
Cells at Work aired in July 2018 by studio David Productions. It was adapted from the manga of the same name created by Akane Shimizu. The story follows the happenings of the average human body. It primarily follows the story and lives of two particular cells in the body. That of a White Blood Cell and a Red Blood Cell. The personification of these cells creates an anime unlike anything else. Praised for its accuracy in the medical field and its action scenes on how the body defends itself.
Before anything starts, platelet cells are my favorite in this show. They are adorable, clumsy, and all-round making this show absolutely phenomenal. Now then. What in the world is this anime!? Seriously I have heard of this show for years now and never gave it a look and I am so glad I have. I’ve always been one for biology and am fascinated by how the body works especially our immune systems. To now find an anime that’s filled with shonen action of White Blood Cells kicking the tail of bacteria and viruses has me over the moon. And many agree with me in that sentiment. This anime in particular has been praised for its educational and accurate scientific content.
There are many ways this anime could have taken its approach. Some anime like to be accurate to real-world examples and this show could have very well been, shown a blood cell here as a blob of red and such. It instead personifies the abstract concepts of Cells within our body. Giving them human form with personalities and emotions. I have only watched the first three episodes and yet I now know far more about the human body than what school has ever taught me.
There are many examples of why this show is a must-watch but the most prolific example would be its action and comedy. I like a healthy blend in my anime and while a good slice-of-life comedy is always welcomed, when its paired with action I simply can’t resist. The fight scenes in this show are amazing. Sometimes a little abstract and is nothing too special like how Bleach and Jujutsu Kaisen. But it instead focuses on education throughout each scene.
There are times when the characters do something that seems so random. They throw a simple and strange concept at us that doesn’t make too much sense until you research and understand. OUR CELLS ACTUALLY DO THAT! To suddenly find out that White Blood Cells can move through the walls of blood vessels through a process known as Transmigration is FACINATING! Like seriously, how do you make this interesting and not bore an audience with a science lesson? I’ll tell you how. FIGHT SCENE!
Cells at Work has become one of my new favorites and I recommend it to anyone who adores biology or just science in general. You’ll understand just how your body functions and how this “delicate balance” we have is actually much tougher than you think. You’ll learn why our body responds the way it does with both examples and visual clues. If you haven’t go watch this show. You won’t regret it!