Series synopsis
Cells at Work!, also known as はたらく細胞 is a Japanese animation action & adventure comedy television series that premiered on Gunma TV on July 8, 2018. It ended on February 28, 2021. It stars Kana Hanazawa and Tomoaki Maeno.
This is a story about you. A tale about the inside of your body... According to a new study, the human body consists of approximately 37 trillion cells. These cells are hard at work every day within a world that is your body. From the oxygen-carrying red blood cells to the bacteria-fighting white blood cells, get to know the unsung heroes and the drama that unfolds inside of you! It's the oddly relatable and interesting story that is the life of cells!
Premise
This is a story about you. A tale about the inside of your body... According to a new study, the human body consists of approximately 37 trillion cells. These cells are hard at work every day within a world that is your body. From the oxygen-carrying red blood cells to the bacteria-fighting white blood cells, get to know the unsung heroes and the drama that unfolds inside of you! It's the oddly relatable and interesting story that is the life of cells!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kana Hanazawa as Red Blood Cell AE3803 (Erythrocyte) (voice)
- Tomoaki Maeno as White Blood Cell U-1146 (Neutrophil) (voice)
Guest cast
- Maria Naganawa as Platelet 'Leader' (voice)
- Manaka Iwami as Platelet 'Backwards Cap' (voice)
- Takahiro Sakurai as Helper T Cell (voice)
- Toa Yukinari as NK Cell (voice)
- Nobuhiko Okamoto as Dendritic Cell (voice)
- Akira Ishida as Cancer Cell (voice)
- Aya Endo as Senior Red Blood Cell AA5100 (voice)
- Kensuke Sato as White Blood Cell U-2048 (Neutrophil) (voice)
- Kentaro Kumagai as White Blood Cell U-4989 (Neutrophil) (voice)
- Hiroyuki Yoshino as Pneumococcus (Streptococcus Pneumoniae) (voice)
- Mamiko Noto as Narration (voice)
- Hikaru Akao as Platelet 5 (voice)
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 28 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 7 | December 26, 2018 | July 8, 2019 |
| Season 1 | 13 | July 8, 2018 | September 30, 2018 |
| Season 2 | 8 | January 10, 2021 | February 28, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Common Cold A mysterious cell wearing a stylish hat appears before the regular cells, who are bored with just the same (cell division) work repeatedly, every day. This mysterious cell lures the regular cells into a mischievous scheme against White Blood Cell and Killer T Cell. The regular cells enjoy working out their everyday, pent-up frustration. But just who exactly is this cell wearing a stylish hat? |
December 26, 2018 |
| 2 | Special 1 - Petit Quiz | October 24, 2018 |
| 3 | Special 2 - Macrophage's Room | November 28, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pneumococcus This is a story that happens inside a human body. One day, as a Red Blood Cell is delivering oxygen and carbon dioxide, she is assaulted by Pneumococci and rescued by a White Blood Cell. To protect the body that’s their world, the White Blood Cell (Neutrophil) chases after the one Pneumococcus who’s escaped. But the enemy has hidden himself in the most unlikely place... |
July 8, 2018 |
| 2 |
Scrape Wound Things have been peaceful for Red Blood Cell when suddenly an abrasion occurs before her eyes. The White Blood Cells (Neutrophils) arrive to battle the bacteria and viruses invading through the wound, but they struggle against enemies like Staphylococcus aureus. Will the White Blood Cells (Neutrophils) find a way to defend this body? |
July 15, 2018 |
| 3 |
Influenza Naive T Cell is patrolling the body for influenza virus proliferation. But since he’s never taken on the enemy before, he’s completely terrified and useless. He finally ends up fleeing the battlefield where White Blood Cell (Neutrophil) and the veteran Killer T Cells are fighting. Naive T Cell is filled with self-loathing until Dendritic Cell sees him and speaks to him kindly. |
July 22, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bump One day, while White Blood Cell (Neutrophil) is busy exterminating germs, he meets Backward Cap, a Platelet who wears her cap backwards. She is secretly training to become a stronger Platelet. However, a huge rumbling noise suddenly echoes inside of the body followed by violent shaking. |
January 10, 2021 |
| 2 |
Acquired Immunity/Peyer's Patch Memory Cell sees a dream where the arrival of messengers from the outside signal the end of this world... As if his dream became reality, unidentified enemies enter the body! Does Memory Cell not only have the power to remember the past, but also predict the future now? Will this world be ruined as Memory Cell predicts? |
January 17, 2021 |
| 3 |
Dengue Fever/Acne Toxic reaction found on the epidermis! Mast Cell does her job according to the manual, but complaints pour in from other cells that are annoyed by her actions. Mast Cell loses her cool and unleashes her rage... An incident occurs where an unknown entity breaks through a blood vessel and the blood cells get sucked away! |
January 24, 2021 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Gunma TV |
|---|---|
| First aired | July 8, 2018 |
| Last aired | February 28, 2021 |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Saturday at 23:30:00 |