Cells at Work!

Cells at Work!
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Red Blood Cell AE3803 and White Blood Cell U-1146
はたらく細胞 (Hataraku Saibō)
Genre	Biology[1] Fantasy comedy[2]
Manga
Written by	Akane Shimizu [ja]
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	NA: Kodansha USA
Magazine	Monthly Shōnen Sirius
Original run	January 26, 2015 – January 26, 2021
Volumes	6 (List of volumes)
Further information Manga Cells at Work!: Bacteria! Written by Haruyuki Yoshida Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Nakayoshi Original run April 3, 2017 – July 3, 2020 Volumes 7 (List of volumes) Manga Cells NOT at Work! Written by Moe Sugimoto Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius Original run July 26, 2017 – November 26, 2021 Volumes 5 (List of volumes) Anime television series Directed by Kenichi Suzuki (S1) Hirofumi Ogura (S2) Produced by Yuma Takahashi Written by Yūko Kakihara Kenichi Suzuki Music by Kenichiro Suehiro Mayuko Studio David Production Licensed by AUS: Madman Entertainment BI: MVM Entertainment NA: Aniplex of America SA/SEA: Muse Communication Original network Tokyo MX, GYT, BS11, MBS, TV Aichi, HBC, RKB English network SEA: Animax Asia Original run July 8, 2018 – February 27, 2021 Episodes 21 + Special (List of episodes) Light novel Written by Yui Tokiumi Illustrated by Akane Shimizu Published by Kodansha Published July 12, 2018 Manga Cells at Work and Friends! Written by Kanna Kurono Illustrated by Mio Izumi Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Bessatsu Friend Original run January 12, 2019 – April 13, 2021 Volumes 6 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Platelets! Written by Yuuko Kakihara Illustrated by Yasu Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius Original run May 25, 2019 – April 26, 2021 Volumes 4 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Baby! Written by Yasuhiro Fukuda Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Morning Original run October 17, 2019 – October 7, 2021 Volumes 4 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Lady! Written by Shigemitsu Harada Illustrated by Akari Otokawa Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Morning Two [ja] Original run January 22, 2020 – September 26, 2022 Volumes 5 (List of volumes) Anime film "Hataraku Saibō!!" Saikyō no Teki, Futatabi. Karada no Naka wa "Chō" Ōsawagi! Directed by Hirofumi Ogura Written by Yūko Kakihara Music by Kenichiro Suehiro Mayuko Studio David Production Licensed by SA/SEA: Muse Communication Released September 5, 2020 (2020-09-05) Runtime 112 minutes Manga Cells at Work!: White Brigade Written by Tetsuji Kanie Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius Original run October 26, 2020 – July 26, 2022 Volumes 4 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Neo Bacteria Written by Haruyuki Yoshida Published by Kodansha English publisher NA: Kodansha USA Magazine Nakayoshi Palcy Original run December 28, 2020 – February 22, 2021 Volumes 1 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Illegal Written by Kae Hashimoto Published by Kodansha Magazine YanMaga Web Original run February 1, 2022 – July 18, 2023 Volumes 4 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Muscle Written by Yū Maeda Published by Kodansha Magazine Morning Two Original run February 16, 2023 – February 20, 2025 Volumes 4 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work! Cat Written by Choco Aozora Illustrated by Meku Kaire Published by Kodansha Magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius Original run May 25, 2023 – present Volumes 3 (List of volumes) Manga Cells at Work!: Medicine Written by Koma Warita Illustrated by Ryō Kuji Published by Kodansha Magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius Original run May 25, 2023 – May 26, 2025 Volumes 3 (List of volumes) Live-action film Directed by Hideki Takeuchi Written by Yuichi Tokunaga Music by Face 2 Fake Studio Warner Bros. Japan Released December 13, 2024 (2024-12-13) Other Cells at Work! Code Black (2018–2021)
Anime and manga portal

Cells at Work! (Japanese: はたらく細胞, Hepburn: Hataraku Saibō) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akane Shimizu [ja]. It features the anthropomorphized cells of a human body, with the two main protagonists being a red blood cell and a white blood cell she frequently encounters. It was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius from January 2015 to January 2021. It is licensed in North America by Kodansha USA.

The series has been adapted into an anime television series by David Production, with two seasons broadcast from July 2018 to February 2021, totaling 21 episodes. A theatrical anime titled "Hataraku Saibō!!" Saikyō no Teki, Futatabi. Karada no Naka wa "Chō" Ōsawagi! premiered in September 2020. The series has also spawned several spin-off manga series, including, Cells at Work! Code Black, published from 2018 to 2021 and adapted into an anime television series.

Plot

The story takes place inside the body of an adult human, where trillions of anthropomorphic cells each do their job to keep the body healthy. The series largely focuses on two such cells; a rookie red blood cell, AE3803, who often gets lost during deliveries, and a relentless white blood cell, U-1146, who fights against any germs that invade the body.

Characters

Erythrocyte / Red Blood Cell (AE3803) (赤血球, Sekkekkyū)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa^[3] (Japanese); Cherami Leigh^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Mei Nagano^[5]

A red blood cell who has just started her job, delivering oxygen, carbon dioxide and different nutrients all over the body. She meets Neutrophil when he saves her from an attacking pneumococcus bacterium. She is clumsy and gets lost often, but is determined to perform to the best of her ability. It is later revealed that she had encountered Neutrophil when they were younger, after he saved her from a bacterium.

Neutrophil (好中球, Kōchūkyū) / White Blood Cell (U-1146) (白血球, Hakkekkyū)

Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno^[3] (Japanese); Billy Kametz^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Takeru Satoh^[5]

A type of white blood cell, whose job is to kill pathogens infecting the body. Despite his violent and ruthless occupation, he is quite soft-spoken and gentle. When he was still in school as a young cell, he saved AE3803 from a bacterium after she got lost in a training exercise.

Killer T Cell (キラーT細胞, Kirā Tī Saibō)

Voiced by: Daisuke Ono^[3] (Japanese); Robbie Daymond^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Koji Yamamoto

A type of white blood cell that recognizes and kills various foreign matter and unhealthy cells. He is aggressive, cocky and rowdy, brutally taking pleasure in slaughtering pathogens and unhealthy cells. He especially looks down on white blood cells forming relationships with non-white blood cells, like Neutrophil's close friendship with Red Blood Cell. He is the sergeant of the Killer T Cells and is a harsh teacher to his students, the Naive T Cells. He has negative relationships with Helper T Cell and NK Cell, the former being his superior in the Killer T Division. In his youth, he was considered to be weak like the rest of the young T Cells, being only able to survive and complete training through the help of Helper T Cell, which at least made him stronger.

Macrophage (マクロファージ, Makurofāji) / Monocyte (単球, Tankyū)

Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue^[3] (Japanese); Laura Post^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Wakana Matsumoto

A type of white blood cell. She and her kind appear as lovely maids in big dresses, armed with a variety of large weapons to fight various invasive pathogens, and are often shown smiling cheerfully even in the middle of combat. While inside blood vessels, she and her kind take on the role of monocytes, and wear hazmat suits over their dresses.

Platelet (血小板, Kesshōban)

Voiced by: Maria Naganawa^[3] (Japanese); Xanthe Huynh^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Maika Pugh

A type of cell responsible for reconstructing the body after various injuries. They are depicted as children, due to their small cell size, and act as construction and repair crew within the body. One platelet who carries a whistle on her neck serves as their leader and she is most prominently featured in the show, while a secondary yet shy platelet known as "Backward Cap" because she wears her cap backwards, also appears in the story.

Helper T Cell (ヘルパーT細胞, Herupā Tī Saibō)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai^[6] (Japanese); Ray Chase^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Shota Sometani

A type of T Cell that determines strategy and courses of action for dealing with foreign invaders. He is the main commander of the Killer T Division and has an intellectual and smooth disposition, putting him at big odds with the rough and tough Killer T Cell, despite having undergone T Cell training together with him.

Regulatory T Cell (制御性T細胞, Seigyosei Tī Saibō)

Voiced by: Saori Hayami^[6] (Japanese); Erica Mendez^[4] (English)

A type of T Cell that mediates and regulates the correct function and magnitude of immunological responses. She usually acts as Helper T Cell's secretary, though she is capable of fighting when necessary. She went through T Cell training alongside Killer T Cell and Helper T Cell.

Naive T Cell (ナイーブT細胞, Naību T Saibō)

Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura (Japanese); Laura Stahl^[7] (English)

A rookie T Cell who is too frightened to fight invasive microorganisms, until Dendritic Cell helps him transform into Effector T Cell. He and his kind are the students of Killer T Cell, from whom they receive harsh treatment and austere training.

Effector T Cell (エフェクターT細胞, Efekutā T Saibō)

Voiced by: Kenji Nomura (Japanese); Chris Tergliaferra^[7] (English)

A Naive T Cell transformed into a large, muscular and powerful T Cell.

Eosinophil (好酸球, Kōsankyū)

Voiced by: M.A.O^[6] (Japanese); Kayli Mills^[4] (English)

A type of white blood cell who is acquainted with White Blood Cell since they grew up in the same bone marrow. She feels inferior to the other immune cells because of her inability to fight off bacteria and viruses, but she shows her true worth by killing a parasitic Anisakis when the other cells could not. She handles a bident as her weapon of choice.

Dendritic Cell (樹状細胞, Jujō Saibō)

Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto^[6] (Japanese); Griffin Burns^[4] (English)

Depicted as a messenger dressed in green stationed inside a call center resembling a tree. He can stimulate Naive T Cells and transform them into Effector T Cells. He owns a camera which he always uses to take pictures of events he deems important and stores them in picture albums, some of which are sources of shame and humiliation for the other cells.

Memory Cell (記憶細胞, Kioku Saibō)

Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura^[8] (Japanese); David Vincent^[7] (English)

A paranoid and neurotic cell whose job is to remember past infections and allergies so that the immunity system can be ready for them. However, he is scatterbrained and it is difficult for him to sort out his memories, often panicking and screaming whenever disaster strikes.

Mast Cell (マスト細胞, Masuto Saibō)

Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi^[8] (Japanese); Maureen Price^[7] (English)

A cell whose job is to monitor and release histamines in response to allergic and inflammatory reactions. She always follows the instructions in her book no matter the situations and is unpopular due to her lack of consideration of what her actions do to the other cells. Also known as "Fat Cell", she gets irked whenever she is referred to with that name.

Senior Red Blood Cell (AA5100) (先輩赤血球, Senpai Sekkekkyū)

Voiced by: Aya Endō^[8] (Japanese); Kira Buckland^[7] (English)

An older red blood cell who sometimes guides and teaches AE3803 on how to properly perform her occupation.

Junior Red Blood Cell (NT4201) (後輩赤血球, Kōhai Sekkekkyū)

Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa (Japanese); Jeannie Tirado (English)

A young but overly serious red blood cell who becomes AE3803's student.

B Cell (B細胞, Bī Saibō)

Voiced by: Shōya Chiba^[9] (Japanese); Erik Scott Kimerer^[4] (English)

A white blood cell who carries a weapon that shoots antibodies. He is often annoyed and jealous about not receiving as much credit as the Killer T Cells do. He also has an antagonistic relationship with Mast Cell, as their combined functions only cause grave disasters for the other cells.

Basophil (好塩基球, Kōenkikyū)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese); D. C. Douglas^[7] (English)

A mysterious and poetic character whose real occupation is unknown, appearing during a food-borne infection to make cryptic commentaries on the disastrous events unfolding.

NK Cell (NK細胞, NK Saibō)

Voiced by: Toa Yukinari (Japanese); Morgan Berry^[4] (English)

Portrayed by: Riisa Naka

She patrols the whole body for viruses, bacteria and abnormal cells, with her weapon of choice being a machete. She has a smug demeanor, is somewhat condescending towards other cells and her relationship with Killer T Cell is akin to that of an intense sibling rivalry.

Cancer Cell (がん細胞, Gan Saibō)

Voiced by: Akira Ishida^[10] (Japanese); Khoi Dao^[7] (English)

Portrayed by: Fukase [ja]

An antagonistic cell bent on creating a world where cells no longer have to kill each other, even if it means risking the life of the body.^[11]

Normal Cell / Cell Boy (正常細胞, Seijō Saibō)

Voiced by: Yūsuke Kobayashi (Japanese); Bryce Papenbrook^[12] (English)

Normal Cell is a minor character who plays a major role in season 2. Normal Cell is a soft-hearted troublemaker. He finds his job of copying himself boring hence he began to venture outside of his apartment to explore or mess around. Despite not being able to do anything, he has a strong will to protect someone that is precious to him (Lactic Acid Bacteria). According to AE3803, he lives by the pharynx, which happens to be an area that contains lymph nodes.

Media

Manga

See also: List of Cells at Work! chapters

Written and illustrated by Akane Shimizu [ja], Cells at Work! was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius from January 26, 2015, to January 26, 2021.^[13][14][15] Kodansha collected its chapters in six tankōbon volumes, released from July 9, 2015, to February 9, 2021.^[16][17]

Kodansha USA announced that it had licensed Cells at Work! in North America on March 21, 2016.^[18]

Spin-offs

The series has spawned several spin-offs published across various Kodansha's manga magazines and digital platforms:

• Cells at Work!: Bacteria! (はたらく細菌) by Haruyuki Yoshida. The series follows the lives of good and bad bacteria in the intestines. It was serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from April 3, 2017, to July 3, 2020.^[19][20][21] It was followed by Cells at Work! Neo Bacteria (はたらく細菌Neo), serialized in Nakayoshi and on the Palcy manga app from December 28, 2020,^[22] to February 22, 2021,^[23] with a single volume released on the latter date.^[24]
• Cells NOT at Work! (はたらかない細胞) by Moe Sugimoto. It follows immature red blood cells (erythroblasts) that do not want to work. It was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from July 26, 2017, to November 26, 2021.^[25][26]
• Cells at Work! Code Black (はたらく細胞BLACK), written by Shigemitsu Harada and illustrated by Issei Hatsuyoshi. It is set in a "black" environment of a human body suffering an unhealthy lifestyle. It was serialized in the seinen manga magazine Morning from June 7, 2018, to January 21, 2021.^[27][28]
• Cells at Work and Friends! (はたらく細胞フレンド), written by Kanna Kurono and illustrated by Mio Izumi. It centers around a Killer T Cell who is normally strict with himself and others, but wants to have fun during his free time. He also wants to make friends but does not want to ruin his reputation. It was serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Bessatsu Friend from January 12, 2019, to April 13, 2021.^[29][30]
• Cells at Work!: Platelets! (はたらく血小板ちゃん, Platelets at Work), written by Kanna Kurono and illustrated by Mio Izumi. It focuses on platelet characters. It was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from May 25, 2019, to April 26, 2021.^[31][32]
• Cells at Work!: Baby! (はたらく細胞BABY) by Yasuhiro Fukuda. It follows a group of cells inside a baby's body, 40 weeks after conception and close to delivery, with the cells unaware of anything. It was serialized in Morning from October 17, 2019, to October 7, 2021.^[33][34]
• Cells at Work!: Lady! (はたらく細胞LADY), written by Harada and illustrated by Akari Otokawa. It is focused on cells in the body of an adult woman. It started in Morning Two [ja] on January 22, 2020.^[35] The magazine ceased print publication and moved to a digital starting on August 4, 2022.^[36][37] The series finished on September 26, 2022.^[38]
• Cells at Work!: White Brigade (はたらく細胞WHITE) by Tetsuji Kanie. It is focused on white blood cells. It was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from October 26, 2020, to July 26, 2022.^[39][40]
• Cells at Work!: Illegal (はたらく細胞イリーガル) by Kae Hashimoto. It is focused on the cells of a person taking illegal substances. It was serialized on the YanMaga Web digital manga platform from February 1, 2022, to July 18, 2023.^[41][42]
• Cells at Work! Muscle (はたらく細胞マッスル) by Yū Maeda. It is focused on muscles in the human body. It started on the Morning Two manga website from February 16, 2023, to February 20, 2025.^[43][44]
• Cells at Work! Cat (はたらく細胞 猫), written by Choco Aozora and illustrated by Meku Kaire. It is centered around cells in the body of a cat. It started in Monthly Shōnen Sirius on May 25, 2023.^[45]
• Cells at Work!: Medicine (はたらく細胞 おくすり), written by Koma Warita and illustrated by Ryō Kuji. It is centered around medicine. It was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from May 25, 2023, to May 26, 2025.^[45][46]

Kodansha USA has licensed Cells at Work! Code Black, Cells at Work!: Bacteria!, Cells at Work!: Platelets!, Cells at Work!: Baby!, Cells at Work! Neo Bacteria, Cells at Work! White Brigade, and Cells at Work! Cat.^{[47][48][49][50]}

Anime

Main article: List of Cells at Work! episodes

An anime television series adaptation was announced in January 2018. It is directed by Kenichi Suzuki and animated by David Production, with scripts written by Suzuki and Yūko Kakihara, and character designs by Takahiko Yoshida. The series' music is composed by Kenichiro Suehiro and Mayuko. The anime series premiered on July 8, 2018, on Tokyo MX and other channels.^[8][51][52] The series ran for 13 episodes.^[53] Aniplex of America licensed the series in North America and simulcast it on Crunchyroll.^[54] Madman Entertainment simulcasted Australia and New Zealand on AnimeLab,^[55] while Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and simulcasted it on Animax Asia.^[56] MVM Entertainment acquired the series for distribution in the United Kingdom and Ireland.^[57] The opening theme is "Mission! Health Comes First" (ミッション！ 健・康・第・イチ, Mission! Ken - Kō - Dai - Ichi) by Red Blood Cell (Kana Hanazawa / Cherami Leigh), White Blood Cell (Tomoaki Maeno / Billy Kametz), Killer T Cell (Daisuke Ono / Robbie Daymond), and Macrophage (Kikuko Inoue / Laura Post),^[8][58] while the ending theme is "CheerS" by ClariS.^[59] A special episode premiered on December 27, 2018.^[60] Aniplex of America released the English dub on August 27, 2019.^[4]

On March 23, 2019, the series' official Twitter account announced that it would receive a second season.^[61] The second season aired from January 9 to February 27, 2021.^[62] The main staff at David Production is returning for producing the second season, with the exception of director Kenichi Suzuki being replaced by director Hirofumi Ogura. The opening theme is "Go! Go! Saibō Festa!" by the main cast members, while the ending theme is "Fight!!" by ClariS.^[63]

A theatrical anime titled "Hataraku Saibō!!" Saikyō no Teki, Futatabi. Karada no Naka wa "Chō" Ōsawagi! was announced on July 4, 2020, as an advanced screening of episodes 4–8 later aired in the second season. Also shown with a short animation "Kesshouban: Eigakan e Iku". The main staff at David Production returned for producing the film, with the exception of director Kenichi Suzuki being replaced by director Hirofumi Ogura. It premiered on September 5, 2020.^[64]

Light novel

A light novel adaptation of the manga titled as Shōsetsu Hataraku Saibō (小説　はたらく細胞) was published on July 12, 2018, by Kodansha. It is written by Yui Tokiumi and illustrated by Akane Shimizu and has three volumes.^[65][66][67]

Stage play

A stage play adaptation titled Tainai Katsugeki Hataraku Saibō (体内活劇「はたらく細胞」) was announced in the August issue of Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Sirius magazine.^[68] The play was held at Tokyo's Theatre 1010 from November 16 to 25, 2018. The play which was directed by Tsuyoshi Kida, starred Masanari Wada as U-1146 and Kanon Nanaki as AE3803, while Keita Kawajiri wrote the script for the play.^[69][70][71] The last performance was also distributed live.^[72]

Mobile app

A tower-defense game for iOS and Android mobile devices titled Always Cells at Work (いつでも はたらく細胞, Itsudemo Hataraku Saibō) was announced in November 2018.^[60] The game service shut down on January 31, 2020.^[73]

Live-action film

A live-action film adaptation was announced by Kodansha and Flag Pictures on March 20, 2023. It was directed by Hideki Takeuchi and the script written by Yuichi Tokunaga,^[74] starring Mei Nagano and Takeru Satoh as AE3803 and U-1146, respectively.^[5] The film was released on December 13, 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures.^[75][76]

Reception

Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network highlighted the educational aspect of the manga despite flaws in presentation of information, and ultimately found the manga entertaining with likable characters.^[77] Sean Gaffney of A Case Suitable for Treatment called it a "very fun shonen action manga", complimenting the manga's ridiculousness and humor.^[78] Ian Wolf of Anime UK News gave the British Blu-ray release of the anime a score of 9 out of 10, and described the show as the most bloody on television, because so many of the characters are blood cells and thus means it contains more blood than shows depicting much violence.^[79]

The 2016 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook listed the manga as the seventh top manga for male readers.^[80][81] Paul Gravett included the manga in his list of "Top 22 Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga" for October 2016.^[82] By July 2017, the manga had over 1.3 million copies in print;^[83] it had over 1.5 million copies in print by January 2018.^[84]

Dr. Satoru Otsuka, postdoctoral fellow in the molecular neuro-oncology department of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, praised the series' depiction of cancer cells during the series' seventh episode.^[85] Biology teachers at a high school affiliated with China's Southwest University were so impressed with the accuracy of the series that they assigned it as homework for their students.^[86]

See also

• Osmosis Jones, a 2001 American live-action/animated action comedy film and its spin-off television series, Ozzy & Drix, both of which feature a similar premise
• Once Upon a Time... Life, a 1987 French animated series with a similar premise

References

1. Fobian, Peter. "I Asked a Med Student What He Thought About Cells at Work!". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
2. Moody, Allen. "Cells At Work! (Season 1)". THEM Anime Reviews. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
3. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 25, 2018). "Cells at Work! TV Anime Stars Tomoaki Maeno, Kana Hanazawa". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
4. Sherman, Jennifer (May 17, 2019). "Aniplex of America Reveals Cells at Work! Anime's English Dub Cast, BD Release". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
5. "Live-Action Cells at Work! Film's Teaser Unveils Main Cast, December Debut". Anime News Network. June 11, 2024. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
6. Sherman, Jennifer (April 25, 2018). "Cells at Work Casts Takahiro Sakurai, Saori Hayami, M.A.O, Nobuhiko Okamoto". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
7. "STAFF/CAST". Cells at Work Official USA Website. Aniplex of America. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
8. Ressler, Karen (May 25, 2018). "Cells at Work Reveals Additional Cast, Opening Theme Song, July 7 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
9. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 17, 2018). "Cells at Work Anime's Video Reveals More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
10. はたらく細胞 STAFF/CAST. テレビアニメ「はたらく細胞」 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
11. Cells at Work! 5. Kodansha Comics. September 21, 2017. pp. 168–170. ISBN 9781632364265.
12. "Cells at Work! (2019) – English Dub Cast". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
13. 「ペルソナQ」P3とP4が別マガとシリウスで同時コミカライズ連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 26, 2015. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
14. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 25, 2020). "Akane Shimizu's Cells at Work! Manga Ends in January". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
15. 清水茜「はたらく細胞」がシリウスで完結、「ミラキュラス」のコミカライズ連載も. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
16. はたらく細胞 (1). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
17. はたらく細胞 (6). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
18. Ressler, Karen (March 22, 2016). "Kodansha Comics Licenses The Prince in His Dark Days, Cells at Work! Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
19. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 6, 2017). "Cells at Work! Manga Gets Spinoff Focusing on Intestinal Bacteria". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
20. 「はたらく細胞」の腸内版！スピンオフ「はたらく細菌」がなかよしで開幕 - コミックナタリー. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
21. Mateo, Alex (June 3, 2020). "Cells at Work: Bacteria! Manga Ends in July". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
22. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 28, 2020). "Cells at Work: Bacteria Manga Gets New Chapter". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
23. はたらく細菌Ｎｅｏ. Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
24. 宿主は恋する女子高生、体内細菌を擬人化した「はたらく細胞」スピンオフ新作. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
25. Ressler, Karen (June 27, 2017). "Cells at Work Manga Gets New Spinoff About Cells That Don't Work". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
26. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 29, 2021). "Cells NOT at Work! Spinoff Manga Ends". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
27. Sherman, Jennifer (May 18, 2018). "Cells at Work! Gets BLACK Spinoff Manga in June". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
28. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 14, 2021). "Cells at Work! Code Black Manga Ends on January 21". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
29. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 11, 2019). "Cells at Work Gets New Spinoff Manga on Saturday". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
30. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 18, 2021). "Cells at Work and Friends! Spinoff Manga Ends on April 13". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
31. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 26, 2019). "Cells at Work! Spinoff Manga About Platelets Launches in May". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
32. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 4, 2021). "Manga Briefs Roundup: March–April 2021". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
33. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 17, 2019). "Cells at Work! Manga Gets New Spinoff Set Inside Baby's Body". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
34. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 26, 2021). "Cells at Work Baby Manga Ends in 2 Chapters". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
35. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 21, 2019). "Cells at Work Manga Gets New Hataraku Saibō Lady Spinoff Series". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
36. モーニング・ツーがWebマンガサイトとして再創刊、8月4日より毎週木曜日に更新. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 22, 2022. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
37. Pineda, Rafael (July 23, 2022). "Morning Two Magazine Moves to Digital Release in August". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
38. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 8, 2023). "Cells at Work Lady Manga Ends in Next Chapter". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
39. 「はたらく細胞」新エピソードがシリウスに、白血球が主役の新たなスピンオフも. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
40. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 25, 2022). "Cells at Work! White Brigade Manga Ends on July 26". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
41. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 23, 2022). "Cells At Work! Illegal Manga Launches on February 1". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
42. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 6, 2023). "'Cells At Work! Illegal' Manga Ends With 4th Volume in September". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
43. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 14, 2023). "Cells at Work! Gets New Cells at Work! Muscle Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
44. Cayanan, Joanna (November 17, 2024). "Yū Maeda's Cells at Work! Muscle Spinoff Manga Ends in 5th Volume (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
45. Cayanan, Joanna (April 29, 2023). "Akane Shimizu's Cells at Work! Gets Manga Spinoffs About Cats, Medicine". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
46. Cayanan, Joanna (April 27, 2025). "Cells at Work! Medicine Spinoff Manga Ends in Next Chapter". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
47. "Fall 2019 New Licensing Announcements from Kodansha Comics + Vertical". Kodansha Comics. March 11, 2019. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
48. Mateo, Alex (June 3, 2020). "Kodansha Comics Licenses Cells at Work! Spinoffs, That Time I Got Reincarnated (Again!) as a Workaholic Slime Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
49. Mateo, Alex (October 29, 2021). "Kodansha Comics Licenses The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World Manga, Cells at Work Spinoffs". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
50. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 10, 2025). "Kodansha USA Licenses Masamune Shirow Artbook, When a Dragon Calls, Cells at Work! Cat, More for Fall 2026". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
51. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 19, 2018). "Cells at Work! Manga Gets TV Anime in July". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
52. "The Summer 2018 Anime Preview Guide - Cells at Work!". Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
53. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 7, 2018). "Cells at Work Anime Listed With 13 Episodes". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
54. Ressler, Karen (June 19, 2018). "Aniplex USA Announces Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs, Cells at Work! Anime for Crunchyroll Streaming". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
55. Bortignon, Tegan (July 3, 2018). "AnimeLab Summer Simulcast Lineup 2018!". AnimeLab. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
56. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 28, 2018). "Animax Asia to Simulcast Cells at Work! Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
57. MVMEntertainment [@MVM_UK] (October 27, 2018). "Update time - here's what you can expect from us in 2019! Our newest titles will be Cells At Work, Record of Grancrest Wars, Sagrada Reset, Starmyu, Seven Mortal Sins and Scum's Wish. 1/2" (Tweet). Retrieved October 27, 2018 – via Twitter.
58. Aguada, Patrick (May 17, 2019). "Cells at Work! Heading to BD with English Dub, English Opening Shown". Operation Rainfall. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
59. Sherman, Jennifer (May 3, 2018). "ClariS Performs Cells at Work! TV Anime's Ending Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
60. Loo, Egan (November 18, 2018). "Cells at Work! Anime Gets New Episode on December 26, Game App". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
61. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 23, 2019). "Cells at Work! Anime Gets 2nd Season". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
62. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 21, 2020). "Cells at Work! Anime's 2nd Season Premieres in January 2021 With Part of Anime Screening 1st in Theaters in September". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
63. Loo, Egan (March 21, 2020). "Cells at Work!! Season 2's 2nd Video Reveals More Staff, Themes by Cast & ClariS, January 9 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
64. Sherman, Jennifer (July 4, 2020). "Cells at Work!! Theatrical Anime Reveals Video, Visual, More Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
65. 小説 はたらく細胞. Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
66. 小説 はたらく細胞 ２. Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
67. 小説 はたらく細胞 ３. Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
68. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 25, 2018). "Cells at Work Manga Gets Stage Play". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
69. Sherman, Jennifer (July 5, 2018). "Cells at Work! Stage Play Reveals Cast, Staff, November Run". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
70. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 26, 2018). "Cells at Work Stage Play Reveals 2 Main Cast Members in Costume". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
71. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 8, 2018). "Cells at Work Stage Play Announces 16 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
72. Sherman, Jennifer (November 9, 2018). "Cells at Work Stage Play Reveals 2nd Main Visual". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
73. @hataraku_sb_app (December 17, 2019). 【重要】サービス終了のお知らせ... (Tweet) (in Japanese) – via Twitter.
74. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 19, 2023). "Cells at Work! Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
75. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 20, 2024). "Live-Action Cells at Work! Film's Clips Contrast Healthy, Unhealthy Bodies". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
76. Hadfield, James (December 12, 2024). "'Cells at Work!': Cellular shenanigans make for a fantastic voyage". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
77. Silverman, Rebecca (November 13, 2016). "Cells at Work!". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
78. Gaffney, Sean (October 25, 2016). "Cells at Work!, Vol. 1". A Case Suitable for Treatment. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
79. Wolf, Ian (January 20, 2020). "Cells at Work! Review". Anime UK News. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
80. Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2016 Archived June 7, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web
81. Ressler, Karen (December 10, 2015). "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Reveals 2016's Series Ranking for Male Readers". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
82. "Top 22 Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga: October 2016". Paul Gravette. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
83. Komatsu, Mikikazu (July 2, 2017). "'Cells at Work!' Manga Gets Anime CM for Its 5th Volume Release". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
84. Komatsu, Mikikazu (January 18, 2018). "'Hataraku Saibou' TV Anime Adaptation Set to Premiere in July 2018". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
85. Valdez, Nick (August 26, 2018). "Scientists Praise 'Cells at Work!' for Its Entertaining Accuracy". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
86. Shen, Alice (August 17, 2018). "Why new Japanese anime series 'Cells At Work!' is a big hit in China (It's in the science)". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2018.

External links

• Official manga website (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (1st season) (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (2nd season) (in Japanese)
• Official anime site (in English)
• Cells at Work! (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia