“Steins;Gate 0” the overall series… not only is it highly recommended, it is also on my list for “Best Anime Series released on Blu-ray for 2019”!
TITLE: Cells at Work! Complete Set
DURATION: 1-13 (350 Minutes)
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (1:78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen), English and Japanese Linear PCM Stereo, Subtitles: English
RATED: Suggested 10 and Up
COMPANY: Aniplex of America
RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2019
Original Work by Shimizu Akane
Directed by Suzuki Kenichi
Series Composition by Kakihara Yuuko
Music by Suehiro Kenichiro
Character Design by Mimuro Kenta, Yoshida Takahiko
Art Director: Wakabayashi Risa
Chief Animation Director: Tamaki Keiko, Yoshida Takahiko
Anime Production: David Production
Featuring the voices of:
Maeno Tomoaki/Billy Kametz as White Blood Cell (Neutrophil)
Hanazawa Kana/Cherami Leigh as Red Blood Cell (Erythrocite)
Yoshino Hiroyuki/Ben Diskin as Pneumococcus
Nakamura Yuichi/David Vincent as Memory Cell
Hayami Saori/Erica Mendez as Regulatory T Cell
Chiba Shoya/Erik Scott Kimerer as B Cell
Okamoto Nobuhiko/Griffin Burns as Dendritic Cell
M.A.O/Kayli Mills as Eosinophil
Endo Aya/Kira Buckland as Senpai Red Blood Cell
Inoue Kikuko/Laura Post as Macrophage
Kawasumi Ayako/Maureen Price as Mast Cell (Fat Cell)
Sakurai Takahiro/Ray Chase as Helper T Cell (T Lymphocyte)
Ono Daisuke/Robbie Daymond as Killer T Cell
Naganawa Maria/Xanthe Huynh as Platelet
This is a story about you. A tale about the inside of your body…
Enter the fascinating world inside your body where roughly 37.2 trillion cells work hard for you 24 hours a day and 365 days a year! The cell-sational action comedy Cells at Work! that has garnered praises from a wide array of audiences, from casual viewers to professionals in the medical field is the latest hit edutainment now on Blu-ray. The show is available with English audio, while also showcasing the English version of the opening theme song in each episode. Carry, fix, fight! Don’t miss out on your chance to own the only series starring your cells at work!
From mangaka Shimizu Akane came her manga series “Hataraku Saibo” (Cells at Work!) which was serialized in Kodansha’s “Monthly Shonen Sirius” which began on March 2015.
The series which is still ongoing, has led to spinoffs by other mangaka such as “Bacteria at Work”, “Cells that Don’t Work”, “Cells at Work! Code Black” and “Cells at Work! Friend” and also a light novel.
And Shimizu’s “Hataraku Saibo” would receive a 13-episode + one special anime adaptation courtesy of David Production.
The series focuses on the human body and how cells have jobs to do in order to keep the body healthy.
We are introduced to AE3803 an Erythrocyte/Red Blood Cell who just started her job and her main duty is to delivery oxygen, carbon dioxide and different nutrients all over the body.
She’s a bit naive and she is also gets lost a lot.
One day, she is attacked by a pneumococcus bacterium but is saved by U-1146, a Neutrophil/White Blood Cell, who has the job of killing pathogens infecting the body.
Both become close right after that, but Killer T Cell, a cocky white blood cell that recognizes and kills foreign matter and unhealthy cells can’t stand U-1146 getting close to AE3803 and looks down on white blood cells forming any relationship with non-white blood cells. Killer T Cell works under his main commander and childhood rival, Helper T Cell.
AE3803 gets to know others such as Macrophage (a lovely maid in a big dress and a white blood cell that fights invasive pathogens), the young Platelets that helps the body heal after an injury.
And so many other cells which AE3803 gets to know!
VIDEO:
“Cells at Work!” is presented in 1080p High Definition. David Production did a great job of bring the characters from manga to the anime, with vibrant colors and solid animation. I didn’t see any artifacts or banding issues during my viewing of the series.
AUDIO:
“Cells at Work!” is presented in Japanese and English Linear PCM 2.0. Dialogue and music are crystal clear through the front channels. Voice acting is great on both soundtracks!
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Cells at Work!” is presented in” comes with the following special features:
- Animated Shorts – Short omakase animated shorts.
- English Bloopers – Featuring English dub outtakes.
EXTRAS:
“Cells at Work!” comes with a special booklet with character reference guides and scene design materials.
I pretty much have observed the popularity of “Cells at Work!” in Japan.
From the many people cosplaying as a Red Blood Cell and a White Blood Cell at Anime Japan in Tokyo to reading the excitement of fans when it was announced that the series would receive an anime adaptation.
So, I was quite excited when it was announced that Aniplex would be bringing the series with both the Japanese and English dub soundtrack.
Having watched the series and enjoyed it, the series is quite fascinating because it’s like an educational, yet violent, action anime series.
For the most part, it’s quite interesting to see the group of red blood cells (who are not fighters but more of delivery people) decked out with their red jackets, hat and belts wearing blue jean shorts. While White Blood Cells have pale white skin, white hair, white hat, white gloves, white jacket but are so dedicate to kill pathogens infecting the body, they are depicted as knife wielding characters and when they do kill the yucky pathogens, red blood is splattered everywhere (so, I would recommend for parents to not allow their much younger children to watch this anime series).
But this series is pretty much based on science and show us how cells in the body work and how each cell has its own specific function.
But with the anime adaptation of Shimizu Akane’s work, you get a character-based version of these cells and for AE3803, an Erythrocyte/Red Blood Cell, she starts her new job and delivering oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients. Problem is, she is naive, a klutz and always gets lost.
But no matter what problems she is facing, especially when she comes into contact with a bacterium, somehow U-1446, a Neutrophil/White Blood Cell is always there for her to save her from harm.
And while each episode focuses on AE3803 and U-1446, each episode is used as a learning point for AE3803 and knowing the other functions of other cells.
The series also introduces us Killer T Cell, who is strict and like a military sergeant. We learn that his big rival is his commander, Helper T Cell and we are shown how the two were like when they were kids why the two have a rivalry.
We are introduced to the children platelets who have a job of healing the body.
And so many other cells which AE3803 meets along the way.
And through these interactions, we get to see AE3803 grow, mature and start to embrace her job as a red blood cell in the 13-episode run of “Cells at Work!”.
Also included is a special episode featuring a normal cell who is bored and often annoyed by his Killer T Cell neighbors. He befriends a mysterious cell (not knowing that it has been infected by the Rhinovirus).
Overall, I found “Cells at Work!” to be a fascinating, fun, action-packed series that is unique and also educational at the same time. It’s one of the cool situations where something so complex and scientific is infused with anime characters who make it easier for viewers to understand the cells and their duties.
I was very impressed and entertained! “Cells at Work! Complete Series” is highly recommended!
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