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Cells at Work! Code Black
Cells at Work! Code Black
Cells at Work! Code Black
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Cells at Work! Code Black
First volume cover
はたらく細胞BLACK
(Hataraku Saibō Burakku)
Created byAkane Shimizu
Manga
Written byShigemitsu Harada
Illustrated byIssei Hatsuyoshiya
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineMorning
Original runJune 7, 2018 – January 21, 2021
Volumes8
Anime television series
Directed byHideyo Yamamoto
Written byHayashi Mori
Music byYugo Kanno
StudioLiden Films
Licensed by
Original networkTokyo MX, GYT, ytv, BS11, MBS, TV Aichi, HBC, RKB
English network
Original run January 10, 2021 – March 21, 2021
Episodes13
Other
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Cells at Work! Code Black (Japanese: はたらく細胞BLACK, Hepburn: Hataraku Saibō Burakku) is a Japanese manga series spin-off to Cells at Work! by Akane Shimizu. The manga was written by Shigemitsu Harada and illustrated by Issei Hatsuyoshiya. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning from June 2018 to January 2021, and was licensed in North America by Kodansha USA. An anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films aired from January 10 to March 21, 2021.

Plot

[edit]

In contrast to the main series, which is set in a generally healthy human body, Cells at Work! Code Black is set in a "black" environment of an adult man suffering an unhealthy lifestyle. The story follows the anthropomorphic cells struggling to maintain the body against threats such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and sexually transmitted infections.

Characters

[edit]
Characters from the series
Erythrocyte / Red Blood Cell (AA2153) (赤血球, Sekkekkyū)
Voiced by: Junya Enoki[1] (Japanese); Kyle McCarley[2] (English)
Portrayed by: Rihito Itagaki
AA2153 is one of the two protagonists. He is a rookie erythrocyte that had started working inside a poorly maintained body, and thus an abusive work environment. As a rookie, AA2153 was initially excited for his task of going to the lungs, only to find LDLs, Carbon Monoxide, and Pneumococcus along the way. He is dedicated to doing his part in helping the body, but is strongly disheartened by the awful work conditions and failure of the body to improve. He develops a friendship with U-1196, a neutrophil who frequently rescues him and serves as a source of encouragement, as well as AC1677, a fellow Red Blood Cell with whom he frequently works side-by-side.
Neutrophil (好中球, Kōchūkyū) / White Blood Cell (U-1196) (白血球, Hakkekkyū)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[1] (Japanese); Allegra Clark[2] (English)
U-1196 is one of the two protagonists. She is a neutrophil in a poorly maintained body, and thus an abusive work environment. She is very set on her mission and never complains about the hardships of her work environment or the poor treatment she receives, but still appreciates support and shows respect to other cells. She is described as a "heroic elder sister" who works hard for the sake of her mission. Though overall a calm and caring cell, she has the tendency to be critical of herself and overwork. She is good friends with two playful but unnamed neutrophil soldiers, and with AA2153.
Erythrocyte / Red Blood Cell (AC1677) (赤血球, Sekkekkyū)
Voiced by: KENN[1] (Japanese); Jon Allen[2] (English)
AC1677 is a rookie erythrocyte and a close friend of AA2153 who is also working inside a poorly maintained body, and thus an abusive work environment. He is a chicken-hearted individual who often tries to escape whenever hardships happen, believing he will be putting himself in danger unnecessarily, but sticks to his work because of AA2153's commitment. He is ultimately very loyal to his friends and eventually sacrifices himself for AA2153 when he was about to fall into the stomach acid.
Neutrophil (好中球, Kōchūkyū) / White Blood Cell (J-1178) (白血球, Hakkekkyū)
J-1178 is highly experienced and somewhat jaded. She loathes her job and views it as pointless given how terrible the body's conditions are, but her sense of integrity pushes her to give her work her all anyway. When she encounters AA2153 after the transfusion, she's initially dismissive of him, but becomes flustered when he calls her "White Blood Cell-chan" due to her diminutive stature. Upon meeting U-1196, J-1178 at first believes her to be a lone wolf who is unsympathetic to how overworked the other neutrophils are, but soon realizes that U-1196 is only trying to be proactive against problems that have the potential to grow into extremely dire threats to the body. She comes to regard U-1196 as a mentor and partner, and calls her "big sister" out of respect. The two band together in what is hailed as "the strongest partnership", and prove to be a formidable duo in battle. After U-1196 is badly injured during the neutrophils' failed attack on the periodontitis bacteria swarm, J-1178 is devastated. She becomes withdrawn and scared of resuming her work, even after U-1196 recovers, but is given a motivational talk by an erythrocyte and then comes to the timely rescue of AA2153 and U-1196, fully recommitted to the job.
Neutrophil (好中球, Kōchūkyū) / White Blood Cell (U-1212) (白血球, Hakkekkyū)
Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama[1] (Japanese); Tiana Camacho[2] (English)
One of the Neutrophils working in the same poorly maintained body, working alongside U-1196 and U-8787.
Neutrophil (好中球, Kōchūkyū) / White Blood Cell (U-8787) (白血球, Hakkekkyū)
Voiced by: Lynn[1] (Japanese); Lizzie Freeman[2] (English)
Another of the Neutrophils working in the same poorly maintained body, working alongside U-1196 and U-1212.
Hepatocyte (肝細胞, Kan Saibō)
Voiced by: Sarah Emi Bridcutt[1] (Japanese); Lauren Landa[2] (English)
Portrayed by: Kyoko Fukada
Hepatocyte is a cell who mainly functions in the liver. She appears as hostess to serve the Red Blood Cells with ADH, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol and converts it into acetaldehyde.
Gastric chief cell (胃主細胞, I shu Saibō)
Voiced by: Takashi Narumi[1] (Japanese); John E. Bentley[2] (English)
Gastric Chief Cell (or peptic cell, or gastric zymogenic cell) is a cell that works in the stomach. He used to have a tough, but kind-hearted attitude to visiting blood cells, but when the body started to break down, he turned to a harsh, serious, and strict attitude towards other cells.

Media

[edit]

Manga

[edit]

The manga is written by Shigemitsu Harada, with illustrations by Issei Hatsuyoshiya and supervision by Shimizu.[3] It ran in Weekly Morning from June 7, 2018, to January 21, 2021, and collected eight tankōbon volumes.[4]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1July 9, 2018[5]978-4-06-512067-5September 3, 2019[6]978-1-63236-894-2
  • 1. "Smoking, Bacteria, and the Beginning of the End" (喫煙、細菌、終わりの始まり, Kitsuen, Saikin, Owari no Hajimari)
  • 2. "The Liver, Alcohol, and Pride" (肝臓、アルコール、誇り, Kanzō, Arukōru, Hokori)
  • 3. "Erection, Ejaculation, and Emptiness" (勃起、射精、虚無, Bokki, Shasei, Kyomu)
  • 4. "Gonococci, an Invasion" (淋菌、襲来, Rinkin, Shūrai)
  • 5. "Overwork, Delirium, and Hair Loss" (過重労働、錯乱、脱毛, Kajū Rōdō, Sakuran, Datsumō)
2September 21, 2018[7]978-4-06-512760-5November 5, 2019[8]978-1-63236-895-9
  • 6. "Calamity, Athlete's Foot, and the Meaning of Work" (異変、水虫、働く意味, Ihen, Mizumushi, Hataraku Imi)
  • 7. "Stomach Ulcer, Friendship, and Loss" (胃潰瘍、友情、喪失, Ikaiyō, Yūjō, Sōshitsu)
  • 8. "Desperation, Gout, and Rebellion" (自暴自棄、痛風、反乱, Jibōjiki, Tsūfū, Hanran)
  • 9. "Return, the Heart, and Demise" (復帰、心臓、終焉, Fukki, Shinzō, Shūen)
  • 10. "Cardiac Arrest, Revival, and a Change" (心筋梗塞、蘇生、変化, Shinkinkōsoku, Sosei, Henka)
3February 22, 2019[9]978-4-06-514640-8January 21, 2020[10]978-1-63236-896-6
  • 11. "Peace, Polyp, and Cataclysm" (平和、ポリープ、天変地異, Heiwa, Porīpu, Tenpenchii)
  • 12. "Energy Drinks, Nose Bleeds, and Quotas" (エナジードリンク、鼻血、ノルマ, Enajīdorinku, Hanadji, Noruma)
  • 13. "Kidneys, Kidney Stones, and Passing Blood" (腎臓、尿路結石、血尿, Jinzō, Nyōro Kesseki, Ketsunyō)
  • 14. "Urinary Tract Infection, Silence, Tears" (尿路感染、沈黙、涙, Nyōrokansen, Chinmoku, Namida)
  • 15. "Sebum, Old-People Smell, and a Final Job" (皮脂、加齢臭、最後の仕事, Hishi, Kareishū, Saigo no Shigoto)
  • 16. "Calves, Work Harassment, and a Nightmare Returned" (ふくらはぎ、パワハラ、悪夢再び, Fukurahagi, Pawahara, Akumufutatabi)
  • 17. "Pulmonary Embolism, Quick Thinking, and a Reunion" (肺血栓、機転、再会, Haikessen, Kiten, Saikai)
4June 21, 2019[11]978-4-06-516113-5March 24, 2020[12]978-1-63236-943-7
  • 18. "Pancreas, Insulin, and Collapse" (膵臓、インスリン、決壊, Suizō, Insurin, Kekkai)
  • 19. "Exhaustion, Glycation, and an Excuse" (疲弊、糖化、言い訳, Hihei, Tōka, Iiwake)
  • 20. "AGA, Semen, and Disappearing Jobs" (ＡＧＡ、精液、無くなる仕事, Ēga, Seieki, Nakunaru Shigoto)
  • 21. "Return to Work, Responsibility, and Hemorrhoids" (復帰、責任、痔, Fukki, Sekinin, Ji)
  • 22. "Anal Fistula, Fault, and Results" (痔瘻、責任、手柄, Jirō, Sekinin, Tegara)
  • 23. "Shingles, Duty, and Teammates" (帯状疱疹、使命、仲間, Taijōhōshin, Shimei, Nakama)
  • 24. "Sugars, Blood Vessels, and Catastrophe" (糖分、血管、破局, Tōbun, Kekkan, Hakyoku)
5October 23, 2019[13]978-4-06-517225-4August 11, 2020[14]978-1-64651-034-4
  • 25. ""Inferno, Gangrene, Hard Worker" (炎上、懐疽、働き者, Enjō, Futokoroso, Hatarakimono)
  • 26. "Incineration, Amputation, Merciful Rain"" (却、切断、慈雨, Shōkyaku, Setsudan, Jiu)
  • 27. "Apnea, Sentimentality, Reality" (無呼吸、感傷、現実, Mukokyū, Kanshō, Genjitsu)
  • 28. "Pancreas, Deceit, Inferno" (膵臓、欺瞞、炎上, Suizō, Giman, Enjō)
  • 29. "Periodontitis, Roots, Miscalculation" (歯周病、牙城、誤算, Shishūbyō, Gajō, Gosan)
  • 30. "Sleeping Pills, Alcohol, Requiem" (睡眠薬、アルコール、鎮魂歌(レクイエム), Suimin'yaku, Arukōru, Rekuiemu)
  • Special "Bacteria, Gargling, Unexpected Meeting" (バクテリア、うがい、予期せぬ会議, Bakuteria, u gai, yoki senu kaigi')
6April 23, 2020[15]978-4-06-519207-8October 13, 2020[16]978-1-64651-149-5
  • 32. "Gastric Lavage, Tears, Tears" (胃洗浄、涙、涙, I senjō, Namida, Namida)
  • 33. "The Brain, Vitality, Atrophy" (脳、活力、萎縮, Nō, Katsuryoku, Ishuku)
  • 34. "Depression, Resolve, No Way Out" (うつ、覚悟、万事休す, Utsu, Kakugo, Banjikyūsu)
  • 35. "Drugs, Quitting Smoking, Fear" (薬、禁煙、恐怖, Kusuri, Kin'en, Kyōfu)
  • 36. "Wandering, Drug Efficacy, Mission" (迷走、薬効、使命, Meisō, Yakkō, Shimei)
7September 23, 2020[17]978-4-06-520716-1May 18, 2021[18]978-1-64651-150-1
  • 37. "Undefeated, Rejection, Calamity" (無敗、否定、凶変, Muhai, Hitei, Kyōhen)
  • 38. "Atrocity, One Loss, Self-Sacrifice" (無残、一敗、挺身, Muzan, ichi-pai, teishin)
  • 39. "Wrong Way, Excision, Strength" (逆走、切除、強さ, Gyakusō, Setsujo, Tsuyo-sa)
  • 40. "Metastasis, Radiation, Anti-Cancer Drugs" (転移、放射線、抗がん剤, Ten'i, Hōshasen, Kō gan-zai)
  • 41. "Immunotherapy, Existence, Entrustment" (免疫療法、存在、託されたもの, Men'eki ryōhō, Sonzai, Takusa reta mono)
8February 22, 2021[19]978-4-06-522343-7August 30, 2022[20]978-1-64651-220-1
  • 42. "Renaissance, Future, A Cruel Declaration" (ルネッサンス、未来、残酷な宣言, Runessansu, Mirai, Zankokuna Sengen)
  • 43. "Hemostasis, Trust, Sempai" (止血、信頼、先輩, Shiketsu, Shinrai, Senpai)
  • 44. "Heroes, Learning, Attack" (英雄、学習、攻撃, Eiyū, Gakushū, Kōgeki)
  • 45. "Thugs, Vitality, Beneficial Bacteria" (凶悪犯、活力、有益な細菌, Kyōaku-han, Katsuryoku, Yūekina Saikin)
  • 46. "Difference, Generation, Mutual support" (違い、世代、相互サポート, Chigai, Sedai, Sōgo Sapōto)
  • 47. "Recovery, Peace, Return" (回復、平和、リターン, Kaifuku, Heiwa, Ritān)
  • 48. "Brain Metastasis, Willpower, Work" (脳転移、意志力、仕事, Nō Ten'i, Ishi-ryoku, Shigoto)

Anime

[edit]
Key visual for the series

In April 2020, the 20th issue of Morning magazine revealed that an anime adaptation of Cells at Work! Code Black was in production.[21] The series aired from January 10 to March 21, 2021.[22] The series is directed by Hideyo Yamamoto with series composition by Hayashi Mori. Yugo Kanno is composing the music, Eiji Akibo is designing the characters for animation, and Liden Films is producing the series.[23] Aniplex of America licensed the series and streamed it on Funimation starting on January 7, 2021, two days before the Japanese broadcast.[24] Crunchyroll also streamed the series a month later.[25] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia and will stream it on iQIYI and Bilibili.[26] The opening theme is "Hashire! with Yamasaki Seiya (Kyūso Nekokami)", while the ending theme is "Ue o Mukaite Hakobō with Sekkekkyū/Hakkekkyū", both performed by Polysics.[27] On March 10, 2021, Funimation and Aniplex of America announced the series would be dubbed by Bang Zoom! Entertainment, with the first episode premiering the next day.[2]

No.Title [28][29]Directed by [28]Written by [28]Original release date [30][a]
1"Smoking, Bacteria, and the Beginning of the End"
Transliteration: "Kitsuen, Saikin, Owari no Hajimari." (Japanese: 喫煙、細菌、終わりの始まり。)		Jun'ichi KitamuraHayashi MoriJanuary 10, 2021 (2021-01-10)
A naive and idealistic rookie red blood cell named AA2153 starts his first day of work and is overwhelmed by the state of the body he works in. The blood vessels are clogged by cholesterol, the red blood cells are not allowed to take breaks, and everybody is grumpy and rude due to the body being under stress. Delivering oxygen with a veteran red blood cell, they face a carbon monoxide cloud and are saved from a group of Pneumococcus bacteria by a white blood cell named U-1196. The weary veteran entrusts AA2153 with the body before committing suicide by running into the carbon monoxide. U-1196 leads AA2153 to the lungs, which are contaminated with tar, and horrifies him when she explains that the body is addicted to smoking cigarettes.
2"The Liver, Alcohol, and Pride"
Transliteration: "Kanzō, Arukōru, Hokori." (Japanese: 肝臓、アルコール、誇り。)		Hiroshi KimuraHayashi MoriJanuary 17, 2021 (2021-01-17)
AA2153 tries to deliver oxygen to a mouth ulcer that gets invaded by bacteria. He is saved by U-1196 and other white blood cells, then the body gargles to flush the bacteria out. The other white blood cells tease AA2153 for being scrawny when they notice he is attracted to U-1196. Later, the body ingests alcohol, making the red blood cells drunk. An elder red blood cell leads them to the liver, depicted as a Red-light district, where the hepatocytes feed them ADH and then ALDH to detoxify them of Acetaldehyde. Still haunted by his mentor's death, AA2153 angrily rants that the red blood cells work hard and risk their lives every day while the hepatocytes get off easy, but the elder takes him backstage to show him that the hepatocytes are also stressed out and overworked. Shortly afterwards, the elder passes away from old age and is devoured by a Kupffer cell to recycle his nutrients. AA2153 apologizes to his hepatocyte hostess, who forgives and kisses him, embarrassing him when U-1196 catches them together. U-1196 warns them to be careful because the liver is at risk of developing Cirrhosis. The next day, the red blood cells suffer from hangovers, then complain when the body takes Hair of the dog.
3"Excitement, Swelling, and Emptiness"
Transliteration: "Kōfun, Bōchō, Kyomu." (Japanese: 興奮、膨張、虚無。)		Kazuya FujishiroHayashi MoriJanuary 19, 2021 (2021-01-19)[b]
Following the body's arousal, AA2153 is summoned to the male reproductive organ's Corpora-Cavernosa to produce an erection. He is bullied by veteran Erythrocytes cutting in line and saved by U-1196. Along with two other Neutrophils they go to the testes, depicted as a nursery for spermatogonia where Sertoli cells take care of them. Later, accumulated stress impairs the erection but there is an intake of Sildenafil (Viagra). Ejaculaton is achieved but intercourse allowed an infection by Gonococci.
4"Forefront, Gonococci, and Conflict"
Transliteration: "Saizensen, Rinkin, Kattō." (Japanese: 最前線、淋菌、葛藤。)		Kōji AritomiHayashi MoriJanuary 19, 2021 (2021-01-19)[b]
AA2153 comforts some Platelets terrified by the Gonococci infection. After taking several casualties, the Neutrophils retreat and regroup in a lymph node, but their captain warns that Gonorrhea has no chance of healing naturally. Several cells accuse the Neutrophils of not doing their jobs. Meanwhile AA2153 and a teammate deliver oxygen to the infested area, and find the Neutrophils being overwhelmed and captured by Gonococci. The Gonococci point out that the other cells do not appreciate the Neutrophils and propose that they join forces to destroy the body. When they refuse, the Gonococci are about to kill their captives when AA2153 distracts them with a speech about how he appreciates the Neutrophils. Just then Penicillin is administered orally, weakening the Gonococci's cell walls and allowing them to be defeated. The fallen Neutrophils are disposed of as pus in the urine. Upon reading the battle report, T-Cells blame the Neutrophils for the body's weak state.
5"Overwork, Hair Loss, and Delirium"
Transliteration: "Kajū Rōdō, Datsumō, Sakuran." (Japanese: 過重労働、脱毛、錯乱。)		Tatsuji YamazakiHayashi MoriJanuary 24, 2021 (2021-01-24)
Neutrophils took heavy casualties during the Gonococci's infection, so Killer T Cells are overworked. AA2153 delivers oxygen to Hair Matrix cells and bumps into U-1196 exercising despite her injuries. While the two reminisce about the battle between the Neutrophils and the bacteria and she thanks him for saving her life by distracting the Gonococci, she gets berated by passing Killer T Cells who later go haywire and attack the Hair cells after mistaking them for cancer cells, causing the hair to begin falling out. AA2153 organizes the red blood cells to deliver oxygen to the hair cells, hoping to sustain them. Helper T Cell makes things worse by releasing Cytokines to make the Killer T Cells go even more berserk, and things only calm down by administration of Steroids—depicted as battle droids that restrain the T Cells. Afterwards AA2153 questions the point of working hard, while a healed U-1196 overhears cells talking about the incident with the T Cells. Yet another problem arises, this time in the urinary tract.
6"Kidneys, Kidney Stones, and Tears"
Transliteration: "Jinzō, Nyōro Kesseki, Namida." (Japanese: 腎臓、尿路結石、涙。)		Toshiyuki SoneHayashi MoriJanuary 31, 2021 (2021-01-31)
AA2153 goes to the kidneys to be bathed and finds that the Glomeruli are also overworked and stressed, but their leader, Gran, refuses to let them rest or complain, saying the kidneys are silent organs. The body gets a one-centimeter kidney stone, tearing the ureter and causing several blood cells to get lost in the urine. The body gets a tube inserted through the urethra that breaks the stone, but it also allows bacteria to invade. While the Neutrophils hold them off, AA2153 returns to the kidneys and urges them to evacuate, but Gran refuses to allow them. The Glomeruli start complaining. Gran sacrifices herself to shield one of them from a bacterium before U-1196 is able to kill it. Before she dies, Gran apologizes for pushing them so hard, but their work is vital to the body. The Neutrophils are losing until the body takes antibiotics, so the bacteria are defeated. As the Glomeruli cry over Gran's death, AA2153, who had become very dirty because of the ordeal, chooses to skip a bath and continue delivering oxygen to give them a break and let them grieve.
7"Caffeine, Temptation, and Jealousy"
Transliteration: "Kafein, Yūwaku, Shitto." (Japanese: カフェイン、誘惑、嫉妬。)		Kiyoshi MurayamaHayashi MoriFebruary 7, 2021 (2021-02-07)
Some of the oxygen delivered turns into ROS, damaging the cells and causing them to blame the red blood cells. AA2153 gets an award for delivering the most oxygen out of the rookies, causing one of his friends, AC1677, to become jealous. The two find that the hair has not regrown and deliver oxygen to a dying sebaceous cell, but ROS from AC1677's delivery causes bad body odor. Now extremely resentful of AA2153's successes, AC1677 falls in with the veterans who bullied them and they get him addicted to caffeine and arginine, boosting his energy and allowing him to match AA2153's pace. AA2153 rejects the drugs, pointing out the power boost is temporary, then they will crash. The body suffers a nosebleed. As the blood cells try to resist being sucked outside, AC1677 crashes and runs out of strength. He admits AA2153 was right and resigns himself to die, but AA2153 saves him and says having him for a friend was what motivated him to be successful. Later, the bullies invite AC1677 to partake of the drugs again, but he rejects them, having beaten the addiction.
8"Calves, Pulmonary Embolism, and Quick Thinking"
Transliteration: "Fukurahagi, Haikessen, Kiten." (Japanese: ふくらはぎ、肺血栓、機転。)		Kazuya FujishiroHayashi MoriFebruary 14, 2021 (2021-02-14)
The red blood cells return to the liver, but due to the body's excessive drinking, it is run down and the hepatocytes are sickly. They go to the calves and find they are suffering from Deep vein thrombosis. The bullies attempt to murder AA2153 and AC1677 by kicking them into the blood clot, but U-1196 rescues them. The blood clot comes loose and travels through the body, killing the bullies along the way, until it clogs the pulmonary artery. The body starts to suffocate, but AA2153 tells the red blood cells to use the bronchial arteries as an alternate route to the lungs, allowing them to sustain the lungs until the clot dissolves. U-1196 tells AA2153 that he was the hero today. Later, U-1196 goes on patrol and is shocked to find all the other immune cells are missing.
9"Calamity, Athlete's Foot, and the Meaning of Work"
Transliteration: "Ihen, Mizumushi, Hataraku Imi." (Japanese: 異変、水虫、働く意味。)		Hiroshi KimuraHayashi MoriFebruary 21, 2021 (2021-02-21)
AA2153 discovers the genitals are infected with ringworm and the sperm count is low. U-1196 warns that the white blood cell count is low and AA2153 discovers the red blood cell count is low as well. AA2153 is assigned to be a mentor to some rookie red blood cells, but this causes him to go behind schedule on oxygen deliveries and the cells complain. He and AC1677 go to the feet, but find it has Athlete's foot. U-1196 and her only backup, two other Neutrophils, battle the ringworm, but are overwhelmed until the body treats the infection with Butenafine Hydrochloride. The exhausted immune cells are then ordered to battle ringworm elsewhere. AA2153 becomes obsessed with emulating U-1196's work ethic and works himself to exhaustion with deliveries. AC1677 forces him to stop and rest, pointing out the body continues to function without them.
10"Stomach Ulcer, Friendship, and Loss"
Transliteration: "Ikaiyō, Yūjō, Sōshitsu." (Japanese: 胃潰瘍、友情、喪失。)		Kōji AritomiHayashi MoriFebruary 28, 2021 (2021-02-28)
The body gets a stomach ulcer, so the red blood cells are called to supply oxygen and nutrients so it can be repaired. When a few red blood cells are killed by splashes of stomach acid, AC1677 runs away in fear, but eventually comes back. The ulcer is revealed to be caused by H. pylori, so U-1196 and the other Neutrophils battle it. The battle causes tremors and AA2153's leg is injured by a splash of stomach acid. AC1677 pulls him to safety, but falls into the stomach acid himself and dies. AA2153 becomes hysterical and insists his friend is not dead, until a gastric cell slaps some sense into him. The body takes clarithromycin to stop the infection. AA2153 is so depressed that he passes U-1196 without greeting her, then she notices his discarded glasses. AA2153 mopes around his apartment and refuses to work.
11"Desperation, Gout, and Rebellion"
Transliteration: "Jibōjiki, Tsūfū, Hanran." (Japanese: 自暴自棄、痛風、反乱。)		Jun'ichi KitamuraHayashi MoriMarch 7, 2021 (2021-03-07)
A huge crystal appears in the big toe. Thinking it is a germ, the immune cells attack it, but cannot damage it and only manage to damage the surroundings and cause inflammation. AA2153 wanders aimlessly and runs into a cell whom AC1677 flirted with. In despair, he goes to the spleen and begs to be killed, only to be refused and ordered to get back to work. The cells realize the crystal is Uric acid and the body is suffering Gout. AA2153 arrives and rallies the cells to attack the body so it will listen to them and stop its unhealthy lifestyle. When he starts injuring himself in his fury, U-1196 hugs him and begs him to stop. She returns his glasses and says it was not his fault AC1677 died, and they should honor their fallen friends by caring for the body. As he cries, the body takes Colchicine to treat the inflammation. Meanwhile, several blood vessels are clogged by cholesterol and blood clots full of dead cells.
12"Return, the Heart, and Demise"
Transliteration: "Fukki, Shinzō, Shūen." (Japanese: 復帰、心臓、終焉。)		Toshiyuki SoneHayashi MoriMarch 14, 2021 (2021-03-14)
AA2153 finally returns to work and resumes coaching a rookie. When they pass by the stomach, he is traumatized by remembering what happened to AC1677, but cheers up when the gastric cell remembers him and says he is glad he is all right, so he works with gusto. The blood vessels have been rupturing and filling with plaque, forcing the platelets to repair them and hindering the red blood cells. Eventually, the coronary artery is completely blocked. As the body suffers a heart attack from lack of oxygen, the brain cells announce that everyone can stop working because the body is about to die. The cells riot. While U-1196 tries to get everyone to keep working and AA2153 frantically tries to get oxygen to the heart, the heart stops and the body functions shut down.
13"Cardiac Arrest, Revival, and a Change"
Transliteration: "Shinkinkōsoku, Sosei, Henka." (Japanese: 心筋梗塞、蘇生、変化。)		Kōji AritomiHayashi MoriMarch 21, 2021 (2021-03-21)

The body receives chest compressions and the heart fibrillates. The cells chant for the heart to work again except for a veteran red blood cell who is tired of working. The heart is shocked by a defibrillator and works again. The coronary artery gets a stent inserted to clear the blockage, allowing the blood to circulate again. The red blood cells deliver oxygen to all the body's cells, saving them. Afterwards, AA2153 reminisces about his life's journey and meets U-1196 as they note that the body has cleaned up its act. The body has stopped smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating bad food, so the body is cleaner and less stressed. U-1196 says AA2153 has matured and AA2153 says he always admired U-1196, making them blush.

After the credits, the body is pierced by a syringe that sucks blood cells into it, including AA2153 and U-1196. They wake up and are horrified to find themselves in a new body that is even dirtier than the last one previously was.

Notes

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References

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Cells at Work! Code Black

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Cells at Work! Code Black is a Japanese seinen manga series written by Shigemitsu Harada and illustrated by Issei Hatsuyoshiya, serving as a spin-off to Akane Shimizu's original Cells at Work! franchise. The narrative anthropomorphizes human cells as they labor to sustain an adult body overwhelmed by poor health habits, including chronic overwork, smoking, obesity, and resulting conditions like diabetes and bacterial infections, portraying a grim environment where cell turnover is rapid and morale low. Unlike the original series' depiction of a healthy, optimistic child's body, Code Black emphasizes systemic failures from lifestyle choices, with protagonists—a rookie red blood cell (AA2153) and a battle-hardened neutrophil white blood cell (U-1196, gender-swapped from the original pairing)—facing existential threats amid ethical dilemmas like rationing limited resources. Serialized in Kodansha's Morning magazine from June 2018 to January 2021 and compiled into ten volumes by Comics, the series highlights causal links between host behaviors and cellular distress, such as elevated exacerbating . An adaptation, directed by Hideyo and produced by , aired for 13 episodes from January to March 2021, maintaining the manga's educational focus on while amplifying its dramatic tension through fluid action sequences of immune responses. Notable for its unflinching portrayal of bodily decay without moralizing, the work has been recognized for blending with realistic depictions of disease progression, though some critiques note its intensity may overwhelm casual viewers.

Production

Conception and Development

Cells at Work! Code Black was developed as a spin-off manga from the original Cells at Work! series created by Akane Shimizu, with story by Shigemitsu Harada and artwork by Issei Hatsuyoshiya. The project aimed to extend the anthropomorphic depiction of bodily cells into a harsher scenario, portraying their operations within an adult human host enduring chronic , , poor , and high stress—conditions reflective of real-world lifestyle factors contributing to physiological decline. This contrasts the original series' setting in a generally healthy, youthful body, emphasizing empirical consequences of sustained unhealthy habits on cellular function rather than portraying systemic exploitation as the sole driver. Serialization commenced in Kodansha's Morning magazine, a publication targeting adult male readers, starting with the combined 25th and 26th issue on June 21, 2018. Creative decisions included reversing the genders of the primary protagonists—a male (AA2153) as the novice delivery worker overwhelmed by the body's deteriorating infrastructure, and a female (NT4201) as the battle-hardened fighter—adapting the dynamic to underscore fatigue and survival pressures in an aged, abused system. The narrative drew from observable health impacts of Japanese work practices involving long hours and neglect of , framing the host's choices as precipitating the "code black" emergency state akin to medical crisis protocols. The series concluded serialization on January 21, 2021, in the magazine's 6th issue, spanning approximately 32 chapters compiled into eight volumes by . This endpoint aligned with the planned arc resolution, avoiding prolongation amid the host body's progressive failures depicted through cellular perspectives grounded in biological realism.

Manga Serialization

was serialized in 's Weekly Morning seinen magazine from June 7, 2018, to January 21, 2021. The series, written by Shigemitsu Harada and illustrated by Hatsuyoshi, debuted as a spin-off of the original Cells at Work! exploring cellular functions within an unhealthy adult . It ran for approximately 32 chapters without extended interruptions beyond a brief hiatus from to 2019. The manga was compiled into eight tankōbon volumes, with the first released on October 5, 2018, and the final volume published on February 22, 2021, marking the conclusion of the story arc. In North America, Kodansha USA licensed the series for English-language release, beginning with volume 1 on December 17, 2019. Distribution included physical tankōbon editions through Kodansha and digital formats available via platforms such as BookWalker, enabling access to individual chapters and volumes online. The serialization emphasized episodic crises resolved through cellular efforts, structured in self-contained chapters collected across volumes.

Anime Adaptation


The anime adaptation of Cells at Work! Code Black was produced by Liden Films and directed by Hideyo Yamamoto, with series composition and scripting handled by Hayashi Mori. It premiered on January 10, 2021, on Tokyo MX and other Japanese networks, running for 13 episodes until March 28, 2021. Aniplex served as the production company alongside Liden Films. Key voice actors include as the rookie AA2153 (also known as Gen) and as the U-1196. The adaptation condenses and rearranges manga chapters to fit the television format, incorporating some original scenes to improve pacing while maintaining core story elements. The series streamed on platforms including during its initial run and was added to Netflix on March 1, 2025. As of October 2025, no second season has been announced, following the manga's conclusion in 2021.

Setting and Narrative

Premise and World-Building

![Manga cover art](./ assets/CAWCB_cover.jpg) Cells at Work! Code Black depicts anthropomorphic cells functioning within the body of an overworked adult male in his thirties, subjected to from long hours, , heavy , and driven by poor dietary habits. This premise diverges from the original Cells at Work! series, which portrays cells in a healthy child's body experiencing routine operations with minimal disruptions. The frames the body's internal operations as a perpetual , termed "code black," where 37 cells labor to sustain vital functions amid escalating failures. The world-building establishes a grim, polluted metropolis-like environment inside the body, scarred by the host's lifestyle choices that induce tangible physiological strains. Smoking introduces toxins and bacterial invaders, fostering environments rife with infections and vascular damage, while excessive alcohol burdens hepatic cells and disrupts metabolic balance. Overwork elevates , suppressing immunity and accelerating cell , resulting in rampant shortages of oxygen and nutrients as blockages from plaques narrow arteries. High mortality compels continuous recruitment of new cells, yet the systemic decay—manifesting as weakened barriers, chronic , and resource scarcity—underscores the direct causality between the host's agency in maintaining unhealthy patterns and the cellular workforce's Sisyphean toil. Anthropomorphism integrates biological imperatives into a societal framework, with cells assigned specialized "jobs" such as erythrocyte oxygen transport or leukocyte combat, all executed under chaotic conditions that mirror real-world degradations from neglectful . This setup highlights the body's resilience limits, where unchecked habits precipitate cascading failures rather than isolated incidents, privileging personal in averting collapse.

Plot Summary

In Cells at Work! Code Black, the narrative unfolds within an adult overwhelmed by the host's unhealthy habits, including chronic , excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, , and high stress levels, which strain the 37 trillion cells struggling to sustain basic functions. A rookie , AE3803 (nicknamed Gen), begins his duties transporting oxygen through a clogged and hypoxic plagued by shortages and inefficient delivery routes. Early on, AE3803 collaborates with a seasoned , U-1196, to fend off bacterial infections and inflammatory responses in this deteriorating environment, where resources are perpetually scarce and workloads exceed capacity. As events escalate, the cells confront a series of acute crises triggered by the host's cumulative neglect, such as from arterial blockages, from respiratory compromise, and widespread organ strain leading to systemic failures. These arcs depict the cells' desperate, often improvised countermeasures—like deploying antimicrobial defenses or attempting to restore blood flow—against threats amplified by factors including , , and immune dysregulation, underscoring the progressive irreversibility of unaddressed damage. The , serialized across eight volumes from June 2018 to February 2021, builds to climactic confrontations with advanced pathologies like , implying the body's tipping point toward total collapse unless external lifestyle reforms intervene, though internal cellular perseverance persists amid futility. The 2021 adaptation, spanning 13 episodes, covers the initial and mid-series escalations up to pivotal emergencies such as , concluding on a note of precarious hinging on potential host behavioral shifts rather than guaranteed decay.

Key Story Elements

The narrative of Cells at Work! Code Black revolves around recurring "code black" alerts, which denote body-wide emergencies requiring immediate cellular mobilization, such as defenses against bacterial incursions or failures in blood clotting mechanisms that threaten systemic collapse. These motifs establish a pattern of relentless crises, where initial isolated incidents evolve into cascading failures due to the host's persistent exposure to stressors like tobacco smoke and alcohol, heightening tension through their repetitive escalation. Central to the story are dynamics of inter-cell cooperation eroding under exhaustion, as overtaxed , including Killer T Cells, deviate from protocols and attack non-threatened tissues in fits of dysregulation born from unrelenting demands. Red blood cells, strained by inefficient oxygen transport amid vascular damage, often witness or contribute to these breakdowns, underscoring how impairs collective efficacy in pathogen clearance and repair tasks. Episodic arcs are anchored to the host's external events, such as extended overtime precipitating that manifests as neural hyperactivity and impaired recovery cycles for cells, fostering a pacing that traces neglect's incremental toll toward potential organ shutdown. This structure culminates in motifs of compounding causality, where unaddressed vices amplify vulnerabilities, portraying the body as a faltering rather than a resilient one.

Characters

Primary Protagonists

AA2153 serves as the rookie protagonist, tasked with delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing in a body plagued by chronic resource shortages and structural decay. Depicted as initially naive and idealistic, AA2153 embodies the vulnerability of erythrocytes operating in hypoxic, high-stress environments where delivery routes are obstructed by clots, , and low oxygen levels, leading to frequent failures and exhaustion. This portrayal reflects real cellular behaviors under lifestyle-induced strain, such as reduced oxygen-carrying capacity in anemic or overworked physiological states. U-1196, the female and co-protagonist, functions as a frontline engulfing and destroying invading and debris with sword-like extensions mimicking pseudopods. Characterized as stoic, battle-hardened, and self-critical, she represents the relentless toll on innate immune cells in a compromised host, where constant germ incursions due to weakened barriers result in overwork, depleted reserves, and heightened inflammation. Her traits align with neutrophils' short lifespan and high turnover rates, amplified in depictions of perpetual combat within a body lacking adequate support from adaptive immunity or . Other primary figures include platelets that attempt clotting amid chaotic vascular damage and additional adapting to overwhelming pathogen loads, highlighting collective cellular resilience under duress while grounding anthropomorphic traits in physiological responses to stressors like poor diet and overexertion.

Supporting Cells and Antagonists

Other erythrocytes, such as AC1677, support oxygen transport alongside protagonists but endure heightened risks in the overworked body, often perishing from environmental hazards like stomach acid exposure. Senior red blood cells like AD6614 mentor juniors with determination despite fatal outcomes from toxins such as , underscoring circulatory strain from poor oxygenation. Platelets, under their leader's direction, attempt wound clotting but falter amid rampant and injuries, as vascular damage from the host's habits impedes effective sealing. Macrophages engulf debris and pathogens yet operate in exhaustion, reflexively targeting allies amid constant invasions reflective of compromised barriers. Liver cells detoxify excesses like alcohol but risk overload, maintaining function through in a body burdened by . Antagonists primarily comprise invading pathogens, including armored Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria that exploit weakened mucosal defenses to proliferate rapidly, necessitating penicillin intervention and heavy neutrophil losses. Viruses like the shingles variant trigger neural outbreaks, overwhelming local immunity in a stressed system. Internal threats emerge from dysregulation, with cancer cells forming aggressive tumors that consume resources and metastasize, fueled by factors such as smoking-induced mutations. Overworked Killer T Cells devolve into erratic states, attacking indiscriminately due to chronic immune fatigue from the body's inflammatory overload. Urate crystals deposit as metabolic byproducts, eroding tissues in a neglectful physiological environment. These adversaries intensify via host-induced factors—unhealthy diet, stress, and indulgences—that erode defenses and foster proliferation, framing antagonists as amplified symptoms of systemic imbalance rather than isolated malignities.

Themes and Scientific Depiction

Health Consequences of Lifestyle Choices

In Cells at Work! Code Black, the host's persistent smoking introduces nicotine and carbon monoxide into the bloodstream, depicted as overwhelming red blood cells by converting hemoglobin to carboxyhemoglobin, which impairs oxygen transport and fosters anaerobic bacterial growth, mirroring real-world mechanisms where cigarette smoking elevates lung cancer risk approximately 25 times compared to non-smokers. This portrayal emphasizes direct causality from individual choice, as the series shows cellular defenses collapsing under repeated exposure rather than external inevitability, aligning with epidemiological data linking tobacco use to 80-90% of lung cancer deaths through chronic inflammation and DNA damage. Chronic stress from overwork and poor sleep is illustrated as driving into perpetual overtime, leading to and heightened infection vulnerability, a theme reinforced by the narrative's rejection of "work demands" as justification, instead attributing physiological decline to the host's failure to prioritize rest or moderation. Empirical evidence supports this, with suppressing innate and adaptive immune responses via elevated , reducing resistance to pathogens and delaying , as observed in studies of prolonged psychological strain. Such depictions privilege causal realism, highlighting how sustained activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis under voluntary stressors exacerbates immune dysregulation without invoking systemic victimhood. Excessive alcohol intake and fast-food-driven contribute to in the series' host body, straining cardiovascular systems through fat accumulation and inflammation, resulting in cellular battles against clots and organ fatigue. This corresponds to clinical findings where , often precipitated by and alcohol excess, independently doubles mortality risk even absent baseline . The narrative contrasts these harms with implicit benefits of healthier habits—such as reduced cellular workload during brief abstinence periods—affirming realism in outcomes like heart strain from , though some visualizations amplify drama for effect; nonetheless, the core links to empirical tolls, like alcohol's role in elevating prevalence via hepatic and adipose dysregulation, underscore personal agency in averting progression to failure.

Biological Processes and Accuracy

The series depicts neutrophils performing to eliminate invading , a process involving receptor-mediated engulfment, phagosome formation, and lysosomal degradation using and enzymes, which closely mirrors the established mechanism in human immunology. This functional accuracy is evident in scenes where neutrophils rapidly respond to pathogens in the compromised body environment, reflecting their role as in acute without introducing erroneous steps. Similarly, oxygen transport under hypoxic stress is portrayed through erythrocytes navigating narrowed vessels and competing for limited oxygen, consistent with where tissue hypoxia arises from impaired hemoglobin unloading and reduced carrying capacity due to factors like binding from . Depictions of immune responses to pathogens and early atherosclerosis-like vascular narrowing capture causal elements of inflammation and plaque buildup, where endothelial damage from recruits monocytes and promotes formation, leading to luminal obstruction. Smoking's role is highlighted in initial episodes as triggering oxidative bursts that exacerbate bacterial entry and , aligning with evidence that tobacco smoke elevates , impairing antioxidant defenses and accelerating atherogenic processes. These elements demonstrate causal realism by linking lifestyle-induced stressors directly to pathophysiological outcomes, such as heightened vulnerability in under-resourced tissues. Anthropomorphic liberties, including cells expressing fatigue or resolve, serve narrative purposes but remain grounded in realistic functional constraints, such as elevated rates in chronically stressed environments where unresolved damage signals via activation and cascades to cull dysfunctional units. The series simplifies multifaceted interactions, like limited emphasis on gut modulation of , yet avoids pseudoscientific claims by adhering to verifiable cellular behaviors rather than fabricating unproven remedies or mechanisms.

Societal and Ethical Interpretations

Cells at Work! Code Black serves as an for Japan's "black company" phenomenon, where exploitative work environments demand excessive hours and disregard employee well-being, mirrored in the anthropomorphic cells' grueling labor within a host body ravaged by , poor diet, , and . The narrative depicts the host—a middle-aged —as volitionally persisting in self-destructive habits despite evident physiological distress signals, such as fatigue and illness, underscoring individual agency over purely deterministic societal pressures. Interpretations emphasizing personal responsibility highlight the series' portrayal of the host's neglect as the primary causal factor in cellular breakdown, aligning with empirical linking lifestyle diseases like and —prevalent in the story—to modifiable behaviors rather than inescapable structural forces alone. Pro-responsibility readings commend this for challenging narratives of entitlement, where individuals attribute health failures to external blame rather than self-inflicted choices, as the cells dutifully maintain operations amid the host's refusal to seek medical aid or alter routines. Counterviews frame the work as an anti-capitalist critique, likening overtaxed cells to proletarian laborers in a merciless system, yet such analyses overlook the host's autonomous decisions, including voluntary overtime and vice indulgence, which perpetuate the cycle independently of employer demands. Ethically, the cells embody a stoic duty ethic, expending resources to sustain a body undermined by the host's irresponsibility, raising questions of in asymmetrical relationships where one party's perseverance enables the other's detriment. Debates arise on whether this romanticizes —glorifying cellular resilience as a model for endurance—or delivers a realist caution against normalizing self-destructive patterns, as the host's arc reveals potential for reform through deliberate lifestyle shifts, not systemic overhaul. Controversies remain minimal, with few sourced disputes beyond interpretive variances, reflecting the series' focus on causal realism in health outcomes over ideological polemic.

Media Releases

Manga Volumes and Publication

Cells at Work! Code Black was published in by , with the series compiled into eight volumes released from late 2018 to early 2021. The volumes depict the anthropomorphic cells navigating an adult body burdened by , poor diet, and , with each installment focusing on specific physiological crises arising from these factors. Japanese editions carry seinen-targeted content, including graphic depictions of cellular damage and gore reflective of the body's deteriorating state, distinguishing it from the original series' lighter tone. Volume 1 establishes the core premise, introducing rookie AA5100 and veteran U-1196 as they deliver oxygen and combat infections amid systemic overload. Subsequent volumes build on this foundation: Volume 2 explores complications from adult lifestyle habits like irregular ; Volume 3 addresses career-related strains manifesting as bodily ; Volumes 4 and 5 delve into metabolic disruptions from excessive intake; Volume 6 intensifies bleak scenarios involving organ atrophy and loss; and the final two volumes culminate in the body's overarching collapse and potential recovery mechanisms. The narrative arc concludes definitively across the eight volumes, resolving the cells' struggles without unresolved plot threads. In , licensed and released English translations starting September 3, 2019, with physical paperback editions and digital formats available through platforms like Kindle. By 2022, all eight volumes had been localized, maintaining the original's explicit portrayals while adapting for Western audiences. No significant variant editions exist beyond standard print and e-book options, ensuring accessibility in both tangible and virtual media.

Anime Production and Episodes

The anime adaptation of Cells at Work! Code Black was produced by studio, with Hideyo Yamamoto serving as director and Hayashi Mori handling series composition. The production emphasized visual distinctions from the original Cells at Work! series, employing muted color palettes and shadowed environments to depict the deteriorated host body, alongside dynamic animation for sequences illustrating cellular combat and physiological stress. The series comprises 13 episodes, each running approximately 24 minutes, adapting major manga arcs focused on the protagonist red blood cell's navigation of oxygen delivery amid chronic threats like bacterial invasions and lifestyle-induced damage. Episodes are structured episodically around acute crises—such as sudden infections or systemic overloads—interwoven with ongoing depictions of routine cellular labor under duress, condensing the manga's serialized progression into a single cour format without additional recap specials or OVAs. Voice acting, featuring performers like as the red blood cell, incorporated tonal shifts to convey fatigue and resolve, enhancing the auditory portrayal of the body's overburdened operations. It premiered on Japanese networks including on January 9, 2021, with broadcasts concluding on March 26, 2021. Home video releases followed via in Blu-ray format during 2021, while international streaming debuted on concurrently with the broadcast; Netflix expanded availability globally in March 2025.

Other Adaptations and Merchandise

Cells at Work! Code Black has no confirmed adaptations beyond its originating serialization from 2018 to 2021 and the 2021 television series, with no live-action films, video games, or direct sequels announced as of October 2025. The series maintains ties to the parent Cells at Work! franchise through its anthropomorphic depiction of cellular functions in a stressed , but operates independently without cross-media extensions like stage plays or novels specific to its storyline. Merchandise encompasses action figures and collectibles, including Good Smile Company's of the protagonist () Genba U-1146, released with interchangeable expressions, a sword, and accessories. Apparel options include costumes replicating character uniforms, such as the attire, available from international retailers. The original soundtrack, composed by and released on February 24, 2021, comprises 45 tracks highlighting themes like cellular crises and combat sequences, distributed via platforms including . No official art books dedicated to Code Black have been published, though fan-derived merchandise like custom shirts featuring supporting cells such as circulates through online communities.

Reception and Impact

Critical Analysis

Critics have praised Cells at Work! Code Black for its unflinching portrayal of physiological damage from poor choices, such as chronic , , and untreated infections, which serve as stark visual metaphors for real-world deterioration. Reviewers in 2021 noted the series' ability to educate on bodily responses to stressors like nicotine-induced and outbreaks, rendering complex processes like immune overactivation accessible yet visceral. This approach excels in biological visualization, surpassing the original series in dramatizing within an unhealthy host body, according to Anime News Network's Lynzee Loveridge, who highlighted its standalone strengths in depicting . However, the unrelentingly grim tone has drawn criticism for potentially overwhelming viewers, with some outlets describing it as "depressing" due to the ceaseless crises faced by anthropomorphized cells in a collapsing environment. Anime News Network's preview guide pointed to a pre-airing "negative reputation" stemming from its adult-oriented shift, which contrasts sharply with the original's lighter edutainment style and risks alienating audiences seeking . Minor inaccuracies in simplifying immunological responses, such as exaggerated cell behaviors during , have been noted by science-oriented commentators, though these serve narrative purposes over strict fidelity. Interpretations vary along ideological lines: conservative-leaning reviews emphasize the series' implicit endorsement of personal accountability, illustrating self-inflicted from vices like alcohol and poor diet as cautionary tales against dependency. In contrast, progressive critiques frame it as an indictment of exploitative labor conditions, portraying cells as beleaguered workers in a for without sufficient focus on systemic agency or . These perspectives underscore the manga's dual appeal as both a primer and social , though its pacing in resolving crises episodically has been faulted for undermining cumulative tension.

Audience and Commercial Performance

The anime adaptation of Cells at Work! Code Black, which aired 13 episodes from January 9 to March 27, 2021, garnered a user score of 7.51 out of 10 on based on ratings from 85,846 participants, reflecting sustained interest within the community. Its availability on streaming platforms, including starting in March 2025, facilitated broader international access and viewership potential amid the franchise's established fanbase. As a spin-off manga serialized in Morning magazine from June 2018 to January 2021 across 10 volumes published by , Cells at Work! Code Black benefited from the parent franchise's commercial momentum, with the overall Cells at Work! series exceeding 10 million copies in circulation by August 2024. This included contributions from spin-offs like Code Black, supporting ancillary revenue through Blu-ray releases and merchandise tied to the brand's anthropomorphic cellular theme. No significant commercial underperformance or audience backlash, such as boycotts, was documented, aligning with the series' niche appeal in .

Educational and Cultural Influence

Cells at Work! Code Black depicts the physiological toll of lifestyle factors like , , and poor diet on an anthropomorphic cellular workforce, providing viewers with visualizations of causal mechanisms such as neutrophil overexertion against bacterial invasions exacerbated by weakened host immunity. This approach contrasts with abstract health warnings by illustrating direct cellular damage, including from in polluted environments, thereby fostering understanding of how individual habits precipitate systemic bodily decline. Viewer discussions highlight its role in prompting reflections on without overt , though some accounts describe the messaging as occasionally melodramatic in emphasizing preventable harms. Critiques acknowledge strengths in causal education—such as linking to cortisol-driven —but note limitations in oversimplifying multifactorial diseases, potentially underplaying genetic or environmental variables beyond personal choices. No empirical studies confirm widespread classroom adoption or measurable improvements in from the series, distinguishing it from the original's lighter edutainment style. Culturally, the work reinforces conventions of personified under duress, evolving tropes from the franchise's optimistic baseline to portrayals of existential cellular labor in dystopian "black" hosts, akin to societal critiques of . It has sparked online conversations balancing personal accountability—debunking excuses for normalized unhealthy behaviors—with acknowledgments of broader stressors like occupational demands, though without evidence of shifting or health campaigns. The narrative's focus on individual-level interventions amid systemic bodily failure invites debate on whether it empowers or unfairly attributes health burdens to personal failings over structural influences.

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  60. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/YMMV/CellsAtWorkCodeBlack
  61. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/CentralTheme/AnimeAndManga
  62. https://myanimelist.net/anime/41694/Hataraku_Saibou_Black/reviews
  63. https://kodansha.us/series/cells-at-work-code-black/
  64. https://global.bookwalker.jp/de325b0055-f633-494e-adc9-cfaa563fa734/
  65. https://jainituos.wordpress.com/2021/01/21/jainituos-anime-reviews-cells-at-work-code-black-first-impressions/
  66. https://www.thetvdb.com/series/cells-at-work-code-black
  67. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Cells-at-Work-CODE-BLACK/
  68. https://www.reddit.com/r/CellsAtWork/comments/1ig00gi/cells_at_work_code_black_is_coming_to_netflix/
  69. https://www.amazon.com/Good-Smile-Cells-Work-Black/dp/B08X4GG886
  70. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008599984961.html
  71. https://music.apple.com/us/album/%25E3%2581%25AF%25E3%2581%259F%25E3%2582%2589%25E3%2581%258F%25E7%25B4%25B0%25E8%2583%259Eblack-original-soundtrack/1552998972
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  73. https://nichegamer.com/reviews/cells-at-work-code-black-review-episodes-1-3/
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  75. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUS6nW4dAd4
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  78. https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/anime/new-anime-on-netflix-in-march-2025/
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  83. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352646953_Cells_at_Work_Media_Integration_Mapping
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  85. https://www.askamanager.org/2021/03/weekend-open-thread-march-20-21-2021.html
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