REVIEW: ‘Cells at Work’ Does A Beloved Anime Justice

Cells at Work! (2024), directed by Hideki Takeuchi and written by Yûichi Tokunaga, brings the celebrated anime/manga created by Akane Shimizu to live-action. Not only does it deliver on the story of Red Blood Cell AE3803 (Mei Nagano, Rurouni Kenshin I: Origins) and White Cell U-1146 (Takeru Satoh, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning), but it expands on the events of the original while cleverly working in the spin-off series Cells at Work: Code Black.

The biggest departure fans of the anime will notice is the inclusion of human characters. Rather than solely focusing on the cells within the bodies, we get to meet the humans that host the hardworking cells. Niko (Mana Ashida) and her father, Shigeru (Sadao Abe), play host as the original body and Code Black bodies, respectively.

When this concept is first introduced, it feels detrimental to the core concept of Cells at Work, as it shifts much of the focus away from the titular cells and onto humans instead. However, as the story progresses, the increased scope of the movie adds far more than it detracts.

The film follows many of the same beats as early episodes of both of the series it is adapting. Minor scrapes and influenza are explored along with the long-term effects of smoking, drinking, and overindulgence in fatty foods. As Cells at Work enters its back half, it shifts the focus exclusively to Niko as she comes down with cancer.

Each actor brings strong emotions to Cells at Work! (2024).

While cancer is a topic explored in the anime, it is delved into far more deeply here. As Niko struggles to endure the effects of chemo and radiation treatment, we see the onslaught of these harsh treatments on the cells desperately fighting to do their jobs. The mirrored events share the pain, despair, and hope with each other, crafting a powerful finale that is unlikely to leave many dry eyes in its wake.

This power is amplified by the cast’s strong performances. Each actor brings the emotional turmoil of the closing stretch of the story to life, but none manages to bring as much as Abe. The transformation his character undergoes as he struggles to do anything he can to support his daughter is immensely powerful. How he manages to encompass the myriad of emotions such a journey thrusts a person into with so much believability is incredible.

The human side of the story brings an unexpected layer of emotion to the tale, but Cells at Work doesn’t neglect the familiar characters to accomplish this. As fans would expect, the narrative inside the body focuses tightly on AE3803 and U-1146. Nagano and Satoh both recreate the wonderful chemistry present between the pair. White Cell’s intensity still plays off Red Cell’s overwhelmed personality wonderfully.

The pair is focused on, but is also helped by all the familiar cells from the series. Platelets, NK cells, Killer T, and a host of others all get a turn in the spotlight. And most of these appearances are coupled with narration, explaining their functions, keeping the educational side of the original intact, though it feels less prominent than before.

The tonal and visual changes to Cells at Work! live-action work perfectly.

The presentation of Cells at Work effectively brings the cells and their numerous pathogens that prey on them to life. Unwilling to compromise on the costuming, the characters sometimes look ridiculous, but in the best way. A reasonable amount of CGI is implemented to help some of the more complex monsters come to life, allowing the film to better recreate the source material. And most importantly, the platelets are still adorable.

The one spot where the film falls short of capturing the series is in the action. Choosing to lean more into the comical than the violence, throwdowns between white, Killer T, and NK cells and their various foes are done for pure camp. While it makes sense why they wouldn’t try to recreate the geysers of blood found throughout the anime, an effort to recreate the threat of the original would’ve served to add some power to the action. A small price to pay, though overall.

Cells at Work manages to be an incredible adaptation. It not only adheres to the core concepts of its source material but also expands them in a way that adds significantly to the narrative, while sacrificing very little in the process. An easy recommendation for any fan, or anyone who enjoys a film that can make you smile, cry, and laugh throughout a swift-moving two-hour runtime.

Cells at Work! (2024) is streaming now on Netflix.