Action, Fantasy

Cells at Work!

はたらく細胞

Directed by: Takeuchi Hideki
2024 / 109 minutes / M

One body, 37 trillion cells and an endless battle for survival!

Ever wondered what’s going on with the intricate workings inside your body? This live-action take on the hit manga series Cells at Work! reimagines the human body as a bustling metropolis populated by 37 trillion cells. Inside high schooler Niko’s (Mana ASHIDA) body, a hard-working but clumsy red blood cell (Mei NAGANO) frequently loses her way as she eagerly delivers oxygen through the bloodstream. Meanwhile, her battle-hardened counterpart, a white blood cell/Neutrophil (Takeru SATOH), relentlessly hunts down invading bacteria. Alongside trillions of other anthropomorphised cells, this unlikely duo must fight together to protect Niko from foreign threats—one immune system emergency and bacterial invasion at a time! In stark contrast, Niko’s father Shigeru (Sadawo ABE) often gives in to his vices, and his cells constantly battle under the strain of poor habits and stress.

Part science lesson and part theme park ride, director Hideki TAKEUCHI ’s (Fly me to the Saitama, THERMAE ROMAE) adaptation artfully injects soul into the seemingly absurd. This surreal comedy is layered with educational themes and cutting sincerity, making for a genuinely touching reminder of the wonders of the human body. Quirky, and over-the-top, Cells at Work! brings to mind Inside Out meets Power Rangers—with a surprisingly high body count!