Cells at Work’s spinoff series “Code Black” gets it’s anime adaptation after a trailer teased the possibility of the project beginning production. Unlike in the original series, Code Black deals what what goes on inside of an unhealthy human body and what the cells have to deal with on a daily basis to keep it alive as long as humanly possible. 

Cells at Work: Code Black is a 2021 seinen anime series, it is produced by Liden Films and licensed by Aniplex of America. It is currently available in English subs streaming on Funimation Now & Crunchyroll with a dub to follow. 

Editor’s Note: Near complete to complete spoilers for Cells at Work: Code Black episode one may be present within this review.

In 2018 Aniplex released an anime adaptation of the Cells at Work series. A comedic look at the human body and everything our cells do to keep our bodies healthy. It was praised for it’s factual information and entertaining educational efforts. A spinoff based within an unhealthy human body named Cells at Work: Code Black began serialization shortly after the debut of the original series’ anime adaptation and fans were quick to hype up it’s own anime adaptation. The spinoff’s anime was released alongside the second season of the original anime.

THE GOOD: In Cells at Work: Code Black everything is pretty much turned upside down. A number of personalities have changed and some genders & designs too. For example, in the original series the White Blood Cells are men who use combat knives, but in “Code Black” the White Blood Cells are women who use katana weapons. The platelets which are known for being cute in the original are just putting on an act in Code Black and are fairly rude for the most part. The original series is also more so seen as a comedic take on human biology, whereas Code Black is a more dramatic take on biology. The current story follows a body addicted to unhealthy habits such as smoking & drinking. Which leads me to believe that Code Black could have a serialized arc over the random self-contained stories the original series is known for.

Unlike in the original series where the cells are for the most part happy and optimistic, in “Code Black” they’re downtrodden and emotionally broken due to the decaying environment they’re forced to reside in. The change in atmosphere & direction will probably hit home with people who drink or smoke heavily. It might even inspire them to drop their unhealthy habits altogether. For anyone curious the action sequences are present in “Code Black”, but it’s pretty clear that it isn’t something they’re focusing the series on.

THE BAD: While the dark shift in tone and seemingly serialized story arc change are unique it might turn off viewers and readers of the original more randomized and light hearted series. 

OVERALL THOUGHTS:  Cells at Work: Code Black is a darker deep dive alternative to biology over that of the original. It dramatizes the danger faced by health choices we make with our body and does so at an exceptionally well written way. The darker tone also gives more room for characters to be fleshed out without the risk of them being one note which may be an issue the original may reach at some point. That being said if you’re interested at all in the Cells at Work series there’s at least two very different, but very good alternatives for you to try. Otaku Dome gives Cells at Work: Code Black Episode 1 a 90 out of 100.