The second season of acclaimed health series Cells at Work finally arrives. While episodes are currently delayed internationally (likely due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic) much of the season has aired in Japan. In season two new characters are introduced to expand the biology of the human body including additions to cells that were previously in season one.

Cells at Work! is a 2018 shounen anime series, it is produced by David Productions, and licensed by Aniplex of America. It is currently available on streaming platforms and on home video in English. Season two is currently airing on Funimation and Crunchyroll. 

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

Episode one of Cells at Work focuses on Backwards Hat a platelet that was a minor character in season one. While it’s great seeing newer characters taking center stage the absent entertaining dynamic of AE3803 & U-1146 is always a bit of a sour spot. 

THE GOOD: Cells at Work!! episode one starts with an overconfident germ that thinks it’s cuteness will overpower the attack cells, but it’s easily thwarted by an unfazed U-1146. Backwards Hat is seen carrying heavy material in an attempt to get stronger as a platelet. After some words of encouragement from the White Blood Cell she steels her resolve, but he quickly realizes that Backwards Hat is just as clumsy as AE3803 and decides to shadow her for the day. Following several accidents Backwards Hat begins to lose confidence in herself. A sudden capillary injury causes all of the cells to scramble with the platelets being the lead cells needed to heal it. Megakaryocyte appears and berates the platelets for being weak while bribing them with gold medals if they succeed in healing the injury. After some material needed to heal the injury falls into a pit Backwards Cap nearly sacrifices her life to catch it, but she’s caught by the other platelets at the last second who use it to successfully heal the capillary. Backwards Hat is praised for her efforts and obsesses over her gold medal.

Cells at Work’s ever cute and colorful animation and art is always a treat to see in motion. And it’s even prettier to look at in season two. The first episode is kind of lacking in laughs compared to the first episode of season one, but there were some stand outs like U-1146 showing the germ no mercy and AE3803’s comedic scream of terror. I enjoy Cells at Work not being afraid to give side characters more shine and that’s basically this entire episode being focused on Backwards Hat who didn’t have much of a presence in season one outside of visually. 

THE BAD: At least from a glance of seeing episode one it seems like season two will be expanding focus to characters outside of AE3803 & U-1146. While it makes sense if this is indeed the case to keep the series fresh viewers who have become attached to the budding relationship between the two may be turned off by the potential new direction. I haven’t watch beyond the first episode due to the aforementioned schedule delay for international releases so this may not be where season two is going. It should be noted that many episodes in season one also focused on other characters for the plot of the episode.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Cells at Work continues it’s colorful magic with sharp animation, even cuter art than before and some solid expanding of it’s character roster. The first episode is light on laughs but when they do approach comedy they nail it. If the premiere is anything to go by our two leading red and white blood cells may be taking a bit of a backseat, but I feel like Cells at Work! is a series that lends itself to experimentation like that with it’s characters. Otaku Dome gives Cells at Work!! Episode One an 85 out of 100.