The episode that left the strongest impression in the first season of Cells at Work was the fight against cancer cells! There were many episodes about heat stroke, hay fever, scrapes, and more, but among them, cancer cells are a terrible disease for the human body, and because of this, there were many scenes that made you think. These cancer cells make an appearance again in the second season of the anime! The white blood cells once protected the body from cancer cells, but will they be able to compete with the cancer cells that have returned even more powerful? In this article, we will introduce the battle against cancer cells that unfolds across seasons 1 and 2.
Cancer cells appear in episode 7 of the first season of the anime!
Cancer cells first appeared in the original comics from episodes 8 to 9 of volume 2. The battle unfolded over two episodes, the first and second parts. In the anime, the first and second parts are condensed into episode 7, making it a very voluminous episode. The cancer cells then appear again at the end of episodes 22 and 23 of volume 5 of the comics. The main story is in episodes 24 (first part) and 25 (second part). In the first season, the episode about cancer cells was summarized in one episode, but this time it was introduced in the PV and other PVs as the main part of the second season in the movie version that was aired earlier, so it may be produced as a two-part anime.
Cancer cells disguised as normal cells at first
If you have seen the cancer cells in the PV, you may imagine that cancer cells = blood vessels protruding and clearly viruses! However, when they first appeared, the cancer cells were disguised as normal cells. When you think of normal cells, you might think of them as being "characteristically uncharacteristic." They use disguises to fool white blood cells and killer T cells and lure them to their base, but their true identity is seen through by the NK cells accompanying them. However, their disguise is perfect, completely fooling the white blood cells. I thought the viewers didn't notice at all... but everyone noticed his true identity. Because he's too handsome for a normal cell! And his voice is by Akira Ishida, which is too luxurious and handsome for a mob character! (lol) He was obviously treated differently from the other normal cells, so it seems that people immediately noticed that he was too suspicious.
First, the cancer cells fight one-on-one with the NK cells
The cancer cells disguised themselves as normal cells and lured white blood cells, killer T cells, and NK cells to their base. Once inside the suspicious building, the NK cells fight with the killer T cells and split into two groups. However, the NK cells, who had realized before they arrived that the normal cells that had been their guides were in fact cancer cells, stand a short distance away from the white blood cells and tell the cancer cells to reveal their true selves. Hearing these words, the cancer cells also reveal their true selves and begin fighting. The NK cells confidently fend off the first attack, but are at a disadvantage against the overwhelming power of the cancer cells.
Why NK cells fought cancer cells alone
After entering the building, the NK cells and the killer T cells split into two groups, but when the cancer cells asked them, "You were trying to let your two allies escape, weren't you?", they said that the two who couldn't see through his true identity were "in the way." But in reality, they thought, "If weaker people stand up to him, they'll only get hurt, so I'll do it alone," and when the killer T cells, who always fight, found out, they said, "You idiots," with a complicated look on their faces.
Why did the cancer cells go to the trouble of luring the three to their base?
Although it is a virus, the cancer cells do not just go wild like other viruses, but instead lure them to their base by pretending to be normal cells. The NK cells asked the cancer cells if they had any thoughts about this. The cancer cells did not answer at the time. However, when the three joined up during the battle, they themselves explained the reason. "I wanted to make them feel like they were being killed by violence." After saying this, the building that had already been taken over by the cancer cells suddenly began to collapse, and the three were crushed under the rubble and unable to move due to the attack of a large number of cancer cells.
Why did the cancer cells think like that?
Cancer cells are originally destined to be born as normal cells, but it is said that even healthy people actually produce thousands of them a day due to copying errors. The cancer cells in this anime were also born from this "copying error," and were not cells that did anything bad in childhood. However, seeing the same fellow cancer cells being called "bugly bastards" by immune cells and mercilessly killing even children, the lone surviving cancer cell resented being killed by unreasonable violence and took action like this.
Cells that notice something strange in the body gather together! To fight against cancer cells
The cancer cells that overwhelmed the three people spread throughout the body through the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels... in other words, they are about to become "terminal cancer" that has metastasized throughout the body. The cancer cells tried to leave the scene while ignoring the three people who could not move, but suddenly, a hatchet came flying out of nowhere and pierced their body. When they turned around, they saw a large number of cells around them... the situation suddenly reversed, and the cancer cells were fatally wounded by the NK cells activated by "laughter."
Is it okay to laugh?... The indescribable end of the cancer cell
A cancer cell fatally wounded by an NK cell. The white blood cell is told to deliver the final blow, so the knife is aimed at the cancer cell's neck... The cancer cell then says, "Gah!" The story continues from a serious development to a serious one, but the audience was confused as to whether they should laugh or not because of the subtle puns made with a straight face (lol). And after the final blow, the cancer cell's eyes become x's like other viruses. Thus, the cancer cells met their end, but before dying, they left behind a meaningful message: "Fine. I'll lose. This time..."
Cancer cells are back! This time, they have an even more elaborate plan!
The cancer cells have appeared before the cells again. This time, the stage is the large intestine! This time, the cells are aware of the cancer cells' attack, and the killer T cells head to the front lines as memory T cells to make use of their memories of the previous battle. Just like last time, the three discover cancer cells and go to battle... They are fighting advantageously based on the combat memory of the memory T cells, but an unexpected strong enemy stands in front of them.
Regulatory T cells become the enemy
The memory T cells use their combat memory from the last time to attack the cancer cells. However, it is the regulatory T cells, who are supposed to be their allies, who stop their punches. The function of regulatory T cells is to "suppress the activity of immune cells so that they do not attack cells or beneficial bacteria." At this time, they were trying to protect the cancer cells from the attacks of the memory T cells because they recognized them as "cells born from the same body and not foreign enemies." They were not betraying them by thinking they were doing their normal job, but the regulatory T cells, with their overwhelming power, were able to control both the memory T cells and the NK cells that pounced on them at the same time, and stood in front of the three as a formidable opponent.
Cancer cell likes white blood cell
In the previous battle, it was the white blood cell that dealt the final blow to the cancer cell, but the cancer cell recognized the white blood cell as a "friend" because of the white blood cell's way of thinking and the fact that the cancer cell was saved without realizing it when he was playing the role of a normal cell, and even in the battle, he captured the white blood cell instead of killing it. "A cell that can only live for someone, but can only kill someone" The cancer cell, who has such a fate, said, "I don't want to kill him because he's my friend," and it seems that he really likes the white blood cell.
A special move that defeats the cancer cell explodes! That name is... long!
A powered-up cancer cell. And its ally, the regulatory T cell. Just when it seemed like they were in a desperate situation, the memory T talent finally unleashes his ultimate secret technique! It's called the "T cell perforin cannon punch"! It releases a huge fist-shaped wave-like motion from the pressure of the fist, boasting tremendous power, but the name is hard to remember, so the cancer cells call it "T cell purpurin panties". But its power is real! It blew away the cancer cells and caused great damage. By the way, at this time, the regulatory T cells said that they stopped protecting the cancer cells because their clothes had become dirty and torn, and the character for "cell" had become "facility," but they didn't know what they were really thinking because their eyes regained their sparkle when they saw the memory T cells' faces.
The end of the second cancer cell
The cancer cells, which have become weaker due to the secret technique of the memory T cells, the normalization of the regulatory T cells, and the improvement of the intestinal environment, are once again killed by the white blood cells. However, this time, unlike the last time, he does not express any resentment or regret towards the cells, but smiles and says, "It's much better to be killed by a friend than by someone I hate." And at the end, he leaves one more thing, "See you later... Mr. Kind Killer White Blood Cell," setting up a flag that he will likely appear again in the future.
Brutal but pitiful. Cancer Cell Summary
Normally, cancer cells are a terrible disease that everyone fears, but the cancer cells in "Bacteria at Work" are characters that you can't help but sympathize with when you look at their background and behavior, and you will have mixed feelings when watching them. Cancer cells are very popular despite being enemies. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of battles will unfold in the second season and the movie.
