"Cells at Work" began airing in July 2018. It has become a hot topic for its unique depiction of the struggles of the cells that live inside the human body, personified. When you watch this anime, you can't help but imagine that similar things are happening to your own body on a daily basis.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Also, when you think about the cells working so hard in their tiny bodies, it makes you want to take care of your health. This time, we'll be introducing the top 10 famous quotes uttered by the fiercely fighting cells in "Cells at Work!"
Source: Cells at Work! ©Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Feel the epic story woven by these tiny cells through this collection of quotes.
A Quick Review of "Cells at Work!"
Source: Cells at Work! ©Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
"Cells at Work!" is a comical manga depicting the trillions of cells that reside within the human body as they carry out their daily tasks. A variety of cells appear in this series, from familiar blood cells like red blood cells that supply oxygen to the entire body and white blood cells that eliminate germs that have invaded the body, to killer T cells, platelets, macrophages, and more.
Source: Cells at Work © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
What may seem like trivial tasks to humans, but for the cells in our bodies, they are frantically working hard every day to complete their tasks. In this video, you can see these tiny, brave cells in action.
Famous Quotes from the Perspective of Cells
Source: Cells at Work © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Cells struggle daily within the human body, but this work features famous quotes that could only come from these cells. Of course, cells don't actually think about things differently from human values like good and bad. However, these quotes, born from a cellular perspective, are often thought-provoking.
Source: Cells at Work © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Enjoy these quotes that only cells, who fulfill their assigned tasks every day, can say.
10th Place: "Even if your efforts seem futile... your strong point is that you keep working hard on your own, right?" - Immature Thymocyte
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
This is the story of when killer T cells and helper T cells were still immature thymocytes in the thymus.
The cells that later become killer T cells and the cells that later become helper T cells shared the same motivation for attending thymus school. While the later helper T cells excelled in academics, the later killer T cells struggled to progress.
After somehow passing the "positive selection/negative selection test," the killer T cells confide in the later helper T cells that they lack confidence.
Here's what the helper T cells said to the killer T cells, despite their harsh and dismissive attitude:
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Although the Helper T Cell usually pretends to be indifferent to the poorly performing Killer T Cell, this is also a scene where he sees the Killer T Cell working hard behind the scenes and encourages the Killer T Cell when it feels down.
Later, these two play an active role as Killer T Cells that eliminate bacteria and as Helper T Cells that give instructions to the Killer T Cells.
What is the Positive Selection/Negative Selection Test?
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
The "Positive Selection/Negative Selection Test" featured at the Thymus School in the series is a test for positive selection, which preserves useful T cells, and negative selection, which eliminates harmful T cells that destroy the body.
This allows lymphocytes to be selected that can accurately distinguish between their own body and foreign substances such as pathogens. It is said that only a few percent of all cells ultimately become T cells.
9th Place: "Even you and I have one or two things we're not good at. He just happens to be bad at staying on the right path." - White Blood Cell
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Normally, red blood cells' job is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide, but "AE3803" is always getting lost. Each time, she is helped by her senior red blood cells and white blood cells, but one day she was a little different.
On this day, the red blood cell had set herself the goal of circulating on her own without hesitation, and her enthusiasm was so great that the voices of the white blood cells and senior red blood cells could not be heard.
Despite encountering many problems, the red blood cell was ultimately able to circulate on her own. Here is what the white blood cell said when it saw her like that.
Source: Cells at Work © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This red blood cell, while responsible for circulating blood throughout the body, has a fatal weakness: it gets lost. It's constantly causing trouble for those around it. However, everyone has weaknesses, and even if they cause trouble, this phrase evokes a spirit of mutual support and recognition of the individual's efforts.
Every single cell carries out its assigned role every day. This role cannot be fulfilled by other cells. These words bring to mind the brave cells that understand their respective roles and help each other.
Two Types of Red Blood Cell Circulation
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
There are two types of circulation, which is also the primary role of red blood cells.
They are "pulmonary circulation" and "systemic circulation."
The "pulmonary circulation" circulates in the following order: right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary vein → left atrium.
The "systemic circulation" circulates in the following order: left ventricle → aorta → artery → capillaries → vein → vena cava → right atrium.
8th Place: "This body is still alive! It's no reason for me to give up my work!" - White Blood Cell
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
The human beings inhabited by the cells suffer from heatstroke.
When the body becomes dehydrated and its temperature regulation system fails, Bacillus cereus invades the body.
As the body's cells weaken, Bacillus cereus attempts to take control of the body. Meanwhile, the white blood cells refuse to give up on their work, even as they weaken.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This quote speaks to the hardworking nature of cells, who continue to fulfill their duties as long as the body is alive. It's truly admirable to think that no matter what, the cells never give up and continue to protect the body.
To prevent heatstroke, cool areas containing large blood vessels.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
On hot days, there's a risk of heatstroke.
This can be prevented by lowering body temperature and staying hydrated, but it seems that it is most effective to cool areas where large blood vessels pass, such as around the neck, armpits, and groin.
Perhaps the cells in these areas are also cooling themselves down.
7th Place: "Every Maiden Has a Secret or Two" - Macrophage
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
White blood cells struggle against Staphylococcus aureus, which suddenly appears in the body. Amidst this, a macrophage, which had previously been functioning as a monocyte, appears. The red blood cells are surprised by the stark difference in appearance, but they ignore it and continue to eliminate germs with sheer force.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Macrophages are usually graceful and gentle, but when it comes to fighting germs, they display incredible strength.
Macrophages: The Many Faces
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Macrophages are immune cells with high killing power. In addition, they also function as cleaners, eliminating germs as monocytes in the blood, and as nursery caregivers, nurturing erythroblasts.
6th Place: "Go, Eosinophil! Only you can defeat that enemy." - White Blood Cell
Even neutrophils, which normally eliminate all living things, are no match for parasites, but eosinophils can defeat them. In the story, they defeat "anisakis" and save the body from crisis.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
It's amazing how each cell has its own area of expertise and specific role, and how there are cells with all sorts of functions that protect the body from danger.
Eosinophils are weak when it comes to praise!?
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Eosinophil defeats Anisakis and receives applause from those around him.
Usually showing only his weak side and not used to being praised, Eosinophil's reaction to the people around him makes him grin in a way that's hard to imagine given his usually cool demeanor.
Surprisingly, when praised, you can see the adorable side of weak eosinophils.
5th Place: "No matter how small the impact, we can't ignore the bacteria that infest our bodies. That's our job..." - White Blood Cell
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Hair follicles are taken over by acne bacteria, putting the cells working around the hair in a pinch. In the midst of this, white blood cells appear. They fight desperately to eliminate the germs, but the hair matrix cells seem to be giving up.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
However, the white blood cell utters these words and fulfills its role. Inspired by this, the hair matrix cells regain their fighting spirit and somehow manage to defeat the germs.
A Drama Unfolds in a Single Hair
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Cells at Work! is originally a story about tiny cells in the body, but it turns out that each individual hair also has its own drama.
4th Place: "I'll carry oxygen to the end! That's my job." - Red Blood Cell
Source: Cells at Work © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
The red blood cell is tasked with training a new recruit. While failing to act like a senior to the new recruit, he finds himself in a pinch, suffering from massive bleeding. With his body in dire straits, the new recruit is on the verge of giving up, but then, as a senior, he speaks these words.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
It's touching to see the cells fulfilling their respective roles and working so hard at all times.
Red blood cells with an accent arrive via transfusion
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
A blood transfusion saves a life-threatening condition. Among the transfusions arrives a group of red blood cells with an accent reminiscent of a snowy region. Are red blood cells also regional?
3rd Place: "I overcame my past weakness...and returned reinvigorated...!" Naive T Cell
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
This is a story about when the influenza virus invades the body.
"Naive T cells," T cells that have never come into contact with an antigen, are still immature, so when they encounter a virus, they simply run away in fear.
The killer T cells around him were all strong, violent colleagues, and the naive T cell felt inferior about his own cowardice. However, after being encouraged and activated by dendritic cells, he became an "effector T cell" and returned.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
In the story, everyone experiences naive T cells and becomes activated, which is a story that resonates with us today. It's heartwarming to see a single cell overcome hardship and grow.
Even the senior killer T cells were once naive!?
Source: Cells at Work © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
In "Cells at Work," the killer T cells are often depicted as hot-blooded, muscular creatures fighting germs. However, even these T cells were once naive and frail.
For killer T cells, this is a dark secret from their past, something they would rather not reveal. However, dendritic cells, who hold the secret, occasionally reveal it.
2nd Place: "White Blood Cells Protect Other Cells Even at the Cost of Their Own" - Myelocyte
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This story takes place in the bone marrow, where red blood cells and white blood cells are born and raised.
While striving to become a healthy red blood cell as an erythroblast, it is attacked by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which has invaded the bone marrow. With no way to fight back, the erythroblasts are in a desperate situation, but then a myelocyte, a cell before it can become a white blood cell, appears.
Although the myelocyte is still weak, it bravely fights the battle to become a strong white blood cell. From this point on, the white blood cell has acquired the mind of a white blood cell.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
In the end, the bacteria are eliminated by the white blood cells that come to their rescue. This famous quote shows the determination and courage of the white blood cells.
Macrophages Nurture Red Blood Cells
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Erythroblasts are born in the bone marrow, and macrophages play a central role in their development. They are, so to speak, like the erythroblasts' teachers.
Macrophages are immune cells that normally eliminate germs, but they are also hard workers that perform a variety of roles, such as developing blood cells.
1st Place: "Why do I have to be killed...?! I haven't done anything wrong... I was just born!" - Cancer Cell
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Immune cells such as neutrophils, killer T cells, and NK cells fought fiercely to defeat the cancer cells that were secretly multiplying within the body.
Cancer cells originally occur when an abnormality occurs in the cells' genes, causing them to grow uncontrollably, metastasizing and spreading to surrounding cells. Such cancers, which ultimately lead to a person's death, are referred to by immune cells as "buggy guys."
Certainly, cancer cells are abhorrent to humans and immune cells, but as this phrase also suggests, they are also tragic cells, destined to be killed shortly after they are born.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This scene may have changed the way some people view cancer cells. Although cancer cells can cause death, they are also one of the cells that originally exist in the human body.
If you empathize with these cancer cells while watching this scene, you may find yourself sympathizing with them, their sad fate.
The cancer cell's last words...
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
The cancer cell tormented the immune cells, but was ultimately defeated with the help of macrophages and B cells.
As the cancer cell died, its last words were...
"Argh!"
And so it went.
Summary
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
We've introduced some famous quotes from "Cells at Work!". These quotes highlight the daily struggles of cells. Why not take a look at these quotes and think about the cells that are working behind the scenes?
