Cellular structures, types of muscles, the intricate components of the immune system, it’s all such a buzz of tiny little facts that you can barely see under a microscope. And your biology teacher is asking you to memorize it! I couldn’t care in school because all I did was memorize concepts I couldn’t fathom, such as how many ventricles the human heart has. Edutainment series like Amoeba Sisters or Osmosis Jones have tried to present it in a way for younger viewers, but there is no show that works its hardest to present factual information in such a passionate and organic way like the Japanese Monthly Shonen Sirius’ Cells At Work. Created by a woman who wanted to help her sister, this series will aid you with its engaging presentation of the human body and clever, enjoyable characterization.

Cells At Work’s main skill is presenting complicated functions of the human body (immune system and circulation) in a format we understand. Instead of vessels and organic compounds, we have an urban network of thirty-seven trillion people, such as the red blood delivery workers and a merciless military of killer T cells bludgeoning virus-infected zombies. The Science Of tells about a medical student, Jean, who “praised the series depiction of the sequence leading up to T-cell activation – a difficult concept to understand as taught” (Brady). Just by being presented a relatable world, the viewers’ minds open to information. However, that’s not the only method.

As you may have noticed, the edutainment series has only gained a large viewership because of the story and characterization. The Science Of understands the reason: Cells At Work’ story “[gives] students a sense of ownership – science shows up in something they already like” (Brady). The noble Neutrophil, the bubbly Red Blood Cell, and the sweet Platelets get us emotionally invested; this increases engagement as well, and I can certainly attest to that. In life, when you’re following someone’s journey, you’re bound to learn lessons along the way. That’s what I love about educational media, and that’s why I love this anime.

To all the students studying cellular biology, Cells at Work understands what you care about and how fascinating the human body really is. It introduces you to a new (yet familiar) world and people who love you with all their hearts, and you’re instantly invested! Biology isn’t about memorizing facts after all; it’s all about you, it’s about understanding how you as a person operate so you can better your body and your life. And, considering the fact this successful series is incorporated eagerly in East Asian classrooms, it’d be quite a waste to let it pass.