'Cells at Work! Code Black' Is Better Than the Original

Cells at Work! Code Black is a spin-off series of Cells at Work!.  It has the same premise as the original, in which cells are anthropomorphized as human-looking workers performing jobs that are metaphorically akin to their functions in real life.  For example, red blood cells (erythrocytes) are deliverymen, and white blood cells (neutrophils) are soldiers.  However, in Cells at Work! Code Black, the main red blood cell character is male, and the main white blood cell character is female.  More notably, the setting of Black is in the body of a man with an unhealthy lifestyle.

While the original Cells at Work! can get dark, too, it’s still wholesome compared to Black, which is grittier and more mature.  That means it tackles topics that aren’t quite kid-friendly.  Stress, alcoholism, clogged arteries, erectile dysfunction, sexually transmitted disease, stomach ulcer, cardiac arrest, and the like are some of the medical issues that this body has to deal with.  And these result to deteriorating, miserable, and hazardous working and living conditions for its inhabitants.  For example, red blood cells are under the constant threat of dying from carbon monoxide poisoning due to the man’s smoking habits.

Therefore, the storylines and themes in Black get way more serious than those in the original.  For every uplifting development, there are triple the bleak ones.  Gut-wrenching twists and turns (the ending of the season was especially perfect) are common.  There is still comedy, but as one would expect, this comes in the form of dark comedy more than gags.  There are more stakes here, and thus, more tension and drama.  Anything can go wrong at any moment.  Anybody can die.  No character shown during the OP of Cells at Work! ever died.  The same can’t be said with Code Black.

Moreover, while it’s not explicitly stated, one may deduce from the anime’s title and the featured medical cases that the body belongs to a salaryman working in a black corporation – a corporation that overworks and bullies its employees.  This adds another layer to the show as the body’s state of affairs with its cells can serve as a metaphor for black corporation environments.

The original Cells at Work! is splendid, but I think Black is actually the better anime.  It’s not only every bit as educational and fun as the original, but because of its darker themes, it manages to be more poignant, profound, and impactful.

The “never give up, never say die” message is a cliché with shonen.  But this was still strikingly shown through Red Blood Cell’s arc.  The dire situation of the body doesn’t inspire optimism, yet he remains dedicated, regardless of whether his effort is actually making a difference or not.  Sure, there are moments where he comes to a point where he succumbs to hopelessness.  But he gets over them, eventually.  And during the body’s grimmest moment, he’s the one who provides the inspiration that’s badly needed.

White Blood Cell is also delight.  Even at first sight, you can tell that she’s an S-tier waifu because of her *ahem* stunning character design.  But she’s not all style.  She has a personality to match.

To sum it up, Cells at Work! Code Black is not just an outstanding spin-off, but a worthwhile anime by itself.   Thought-provoking and riveting, it edifies and entertains in a high level.

Now, I wonder which of the other Cells at Work! spin-off manga – Cells at Work!: Bacteria!, Cells NOT at Work!, Cells at Work and Friends!, Cells at Work!: Platelets!, Cells at Work!: Lady!, and Cells at Work!: WHITE – will get an anime adaptation next.  Whatever it is, I will certainly be watching.  This is a fantastic franchise.