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Cells at Work! Manga Order

There is a manga for everyone, even those who want to learn how the human body works and have a lot of fun doing so! If you are one of those, just read Cells at Work!, the series written and illustrated by Akane Shimizu. His idea was to anthropomorphize the cells of the human body, depicting them as workers assigned specific roles within a vast, bustling metropolis that represents a healthy adult human.

The concept originated as a short story titled The Story of Cells. Shimizu later developed the idea into a manga series, which began serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Sirius with the March 2015 issue. The original series follows Red Blood Cell AE3803, an inexperienced courier responsible for oxygen delivery, and White Blood Cell U-1146, a stoic neutrophil tasked with eliminating pathogens. Through their encounters with bacteria, viruses, allergens, and physical trauma, the series dramatizes fundamental concepts of human biology while maintaining scientific accuracy overseen by medical supervision.

The original Cells at Work!’s popularity led to the creation of numerous spin-off manga series, each focusing on different cell types, bodily systems, or physiological conditions, and published across various Kodansha magazines between 2017 and the mid-2020s. The main series and the spin-offs were licensed for English-language publication by Kodansha USA Publishing.

In parallel with the manga expansions, the franchise was adapted into anime, beginning in 2018, with later seasons and adaptations drawing from both the original manga and selected spin-offs. A live-action adaptation was also produced in 2024.

Cells at Work! Manga Order

Akane Shimizu wrote and illustrated the original Cells at Work! manga series and also supervised the spin-offs. Each spin-off can be read independently of the others — you don’t need prior knowledge, as each one focuses on different characters and explores a different function of the human body. Here is a guide in order of publication to help you navigate the wonderful world of body cells!

Cells at Work!, The Original Manga Series by Akane Shimizu (2015-2021)

The Cells at Work! series is set inside the body of an adult human, depicted as a complex internal environment inhabited by anthropomorphic cells tasked with maintaining biological function and health. The series primarily follows Red Blood Cell AE3803, a newly assigned erythrocyte responsible for oxygen delivery, and White Blood Cell U-1146, a neutrophil specialized in eliminating invading pathogens. 

The Cells at Work! manga series has been adapted as a three-volume light novel series written by Yui Tokiumi and illustrated by Akane Shimizu.

Cells at Work! Bacteria at Work (2017-2020) by Haruyuki Yoshida

The Cells at Work! Bacteria at Work series focuses on the bacterial colonies residing in the intestinal tract of a high school girl. In contrast to the original Cells at Work! manga, bacteria are portrayed as inhabitants of an established internal environment, presented as members of a largely peaceful community rather than external invaders.

It was followed by Cells at Work! Neo Bacteria (2021). There’s only one volume.

Cells NOT at Work! (2017-2021) by Moe Sugimoto

The Cells NOT at Work! series follows immature red blood cells that do not want to work. The erythroblasts are immature precursor cells that develop under the supervision of a macrophage, which supports their maturation into fully functional red blood cells. However, the erythroblasts here have no reason to work!

Cells at Work! CODE BLACK (2018-2021) by Shigemitsu Harada and Issei Hatsuyoshi

The Cells at Work! CODE BLACK series follows the daily activities of a rookie erythrocyte, AA2153, and a neutrophil, U-1196, operating within a poorly maintained, middle-aged human body. The internal environment is affected by factors such as chronic stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption, which create hazardous working conditions and recurrent complications for the cells as they perform their biological functions.

Cells at Work! Friend (2019-2021) by Kanna Kurono and by Mio Izumi

The Cells at Work! Friend series centers on a Killer T Cell, a Squad Leader, who is normally disciplined and rigorous in carrying out his duties. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he seeks leisure and social interaction, desiring to make friends while maintaining his strict reputation and not compromising his perceived authority.

Cells at Work!: Platelets! (2019-2021) by Yuko Kakihara and Yasu Original

Also called Platelets at Work, the Cells at Work!: Platelets! series focuses on platelets, the smallest members of the cellular workforce, responsible for wound repair and clotting. Despite their small size, they carry out their duties diligently and proudly, overcoming challenges within the body and occasionally getting into amusing situations!

Cells at Work! Baby (2019-2021) by Yasuhiro Fukuda

The Cells at Work!: Baby! series follows a group of cells inside a human fetus at approximately 40 weeks of development, near the time of birth. The cells are depicted as performing their biological functions while being largely unaware of the broader context of their environment or the impending delivery.

Cells at Work! Lady (2020-2022) by Akari Otokawa and Shigemitsu Harada

The Cells at Work! Lady series depicts the daily activities of cells within the female body, addressing physiological processes such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and more. Macrophage, Killer T, Helper T, White Blood Cell, and groups of specialized cells are there to manage the unique challenges of maintaining health in a female host.

Cells at Work! White Brigade (2020-2022) by Tetsuji Kanie

The Cells at Work! White Brigade series follows the activities of white blood cells from the perspective of a newly recruited member. It depicts their role in protecting the body from pathogens, showing the processes by which they identify and eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other threats, while highlighting the challenges faced by immune cells in maintaining overall health.

Cells at Work! Illegal (2022-2023) by Kae Hashimoto

The Cells at Work! Illegal series follows erythrocytes, white blood cells, and other cell types as they navigate the challenges posed by drug use, physical trauma, and other hazardous situations within the body.

There are 4 volumes of the Cells at Work! Illegal series. No volume officially available in English.

Cells at Work! Muscle (2023-2025) by Yu Maeda

The Cells at Work! Muscle series follows muscle cells that have weakened due to an unhealthy lifestyle. But following the initiation of a training regimen, the cells begin to regain strength. They now have to face the physiological challenges associated with exercise, including overexertion, muscle fatigue, and stress-related muscle breakdown.

There are 5 volumes of the Cells at Work!: Muscle series. No volume officially available in English.

Cells at Work! Medicine (2023-2025) by Koma Warita and Ryō Kuji

The Cells at Work! Medicine series presents the internal activity of the human body with a focus on medications and pharmaceutical compounds. It depicts how drugs interact with cells and bodily systems, illustrating their mechanisms of action and effects on physiological processes

There are 4 volumes of the Cells at Work!: Medicine series. No volume officially available in English.

Cells at Work! Cat (2023-Present) by Choco Aozora and by Meku Kaire

The Cells at Work! Cat series explores the internal functioning of a cat’s body, depicting how cells respond to events such as vomiting, poisoning, constipation, and vaccination. It presents the physiological processes involved in maintaining feline health, offering insight into how the body reacts to both everyday and medical challenges.

There are already 4 volumes of the Cells at Work! Cat series.

  • Cells at Work! Cat Vol. 1 [2026]

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