The original work of “Cells at Work” is a manga serialized in Kodansha’s “Monthly Shonen Sirius” by Akane Shimizu, which attracted much attention for its innovative and unique setting of anthropomorphized cells. In 2017, it was selected by the French newspaper “Le Monde” as part of its “Recommended Books for This Summer” list, attracting attention not only from within Japan but also from around the world. The boom became even more heated when it was made into an anime in 2018. Since then, numerous spin-off works have been released, and the total number of copies of the series has exceeded 10 million.
It has now been revealed that the live-action film will be based on Shimizu’s “Cells at Work” and the spin-off “Cells at Work! BLACK,” supervised by Shimizu and created by Harada Shigemitsu and Hatsugaya Issei, and will depict the “human world” for the first time in the series’ history.
The newly announced characters are Shigeru Urushizaki, a “father with an unhealthy lifestyle,” and Hibiko Urushizaki, a “healthy high school girl daughter.” They are a father and son with clearly different internal environments. The story depicts how the cells of each family work in their different internal worlds, and the drama of the human world centered on the father and daughter is also a highlight.
The second round of cast members to play the human roles was also announced, with Abe Sadao playing Shigeru Urushizaki and Ashida Mana playing Hibiko Urushizaki. Abe and Ashida will be co-starring as father and daughter for the first time in 10 years since the special edition of the hit drama “Marumo no Okite,” which became a social phenomenon, “Marumo no Okite Special 2014.”
Shigeru, who lost his wife early and lives with his daughter Higo, leads an irregular lifestyle and loves junk food, alcohol, and cigarettes. Inside Shigeru’s body, cells exhausted by the brutal working environment complain but struggle to survive.
Meanwhile, Higo is a high school girl who attends high school while devoting herself to housework and worries about the health of Shigeru, who lives an unhealthy lifestyle. Inside Higo’s body, various cells, including the co-starring duo Mei Nagano (red blood cells) and Takeru Sato (white blood cells and neutrophils), are working day and night to protect her health. The contrast between the internal worlds of the two mother and daughter, whose environments are so different, is depicted in a humorous and sometimes dramatic way.
The character visuals released this time show Shigeru with a big smile and Higo with a bright and healthy smile. In the background of each character, there are two key items in the play: Shigeru’s favorite beer and Higo’s favorite aquarium fish.
The latest trailer begins with the camera moving from the usual breakfast table of a parent and child to the world inside Higo’s body. The red blood cell and white blood cell (neutrophil) duo appear with memorable lines, and the punch line at the end is that Shigeru, who is about to leak his large penis, rushes to the toilet, but it’s full…
The film ends with an unprecedented crisis occurring inside Shigeru’s body (anus)!? Abe said, “I thought this was the highlight of the film, so I put a lot of effort into it,” and it’s a hilarious scene that only director Hideki Takeuchi, known for his work on “Fly Me to the Saitama” and “Thermae Romae,” could pull off.
The live-action film “Cells at Work” will be released on December 13, 2024. The film will feature Mei Nagano, Takeru Sato, Sadao Abe, Mana Ashida, and 13 other unannounced cast members, so keep an eye out for further updates in the future.
“Cells at Work”
■Release date: Friday, December 13
■Cast: Mei Nagano, Takeru Sato
, Mana Ashida, Sadao Abe
■Original story: “Cells at Work” by Akane Shimizu (published in Kodansha’s “Monthly Shonen Sirius”), “
Cells at Work! BLACK” by Shigemitsu Harada, Issei Hatsugaya, and Akane Shimizu (published in Kodansha’s “Morning”)
■Director: Hideki Takeuchi
■Screenplay: Yuichi Tokunaga
■Music: Face 2 fAKE
■Production: “Cells at Work” Film Production Committee
■Production company: Twins Japan
■Distribution: Warner Bros. Pictures
(C) Akane Shimizu / Kodansha (C) Shigemitsu Harada, Issei Hatsugaya, Akane Shimizu / Kodansha (C) 2024 “Cells at Work” Film Production Committee
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