# List of Cells at Work! episodes
*Cells at Work!* ([はたらく細胞](https://www.edgepedia.org/cells-at-work), Hataraku Saibou) is a Japanese anime television series adapted from Akane Shimizu's manga of the same name, in which the cells of a human body are personified as workers; the red blood cell AE3803 and the white blood cell U-1146 lead the cast[1](https://animestore.docomo.ne.jp/animestore/ci_pc?partId=22262001&workId=22262). The anime consists of a 13-episode first season broadcast in 2018, a special episode, an 8-episode second season titled *Cells at Work!!* broadcast in early 2021, and a 13-episode spin-off series, *Cells at Work! Code Black*, which aired alongside the second season[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First season | 13 episodes, aired July 7 to September 29, 2018, plus a special episode, "The Common Cold" (風邪症候群), on December 27, 2018[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodeguide) |
| Second season | *Cells at Work!!*, 8 episodes, aired January 9 to February 27, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| Code Black | 13 episodes, January 9 to March 20, 2021, a darker spin-off set in an unhealthy body[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) • [5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/) |
| Main-series total | 21 episodes plus the special, about 9 hours; Code Black adds 13 episodes, about 5 hours[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/) |
| Theatrical screening | A September 5, 2020 Japanese theatrical release was an advance screening of episodes 4–8 of *Cells at Work!!*, not a separate film[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/) |
| Live-action film | Opened in Japan on December 13, 2024; released on Netflix on June 13, 2025[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/) |
## Season 1 (2018)
The first season aired on [Tokyo MX](https://www.edgepedia.org/tokyo-mx) and other stations beginning July 7, 2018[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodeguide). Each episode is largely self-contained, taking a medical topic such as pneumococcus, influenza, food poisoning, or cancer cell as its theme[6](https://muroran-it.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/10101/files/RIKATAN_35_102_103.pdf). The season closes with a two-part finale, "Hemorrhagic Shock", in which massive bleeding sweeps countless blood cells out of the body[7](https://www.aniplex.co.jp/lineup/hataraku-saibou/story/).
| # | Title (Japanese) | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 肺炎球菌 (Pneumococcus) | July 7, 2018[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodeguide) |
| 2 | すり傷 (Scrape) | July 15, 2018[8](https://thetvdb.com/series/cells-at-work/seasons/official/1) |
| 3 | インフルエンザ (Influenza) | — |
| 4 | 食中毒 (Food Poisoning) | — |
| 5 | スギ花粉アレルギー (Cedar Pollen Allergy) | — |
| 6 | 赤芽球と骨髄球 (Erythroblast and Myelocyte) | — |
| 7 | がん細胞 (Cancer Cell) | August 19, 2018[8](https://thetvdb.com/series/cells-at-work/seasons/official/1) |
| 8 | 血液循環 (Blood Circulation) | — |
| 9 | 胸腺細胞 (Thymocyte) | September 2, 2018[8](https://thetvdb.com/series/cells-at-work/seasons/official/1) |
| 10 | 黄色ブドウ球菌 (Staphylococcus aureus) | — |
| 11 | 熱中症 (Heat Stroke) | — |
| 12 | 出血性ショック (前編) (Hemorrhagic Shock, Part 1) | September 22, 2018[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 13 | 出血性ショック (後編) (Hemorrhagic Shock, Part 2) | September 29, 2018[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| Special | 風邪症候群 (The Common Cold) | December 27, 2018[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
The special episode tells a self-contained story. Japanese TV listings and [Crunchyroll](https://www.edgepedia.org/crunchyroll) count it as episode 14 of the first season, while the official site and the US Blu-ray release call it a special episode[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/).
## Cells at Work!! (season 2, 2021)
The second season, titled *Cells at Work!!* (はたらく細胞!!), began broadcasting on January 9, 2021 at 23:30 on TOKYO MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, and BS11, with later slots on MBS, TV Aichi, Hokkaido Broadcasting, RKB Mainichi Broadcasting, and AT-X[9](https://hataraku-saibou.com/onair/). Its first episode, "たんこぶ" (Bump), follows the back-to-front-wearing platelet Ushiromae-chan training to become a strong platelet[10](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/7200/001). The season's final two episodes continue the Cancer Cell story from the first season[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/).
| # | Title (Japanese) | English title | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | たんこぶ | Bump | January 9, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 2 | 獲得免疫／パイエル板 | Acquired Immunity / Peyer's Patch | January 16, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 3 | デング熱／ニキビ | Dengue Fever / Acne | January 23, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 4 | ピロリ菌／抗原変異 | H. Pylori / Antigenic Shift | January 30, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 5 | サイトカイン | Cytokines | February 6, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 6 | 悪玉菌 | Harmful Bacteria | February 13, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 7 | がん細胞II (前編) | Cancer Cell II (Part 1) | February 20, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
| 8 | がん細胞II (後編) | Cancer Cell II (Part 2) | February 27, 2021[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes) |
Before the television run, a theatrical release in Japan on September 5, 2020 screened episodes 4 through 8 of this season in advance, so it contains the same material as the second season rather than being a separate film[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/).
## Cells at Work! Code Black (2021)
*Cells at Work! Code Black* (はたらく細胞BLACK) is a 13-episode spin-off made by another studio and placed inside the unhealthy body of an adult man who has his own leading cells; beyond the basic concept it has no connection to the main series, so it can be viewed at any point[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/). The *Cells at Work!* Wiki places its premiere on January 7, 2021, airing back-to-back with the second season of the main series[11](https://cellsatwork.fandom.com/wiki/Cells_at_Work%21_CODE_BLACK_%28anime%29), while TVmaze lists its first episode on January 9, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes).
| # | Title | Air date (TVmaze) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoking, Bacteria, and the Beginning of the End | January 9, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 2 | The Liver, Alcohol, and Pride | January 16, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 3 | Excitement, Expansion, and Emptiness | January 16, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 4 | Front Line, Gonococci, and Conflict | January 16, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 5 | Overwork, Hair Loss, and Delirium | January 23, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 6 | Kidneys, Kidney Stones, and Tears | January 30, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 7 | Caffeine, Temptation, and Jealousy | February 6, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 8 | Calves, Pulmonary Embolism, and Quick Thinking | February 13, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 9 | Thymocytes | February 20, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 10 | Stomach Ulcer Friendship, and Loss | February 27, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 11 | Desperation, Gout, and Rebellion | March 6, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 12 | Return, the Heart, and Demise | March 13, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
| 13 | Cardiac Arrest, Revival, and a Change | March 20, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes) |
TVmaze lists episodes 2, 3, and 4 on the same date, January 16, 2021[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes).
## Coverage and later releases
The first season's episodes were rebroadcast on NHK E-Tele beginning April 6, 2024, and a four-episode selection (episodes 1, 2, 3, and 7) aired from December 4, 2024 to mark the live-action film's December 13, 2024 opening[12](https://www.aniplex.co.jp/lineup/hataraku-saibou/) • [13](https://hataraku-saibou.com/news_gekijou/). The live-action film came to Netflix on June 13, 2025[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/). The latest episodes aired in early 2021, and no third season or new anime had been announced as of October 2026[5](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/).
## References
1. [はたらく細胞 第1話, dアニメストア](https://animestore.docomo.ne.jp/animestore/ci_pc?partId=22262001&workId=22262)
2. [Cells at Work! - Episode List, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodes)
3. [Cells at Work! Code Black - Episode List, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52075/cells-at-work-code-black/episodes)
4. [Cells at Work! - Episode Guide, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36915/cells-at-work/episodeguide)
5. [How to Watch Cells at Work! — Watch Order (2026), WatchOrdr](https://watchordr.com/series/cells-at-work/)
6. [マンガ・アニメ・映画と科学, Muroran Institute of Technology repository](https://muroran-it.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/10101/files/RIKATAN_35_102_103.pdf)
7. [ストーリー | はたらく細胞, Aniplex](https://www.aniplex.co.jp/lineup/hataraku-saibou/story/)
8. [はたらく細胞 - Season 1, TheTVDB](https://thetvdb.com/series/cells-at-work/seasons/official/1)
9. [ON AIR | TVアニメ「はたらく細胞!!」](https://hataraku-saibou.com/onair/)
10. [はたらく細胞!! 第1話, Bandai Channel](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/7200/001)
11. [Cells at Work! CODE BLACK (anime), Cells at Work! Wiki](https://cellsatwork.fandom.com/wiki/Cells_at_Work%21_CODE_BLACK_%28anime%29)
12. [はたらく細胞 | アニメ, Aniplex](https://www.aniplex.co.jp/lineup/hataraku-saibou/)
13. [TVアニメ「はたらく細胞!!」NEWS](https://hataraku-saibou.com/news_gekijou/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Installment collections and reference › Scripted live-action episode lists › Animated and anime episode lists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license