Hataraku Saibou Black

Due to poor lifestyle choices, a certain human's body is in constant turmoil. With germs, bacteria, and foreign substances abound, the jobs of various cells become increasingly difficult and dangerous. As some of the unfortunate ones who matured in this chaotic environment, Sekkekkyuu AA2153 and Hakkekkyuu U-1196 strive to fulfill their duties—even if it means seeing many of their fellow cells lose their lives in duty.

Set in an environment vastly different from its parent story, Hataraku Saibou Black portrays the cells' struggles as they try to maintain the body's health. However, the human's condition continues to deteriorate, and whether or not these efforts will amount to something concrete depends on the cells!

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hakkekkyuu U-1196 Main

Hikasa, Youko Japanese

Sekkekkyuu AA2153 Main

Enoki, Junya Japanese

Sekkekkyuu AC1677 Supporting

KENN Japanese

Kesshouban Supporting

Kubo, Yurika Japanese

Kan Saibou Supporting

Bridcutt, Sarah Emi Japanese

Hakkekkyuu 1212 Supporting

Uchiyama, Yumi Japanese

Nou Saibou Supporting

Hirakawa, Daisuke Japanese

Narrator Supporting

Tsuda, Kenjirou Japanese

Macrophage Supporting

Shiina, Hekiru Japanese

Hakkekkyuu 8787 Supporting

Lynn Japanese

Cao, Cong Producer

Takahashi, Yuuma Producer

Itou, Youhei Producer

Kitazawa, Shiryuu Producer

Reviews

Jan 6, 2026

maya_kotori

Recommended

This honestly had me thinking “like what the hell” in the best way possible. I’ve definitely seen better anime, but this one wasn’t bad at all :33 It’s fun, educational in the weirdest way, and surprisingly adorable. Sometimes it did feel a bit rushed, but even then, it still managed to keep its charm. And let’s be real… those two characters absolutely belong together. Don’t even try to deny it. If you’ve seen the show, you know exactly who I’m talking about XD The chemistry is there, the dynamic is there, the vibes are there, it’s basically canon in my heart. Also, the fact that ... another series was supposed to come out in 2021 had me so excited. I really, really hope it actually releases because I’m looking forward to it owo The world inside the human body has never been this entertaining, and I’d love to see more of it. Overall, chaotic, cute, and surprisingly addictive.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Feb 18, 2026

Silent_Seinen_

Mixed Feelings

Hataraku Saibou Black is the darker, more serious version of the Cells at Work universe.
While the original series presented the human body in a fun and educational way, Black shows a body that’s worn down by smoking, alcohol, stress, and lack of sleep.

Strengths

1) A bold idea and a different approach
Shifting from a light, educational tone to something darker and more realistic was a smart move. The anime successfully portrays the body as a real battlefield caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices. This gives it a stronger psychological and social impact compared to the original series.

2) Atmosphere and visual identity
The darker color palette, dim lighting, and the ... way the “sick body” is designed visually all serve the concept really well. There’s a constant feeling of exhaustion and pressure, which fits the theme perfectly.

3) Clear awareness messages
The anime directly addresses:

The dangers of smoking, The effects of alcohol, Chronic stress, and Weak immunity

Even though the messages are straightforward, they usually feel convincing and not preachy.

4) The human side
The cells here aren’t just educational tools. They feel like living beings struggling with burnout and collapse. This adds a strong dramatic and emotional layer to the story.

5) Well-built characters
The characters are developed in a way that makes you care about them and get attached.

Weaknesses

1) Limited variety
Unlike the original series, which explored a wide range of body functions, Black focuses almost constantly on suffering and illness. This makes the experience heavier and less diverse over time.

2) Occasional exaggeration
Some events lean a bit too much into dramatic exaggeration, slightly stepping away from biological realism for emotional impact.

Production Quality

Animation: Good, but not outstanding.

Music: Fits the atmosphere, but not particularly memorable.

Direction: Clear and straightforward. It serves the concept well, but doesn’t offer anything visually groundbreaking.

Overall, it’s a solid and impactful spin-off that stands on its own, even if it’s not perfect.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Feb 8, 2021

JCPrp

Not Recommended

Preliminary (4/13 eps)

Imagine the original Cells At Work, now revamp the characters and make the host body a stressed out, anxiety ridden person and create a new story based on the complications of stress and anxiety. It will be pretty clear if you will like the show or not by the first episode.

This is basically a darker version of the original cells at work, with very uninspired and overall flawed character and a decent alternate story and you have code black.

This is not an anime I am jumping out of my seat to recommend, its an average anime at best, I feel like you will know if ... this anime is for you right off of the bat.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Poll: Hataraku Saibou Black (TV) Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) removed-user - Feb 25, 2021	116 replies	by OriharaShinra »» Mar 7, 8:14 PM
	Poll: Hataraku Saibou Black (TV) Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) removed-user - Jan 7, 2021	186 replies	by HiddenBandits »» Dec 6, 2025 11:02 AM
	Poll: Hataraku Saibou Black (TV) Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) removed-user - Mar 18, 2021	169 replies	by deijiplays »» Nov 6, 2025 6:40 AM
	Poll: Hataraku Saibou Black (TV) Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) FragmantLemon - Jan 16, 2021	121 replies	by deijiplays »» Nov 2, 2025 11:34 PM
	Poll: Hataraku Saibou Black (TV) Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 ) removed-user - Mar 11, 2021	90 replies	by Cain_Virethorn »» Oct 12, 2025 5:45 PM