Fans were on their toes awaiting the release of the live-action counterpart of manga-turned-anime-turned-film Cells At Work! Its release was announced last year and received well when it debuted in Japan. Now, the wait is finally over as the movie has made its way to Philippine cinemas starting January 29.

Starring Mei Nagano as Red Blood Cell AE3803 and Takeru Satō as White Blood Cell U-1146, Cells at Work brings viewers to the happenings within our body. Through this adaptation, directed by Hideki Takeuchi, we’re all invited to a sneak peek into the world of the cells, doubling as a refresher on the different roles of each cell inside our bodies. Think of it as Biology 101, but a fun crash course into it—mixing drama, comedy, and action, as well as learning within its more-than-two-hour run. 

But apart from putting the spotlight on our hardworking cells, the live-action version also follows the funny and heartwarming story of the humans these cells work for. Cells at Work is also a tale of a father and daughter with different lifestyles, zooming in on good and bad habits, as well as unexpected health occurrences that greatly affect the human body. 

Even without watching the anime or reading the manga, Cells At Work live-action proves to be an easy watch, with a good plot, thrilling combat scenes, and inspiring dialogue that both kids and kids-at-heart will love and appreciate. While there are notable parts where the storyline could be expanded more or characters that could have been further utilized, it made up in its focus on its main narrative—and lays its message clear and easy to digest.

So for this weekend’s agenda, why not drop by the cinema, explore the world of our helpful body companions, and learn more about our cells at work?!