Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)

 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
type
TVTItem
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
label
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
page
CellsAtWorkBacteria
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
comment
Whatever one feels about the Anthropomorphized Anatomy series Cells at Work! and its spinoffs, it's hard to deny that the series knows how to diversify. The Shōnen Edutainment manga has served as a launchpad for several different spinoffs targeted towards multiple demographics: shonen, shojo, seinen, and even josei. Apart from their educational leanings, however, all of these spinoffs share one major attribute: the series focuses on the lives and jobs of human cells.Except this one.As the name implies, Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Hataraku Saikin) is a shojo manga focusing on the lives of the various bacteria that colonize the various areas of the human body, be they pathogenic ("bad bacteria") or beneficial ("good bacteria"), or neutral ("opportunistic bacteria"). As they are the main characters, the bacteria are treated differently from the other titles in the franchise: rather than being alienesque shonen-manga villains or brutal, animalistic forces of nature, they're all recast as characters in a shojo manga: lots of plucky cute girls and brooding pretty boys abound. There's also a bit more nuance to the morality of the series: the good bacteria aren't always "right" and the bad bacteria aren't necessarily always "wrong." The series all but admits that there has to be a balance to keep everything in check.Bacteria is written and illustrated by Haruyuki Yoshida, with an original concept by Cells at Work! creator Akane Shimizu. It ran in the Shōjo anthology Nakayoshi from May 2017 until July 2020. The manga has also been licensed for Western release by Kodansha Comics, and its English run started in July 2020.A sequel, Cells at Work: Bacteria NEO, launched in February 2021.Other Spin-Offs of Cells at Work! include Cells NOT at Work!, Cells at Work! CODE BLACK, Cells at Work and Friends!, Cells at Work: Platelets!, Cells at Work: Baby!, Cells at Work! Lady and Cells At Work! White Brigade.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
fetched
2024-04-21T17:32:24Z
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
parsed
2024-04-21T17:32:25Z
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
processingComment
Dropped link to TheNarrator: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
processingUnknown
TheNarrator
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_137f2d7
type
Card-Carrying Villain
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_137f2d7
comment
Card-Carrying Villain: The leader of the Clostridium perfingens bacteria makes no bones about his status as a "bad bacteria" or his intentions to expand his group's turf. That said, he's not necessarily completely evil...
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_137f2d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_137f2d7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_137f2d7
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_2b3937ef
type
Our Hero Is Dead
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_2b3937ef
comment
Our Hero Is Dead: Happens with C. perfingen in the penultimate chapter.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_2b3937ef
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_2b3937ef
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_2b3937ef
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_3ac2a3e3
type
Deadly Gas
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_3ac2a3e3
comment
Deadly Gas: After the host body eats barely anything but meat for nearly a week straight, Clostridium and his gang of bad intestinal bacteria are able to produce a large amount of hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten egg-scented gas) to harm the good bacteria. This also ends up giving her (the host body) a severe case of foul-smelling flatulence.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_3ac2a3e3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_3ac2a3e3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_3ac2a3e3
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: The C. perfinigens leader sacrifices himself to save longum from getting hit by a antibiotic which result in his subordinate to take his place while taking care of his duplicate who was created from him.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_40cc0c7e
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_42e72657
type
Post-Stress Overeating
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_42e72657
comment
Post-Stress Overeating: Following a supposedly bad break-up, the host body has taken to eating more meat in general, which causes her to have varying levels of intestinal distress.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_42e72657
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_42e72657
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_42e72657
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_434d893c
type
Funny Foreigner
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_434d893c
comment
Funny Foreigner: Though more "odd" funny than "ha-ha" funny, the natto bacteria are a bunch of weirdly dressed country bumpkins who hang around the stomach — much to the good bacteria's exasperation — not doing much of anything... until the bad bacteria attack, and the natto bacteria proceed to grant incredible power to the Bifidum Army...
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_434d893c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_434d893c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_434d893c
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_4a0f5520
type
Guys are Slobs
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_4a0f5520
comment
Guys are Slobs: Downplayed and gender-inverted. The host body (a teenage girl in high school) doesn't seem to have any serious issues, but she does appear to care less about her diet. The good bacteria even question how a teenage girl could eat so much meat.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_4a0f5520
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_4a0f5520
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_4a0f5520
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5009999d
type
Painting the Medium
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5009999d
comment
Painting the Medium: Bacteria!, a Shōjo series, takes place in a high school girl's body, so the bacteria's appearances are more stylish or elegant than the ones in the main book. Their home is also shown to have a Victorian aesthetic, and a character is shown using magic to perform their cellular duties.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5009999d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5009999d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5009999d
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5989e3b6
type
Enemy Mine
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5989e3b6
comment
Enemy Mine: When an enemy appears that threatens the host's life — say, Salmonella — the "good" Bifidum Army and the "bad" C. perfingens bacteria join forces to protect the host.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5989e3b6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5989e3b6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_5989e3b6
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6439de78
type
Heroic Sacrifice
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6439de78
comment
Heroic Sacrifice: C. perfingens sacrifices himself to stop Salmonella. After all, if the human host dies then so will all the bacteria — good, bad, or neutral. The death doesn't stick, however. It does however played out in the penultimate chapter when C. perfingens saved B.Longum from getting hit by the antibiotic bullet.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6439de78
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6439de78
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6439de78
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6ef6417b
type
Disney Death
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6ef6417b
comment
Disney Death: The C. perfingens leader pulls a Heroic Sacrifice in order to stop Salmonella. He gets better shortly afterward. Subverted however in the penultimate chapter when he was shot by an antibiotic to save longum
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6ef6417b
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6ef6417b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_6ef6417b
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_7d36715f
type
Gasshole
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_7d36715f
comment
Gasshole: Considering how the primary setting of this spin-off is the host's intestines, it's not too surprising that she would be portrayed as having some notable digestive issues, such as flatulence and burping.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_7d36715f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_7d36715f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_7d36715f
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_9ce6492a
type
Taking the Bullet
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_9ce6492a
comment
Taking the Bullet: This happens at the end of the penultimate chapter when C. perfingens saves B.Longum from getting hit by an antibiotic by letting it strike at him.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_9ce6492a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_9ce6492a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_9ce6492a
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_a6123b72
type
Enfant Terrible
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_a6123b72
comment
Enfant Terrible: Salmonella is portrayed as a very powerful and cruel little boy, that tries to take over and kill the host body.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_a6123b72
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_a6123b72
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_a6123b72
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b2e5a4f3
type
Virtuous Vegetarianism
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b2e5a4f3
comment
Virtuous Vegetarianism: Enforced. The Bifidum bacteria, the only gut bacteria who are dedicated to protecting their host, are vegetarians who thrive when their host eats fruit and veggies. Conversely, the "bad" C. perfingens bacteria thrive when the host eats too much meat, though they're more generally antagonistic than genuinely evil. While these portrayals oversimplify things a bit from real-world fact, these designations were likely created in order to reinforce one of the key lessons of the series, which is that diets high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables help promote good digestive health.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b2e5a4f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b2e5a4f3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b2e5a4f3
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b8a13baa
type
Meat Versus Veggies
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b8a13baa
comment
Meat Versus Veggies: The "good" Bifidum Army loves vegetables, but the "bad" C. perfingens bacteria eat meat. Chapter 1 tells us that the host body loves to eat meat as well, since one of the good bacteria mentions it's all she ate for the past week.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b8a13baa
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b8a13baa
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_b8a13baa
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: When the Clostridium perfingens leader finds out why the Bad-Bacteria colony suddenly shrinks, he puts on Conan Edogawa's glasses and bowtie.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_c75df49a
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_d001c42c
type
Anti-Villain
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_d001c42c
comment
Anti-Villain: The leader of the C. perfinigens bacteria falls into this territory, as he expresses concern over his human host's unbalanced diet (even though it's beneficial to his species) and even other bacteria whose best interests aren't in line with his, like the vitamin-producing E. coli. He even has the odd heroic moment where he makes it abundantly clear that his goal is not to harm the host, but to help his species prosper. See also Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_d001c42c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_d001c42c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_d001c42c
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_dfa71e43
type
Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_dfa71e43
comment
Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain: The C. perfingens crew, as well as a few other bad bacteria groups, are portrayed as this. No matter how much havoc they wreak on the body, good bacteria will always be there to stop them. They're also a generally goofy bunch.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_dfa71e43
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_dfa71e43
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_dfa71e43
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_e8a03fe8
type
Moral Pragmatist
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_e8a03fe8
comment
Moral Pragmatist: The various groups of Opportunistic Bacteria fall squarely under this trope, as they have no real interest in the morality or motives of either the "good" or "bad" bacteria. Interestingly, neither the good nor the bad bacteria are under any illusions that the opportunists are their friends, nor do the opportunists try to hide their single motive: they will always side with whoever is winning because they don't want to die.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_e8a03fe8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_e8a03fe8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_e8a03fe8
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_ecc96193
type
Backup from Otherworld
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_ecc96193
comment
Backup from Otherworld: A large number of dead Lactic-Acid Bacteria enter the intestine from the stomach...and proceed to give off chemicals that greatly bolster the Bifidum Army.
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_ecc96193
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_ecc96193
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_ecc96193
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_name
comment
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_name
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga) / int_name
itemName
Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Anime and Manga of the 2010s / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Deadly Gas / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Excited Show Title! / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Gasshole / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Guys are Slobs / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Meat Versus Veggies / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Moral Pragmatist / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Narrator / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Post-Stress Overeating / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Shōjo Demographic / int_91e666de
 Cells at Work: Bacteria! (Manga)
hasFeature
Virtuous Vegetarianism / int_91e666de