Yumi's Cells

What kind of drama it is

Inside the head of Yumi, an ordinary office worker in her thirties, countless cells live together in a village. There is a cell in charge of reason, one in charge of emotion, one that announces hunger and a love cell that handles romance, each with a role of its own. Whenever Yumi meets someone, worries over something or makes a decision, the cells hold meetings in her head, argue and cheer her on. It is a romantic comedy with an unusual structure: people's daily lives are shown in live action and the cells' world in animation.

The makers and the cast

It is based on Lee Dong-geon's webtoon of the same name, which ran for a long time and won many readers' affection. Lee Sang-yeob directed, and Kim Go-eun plays Yumi. Ahn Bo-hyun appears in season 1, Park Jin-young in season 2 and Kim Jae-won in season 3 as the men who come into Yumi's life. The cell characters are voiced by voice actors, so watching live performances and animated voice acting play off each other in the same frame is part of the appeal.

• Aired: tvN, season 1 (2021) and season 2 (2022); TVING and tvN, season 3 (2026)
• Original work: Lee Dong-geon (webtoon of the same name)
• Director: Lee Sang-yeob
• Lead: Kim Go-eun
• Romantic leads by season: Ahn Bo-hyun (season 1), Park Jin-young (season 2), Kim Jae-won (season 3)

The cells as a device

Feelings an ordinary drama could show only through monologue or facial expression are brought out here as characters. Even a trivial dilemma like whether to wait for a message or send one first becomes a fierce debate among the cells, turning hesitation everyone has known into comedy. At the same time, those scenes make you realise how many inner voices we carry around every day. Following which cell's voice is loudest at any moment gives you a rounded understanding of who Yumi is.

Where live action meets animation

The technical pleasure of the show lies in the joins between its two worlds. The moment Yumi hesitates, the screen cuts to the cell village, and the cells' decisions flow back into her actions, all stitched together smoothly. Many scenes express her state of mind as scenery, with rain falling or lights going out in the village. Comparing how the human scenes and the cell scenes show the same feeling in different ways reveals how much care went into the direction. Distinguishing between brief animated interjections and longer stretches also shows how the weight of the direction shifts with the size of the emotion.

Things to watch for

You will often be laughing along lightly when it suddenly starts to feel like your own story. Keep an eye on the points below.

• Which cell takes control when Yumi faces a choice
• States of mind shown through the weather and scenery of the cell village
• Scenes that show the same situation through the other person's cells
• How Yumi's attitude to work and daily life changes from season to season

The webtoon and the drama

The original webtoon ran for a long time and followed Yumi through several periods of her life. The drama splits that story into seasons, keeping the cells' charm in animation while the actors carry the human relationships. If you know the original, there is the fun of seeing how your favourite cells were given form and voice; if you do not, starting with the drama and then seeking out the webtoon works well too. Details of the story may differ between the two, so it is more enjoyable not to treat either as the correct version.

Worth knowing before you start

Animation takes up more of the show than you might expect, so if you were hoping for a purely live-action romance it may feel unfamiliar at first. On the other hand, even people who are not fond of animation often warm to the cell characters quickly. Romance is at the centre, but worries about work, dreams and self-esteem also get plenty of attention. The story continues through season 3, so it is better to take the long view than to judge it on season 1 alone. Many of the cells' lines go by quickly, so it is best to watch somewhere you will not miss the subtitles or sound.

Who it suits

Anyone whose head has got noisy while dating will find plenty of scenes to relate to. It suits people looking for a drama they can laugh along with easily that still tugs at the heart now and then. It is also a good pick for fans of webtoon adaptations or anyone curious about the new format of live action combined with animation. After each episode, thinking back on which of your own cells was busiest that day is one more way to enjoy it.