Akane Shimizu is a Japanese manga artist born in Tokyo on January 28, 1994. She graduated from the manga training school Nippon Manga Gakku, where she completed the specialized training course. Her professional debut occurred in 2014 when a short work titled The Cell’s Story earned her the 27th Grand Prize in the Monthly Shōnen Sirius Newcomer Awards. This short was published in the May 2014 issue of the same magazine.

Shimizu is best known as the original creator of the manga Cells at Work!, which began serialization in Monthly Shōnen Sirius in March 2015. The series, which concluded its original run in January 2021, is compiled into six volumes. The concept for the series was inspired by a suggestion from Shimizu’s sister, who was studying cellular biology and thought that presenting the subject in manga form would aid memorization. Shimizu has stated that she does not have a medical background herself. Her work for Cells at Work! includes not only the main series but also providing the original character designs and supervising a wide range of spin-off manga that expand the franchise. These supervised works include Cells at Work! Code Black, Cells at Work! Bacteria, Cells NOT at Work!, Cells at Work! Platelets, and Cells at Work! Baby, among others.

The success of the original manga led to a significant multimedia expansion. The primary Cells at Work! manga was adapted into an anime television series produced by David Production. The first season aired in 2018, followed by a second season in 2021. A theatrical anime film was also released in September 2020. The spin-off series Cells at Work! Code Black received its own separate anime adaptation by Liden Films, which began airing in January 2021. In addition to the anime adaptations, Shimizu’s work has been adapted into a live-action film released in December 2024. A novelization of the series, illustrated by Shimizu, has also been published.

The central artistic identity of Shimizu’s work lies in her unique ability to anthropomorphize the complex biological systems of the human body, transforming cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets into distinct characters engaged in narrative-driven conflict and cooperation. This approach combines elements of action, comedy, and educational content, making intricate scientific concepts accessible and entertaining. Her role has extended beyond that of a traditional manga author; as the originator of a media franchise, she has served as the central creative figure, with her name and original concepts attached to numerous derivative works for which she acts as supervisor or original creator. Her debut series not only established her as a significant voice in manga but also became a commercially successful and critically recognized franchise across multiple media formats.