The Creator of Cells At Work Diagnosed with Depression and PTSD During the Anime Production Process

Kapanlagi.com - In the eyes of many anime and manga fans, Cells at Work! is known as a unique and entertaining educational series. With the concept of the human body depicted as a world full of cellular activity, this work has managed to capture the attention of millions of fans worldwide since its first publication in 2015.

However, behind this great success lies a much darker story. Akane Shimizu, the creator of the Cells at Work! manga, recently revealed the heavy struggles she faced during the serialization of the work. She shared this confession directly through her personal social media account.

In her statement, Shimizu revealed that she was diagnosed with depression, trichotillomania, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Not only that, she also admitted to facing various personal issues that left deep emotional scars to this day.

Here are some facts revealed by Akane Shimizu about the difficult times she experienced while working on Cells at Work!

1. Akane Shimizu Admits to Being Diagnosed with Depression, Trichotillomania, and PTSD

Cells At Work Creator Diagnosed With Depression And PTSD (credit: IMDb.com)

Through a post on her X account, Akane Shimizu revealed that during the serialization process of Cells at Work!, she experienced various pressures that came all at once. This condition disrupted her mental health until she was finally diagnosed with depression and trichotillomania, which is a disorder that causes a person to have a strong urge to pull out their own hair.

Not stopping there, Shimizu also admitted that she was later diagnosed with PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This disorder typically arises after someone experiences a traumatic event that leaves a prolonged psychological impact.

This revelation immediately shocked many fans. After all, Cells at Work! is known as a manga full of positive energy and educational content, so not many were aware of the heavy struggles the creator faced behind the scenes.

2. Experiencing Various Personal Issues That Leave Deep Wounds

The creator of Cells At Work was diagnosed with depression and PTSD (credit: IMDb.com)

In addition to mental health issues, Shimizu also revealed that he experienced various traumatic events in his personal life. He mentioned suffering financial loss due to the actions of a relative, becoming a victim of sexual harassment, and experiencing secondary victimization or treatment that further hurt him from his family environment after those incidents.

According to Shimizu, these events occurred in close succession, worsening his mental condition. The emotional scars left behind are still felt by him even after many years have passed.

The mangaka admitted that he is still trying to process all of these experiences. He also hopes that one day he can share his story in more detail with the public without triggering unnecessary controversy. Many fans have shown their support and hope that Shimizu's condition continues to improve.

3. The relationship with her younger sister that inspired Cells at Work! also comes to an end

The Creator of Cells At Work Diagnosed with Depression and PTSD (credit: IMDb.com)

One of the most surprising confessions is Akane Shimizu's decision to cut ties with her younger sister. According to her, the sister was the main inspiration for her decision to create Cells at Work!.

This decision shows how complex and heavy the situation Shimizu faced at that time was. Although she did not explain in detail the reasons behind the strained relationship, she acknowledged that this event became one of the emotional wounds that still lingers to this day.

Despite the various trials she faced, the work Cells at Work! has continued to grow into one of the most successful manga and anime franchises of the past decade. This manga has spawned various popular spin-offs such as Cells at Work! CODE BLACK, anime adaptations, novels, stage performances, and a live-action film set to be released in 2024. Now, many fans hope that Akane Shimizu can find peace and continue to create in the future.

(kpl/kiy)