Have you ever wondered what a grown-up version of the Disney movie Inside Out might look like? It might just resemble the newest webtoon-to-drama, Yumi’s Cells. Now that the kids are all back to school, it’s the perfect time to try this cute live action/animated crossover. Come find out why Yumi’s Cells is hitting the spot and has become a favorite for Drama Geek and myself!

But first, for those who aren’t familiar with the webtoon, here’s a plot synopsis from our friends at MDL:

Controlled by a complex network of cells, each and every human on the planet is kept running by an unseen operating system that is, for the most part, completely ignored. Though humans never give much thought to how they manage to function, day in and day out, the cells within the human body are constantly at work, doing their part to keep their human alive and well. Which is why on the outside, Kim Yoo Mi may appear to be just like every other single working woman in the world, but underneath that ordinary exterior lies something truly extraordinary. 

Having recently suffered a painful breakup, Yoo Mi’s love cells have fallen into a deep coma. While the surrounding cells work hard to revive their fallen compatriots, Yoo Mi spends her days stuck in the grind of everyday life. With a heart still broken and no romantic prospects, Yoo Mi’s love cells might have been in serious trouble had it not been for the sudden appearance of Goo Woong. An emotionally stunted game developer, Goo Woong has no idea how to express his true feelings, but after meeting Yoo Mi, he finds himself wanting to try. With his own love cells unexpectedly sparking Yoo Mi’s back to life, things between the two start to get interesting.  With both Yoo Mi and Goo Woong’s cells working overtime, the two find themselves drawing ever closer. But will the efforts of this small collection of cells really be enough to bring two hearts together forever?

MiataMama: The first thing about this drama that drew me in was Yoo Mi’s relatability. Kim Go Eun is doing a great job of playing this ‘every girl’ character. Whether it’s her daily interactions, or her emotional reactions to specific situations, Yoo Mi feels real. And so I find it easy to put myself in her shoes and feel immersed in the story. 

Drama Geek: Kim Go Eun has a very childlike sweetness to her acting. Though, she can be fierce too. I also found her very relatable and found myself nodding my head as the different cells would emerge and take over. It is sometimes hard to explain depression and self-sabotage to people, and the inner workings of her brain really laid it out well.

MiataMama: Ahn Bo Hyun, as Ku Woong, has also been an absolute delight! He is the total opposite of your typical Kdrama leading man. I’m swooning over his charming forthrightness and selfless attention towards Yoo Mi. And the icing on the cake might just be the fact he is completely cognizant AND capable of dodging the interfering female second lead! 

Drama Geek: I was a bit moody when I watched the first episode and the cartoon cells were not doing it for me, but then Ku Woong’s cells balanced everything out. They are both clueless people just going on a date. His nerves after seeing how pretty she is was refreshing and then his horrible dad jokes made him a very relatable person.

MiataMama: I’ll confess, I started this drama totally clueless – so when the animated cells took center stage, it was a welcome surprise! Having spent countless hours watching cartoons like Pororo and Tayo with my kids in Korea, this style of animation and voice acting is both nostalgic and entertaining. With each new episode, I’m most excited about meeting another cell character. Each one is immensely entertaining and I love having an insight into Yoo Mi and Ku Woong’s minds!

Drama Geek: I was the opposite. I went in expecting to not like the cells, and I didn’t at the beginning. The more they showed how both characters’ brains worked, the more relatable it felt to me.

MiataMama: An added bonus was the cameo from Choi Min Ho during the first two episodes. It was hard not to get attached to his sweet character. I also spied Park Jin Young on the cast list, but not sure yet how he will fit into the story!

Drama Geek: I knew I was excited to for an upcoming Chio Min Ho cameo, but I couldn’t remember which one or why. His confession to Yoo Mi at the coffee shop reminded me why. I’m happy that he took this type of role and was a bit disappointed it was just a guest appearance. He has a new drama coming up that I plan to check out. As for Jin Young, his performance in Devil Judge has me really excited to see what he brings to this cute drama.

I’m so happy to have new episodes of this drama to look forward to each week. And with two seasons (14 episodes each), we will get to spend a lot of time with Yoo Mi and her cells! Are you watching too? Share with us in the comments below!

화이팅!

MiataMama & Drama Geek

Dramas with a Side of Kimchi