Once Upon a Time... Life
Season 1
TV-Y7
Buckle up for a head-to-toe adventure through the human body as this animated series explores the workings of our cells, hearts, brains and more.
Where to Watch Season 1
26 Episodes
- The Planet Cell
E1The Planet CellThe episode starts with the accruement of the universe. We jump all the way up to the birth of our planet earth. Glowing lava comes out of fire-spitting volcanoes into boiling water with thunder and lighting. In this primordial ooze, the very first cell appears - the prototype of all life. - The Body Sentinels
E3The Body SentinelsToday we learn about the sentries of the body, or more precisely, the white corpuscles. The story's set in the thymus school, where Colonel Peter is giving a lecture for a young lymphocyte class. Thereby, he explains the importance of knowing the body's enemies: bacteria, viruses, dust particles and toxins. - The Bone Marrow
E4The Bone MarrowToday we learn about the content of our bones, which is called bone marrow. The main part of red and white corpuscles and the platelets are being produced here. Young Pierrette doesn't feel so well one day and that's when she realizes how important those blood components are. - The Blood
E5The BloodToday we go on a long journey through the blood-circle. The task of the blood corpuscles is to transport oxygen to the cells and take the waste, carbon dioxide, to the lungs. We get to know our friends Hemo, who dreams of pure oxygen, the slim Globine, who helps him, and the wise Master Globus, who gives them advice and tells them to be aware of intruders and strangers to the human body. - The Tiny Platelets
E6The Tiny PlateletsEvery single day, our bone marrow produces up to 400 billion platelets. Why do we need them though? To find out, we will accompany a group of platelets on their way through the circulation. They take care that the blood stays liquid. There's big danger when a threatening congestion in a blood vessel is discovered. - Breathing
E8BreathingPeter and Pierrette go on a jogging tour with two friends in the park. They become acquainted with two pulmonary alveoli who are having a conversation about the young runners. Topic: the breathing. Some dust particles and microbes are lurking around with the aim of getting inside the body with the air that's breathed in to cause some trouble there. The sentries are already alert though. - The Neurones
E10The NeuronesAfter having experienced the brain as an organ, today's episode is about the transmission of the signals: the neurons. Such a neuron is constantly connected to its correspondents. Those superfast messages build up the connection between the brain and the different organs in the body. - The Eye
E11The EyeIt's a beautiful morning and little Peter opens a window. He sees a gorgeous butterfly. Suddenly he realizes that he sees. Why do we recognize forms and colors? How do these pictures get from the eyes to the brain? Why do we cry, when we're very sad and how come we sometimes even tear up in moments of joy? - The Skin
E13The SkinHow many clothes and how many pairs of shoes do we need in a lifetime? The skin is some kind of clothing as well, just that we can't take it off, nor can we buy a new one. The skin must last for the entire life and renews itself constantly. Today, Globus had a special idea for his friends: a trip through the different layers of the skin. - The Digestion
E15The DigestionPeter invited his friend Jumbo for dinner. There's fish, potatoes, salad and some cake for desert. They both enjoy the delicious meal very much. Once the first mouthful is being swallowed, we start a journey and get to see what happens to the food. Digestion starts in the mouth already and is continued in the stomach. - The Liver Factory
E16The Liver FactoryThe liver only constitutes around two percent of the total body weight, and still consumes a quarter of all oxygen that we breathe in. It is a highly specialized laboratory inside the human body. The matter that comes from the digestion is being processed here. First, there is the "customs officer" at the entrance to the liver. - The Lymphatic System
E18The Lymphatic SystemQuite an unknown organ, this lymphatic system with all the branches and nodes and the liquid. This time, our friends, the red corpuscles, don't accompany us, because they don't belong here. But Young Peter and his friends undergo another adventure on their trip through this system, whose task it is to transport nutrition in the body. - The Muscles and the Fat
E20The Muscles and the FatThe muscles constitute about a half of our total body weight. Not only do they appear in our arms, legs and in our breast, but also the heart is a muscle, as well as the walls of our arteries, which consist of muscle texture. Muscles must carry out work and therefore they need energy, which means sugar and fat. - The Vaccination
E22The VaccinationPeter and Jumbo are doing the gardening today. They are busy with moving a rosebush. Naturally, they both sting their hands at the thorns and get wounded. After that, they touch the soil that they dug out. That's a celebration for the malicious germs. They take their chance and invade the body. - The Hormones
E23The HormonesPeter and his friend Jumbo are playing tennis. The Master is observing the match from his monitor in the hypothalamus and is giving some instructions. Especially the hormones are sent on their way over and over again with the responsibility of adapting the breathing, the heartbeat and glucose resources to the respective situation.
