View source for Once Upon a Time... Life

{{short description|Educational animated television series (1987–1988)}}
{{multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=March 2021}}
{{cleanup|date=November 2019|reason=Massive rewrite, sloppy descriptions}}
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{{Infobox television
| image                = Once Upon a Time Life.jpg
| caption              = DVD box set cover art
| camera               = 
| native_name          = {{Infobox name module|fr|Il était une fois... La vie|nolink=1}}
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Educational entertainment|Edutainment]]
* [[Animation]] }}
| language             = French
| runtime              = 26 minutes
| creator              = [[Albert Barillé]]
| company              = {{Collapsible list
| [[Procidis]]
| [[France 3|FR3]]
| [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]]
| {{lang|fr|[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|Société Radio-Canada]]|i=no}}
| {{lang|es|[[Televisión Española]]|i=no}}
| {{lang|nl|[[KRO|Katholieke Radio Omroep]]|i=no}}
| {{lang|fr|[[Radio Télévision Suisse|Radio Télévision Suisse Romande]]|i=no}}
| {{lang|it|[[Radiotelevisione svizzera|Radiotelevisione della Svizzera Italiana]]|i=no}}
| {{lang|fr|[[RTBF|Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française]]|i=no}}
| {{lang|nl|[[VRT (broadcaster)|Belgische Radio en Televisie Nederlandse Uitzendingen]]|i=no}}
| [[Eiken (studio)|Eiken]]
}}
| composer             = [[Michel Legrand]]
| voices               = {{Plainlist|
* [[Roger Carel]]
* Marie-Laure Beneston
* Gilles Laurent
* Gilles Tamiz
* Alain Dorval }}
| narrated             = 
| country              = {{Collapsible list
| France
| Belgium
| Canada
| Japan
| Netherlands
| Spain
| Switzerland
}}
| network              = [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1987|09|13|df=y}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1988|03|13|df=y}}
| num_episodes         = 26
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Once Upon a Time... Space]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Once Upon a Time... The Americas]]'' (1992) 
}}
}}

'''''Once Upon a Time... Life''''' ({{langx|fr|Il était une fois... La vie|link=no}}){{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''''The Science of Life: Micro Patrol'''''|生命の科学ミクロパトロール| Seimei no Kagaku: Mikuro Patorōru|lead=yes}}}} is an educational [[Animated series|animated]] [[Television show|television series]] created and directed by [[Albert Barillé]]. It is the third series in the ''[[Once Upon a Time...]]'' franchise. It reprises the main characters from its predecessors, ''[[Once Upon a Time... Man]]'' and ''[[Once Upon a Time... Space]]'', and adapts them into a [[physiology]] context, talking about the human body and its functions in a simplified and educational way. The series consists of 26 episodes.

The series was produced by French studio [[Procidis]] in co-production with {{lang|fr|[[France 3|FR3]]|i=no}} and [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] (France), {{lang|fr|[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|Société Radio-Canada]]|i=no}} (Canada), {{lang|es|[[Televisión Española]]|i=no}} (TVE, Spain), {{lang|nl|[[KRO|Katholieke Radio Omroep]]|i=no}} (KRO, Netherlands), {{lang|fr|[[Radio Télévision Suisse|Radio Télévision Suisse Romande]]|i=no}} and {{lang|it|[[Radiotelevisione svizzera|Radiotelevisione della Svizzera Italiana]]|i=no}} (Switzerland), {{lang|fr|[[RTBF|Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française]]|i=no}} and {{lang|nl|[[VRT (broadcaster)|Belgische Radio en Televisie Nederlandse Uitzendingen]]|i=no}} (RTBF and BRT, Belgium), and [[Eiken (studio)|Eiken]] (Japan) who was the one who made the animation. The series premiered in France on Canal+, between 13 September 1987 and 13 March 1988, and it was subsequently broadcast on the channels of the rest of the broadcasters that participated in the production dubbed into their own language.

This is the second collaboration between Procidis and the Japanese studio Eiken subsequent to ''Once Upon a Time... Space'' and is thus, considered as an [[anime]]. However, unlike the previous series, this was never aired on television in Japan but instead was released on [[VHS]] in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=株式会社エイケン オフィシャルサイト |url=https://eiken-anime.jp/works/%E7%94%9F%E5%91%BD%E3%81%AE%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%A6%E3%83%9F%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AD%E3%83%91%E3%83%88%E3%83%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=www.eiken-anime.jp |language=ja}}</ref>

==Overview==
''Once Upon a Time... Life'' brought back the [[Educational entertainment|edutainment]] formula that has ''[[Once Upon a Time... Man]]'' but that had been left out on ''[[Once Upon a Time... Space]]''. The series combined entertaining story lines with factual information, presented metaphorically.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

The series used the same recurring lead characters as the other series in the ''Once Upon a Time...'' franchise: certain represent the cells that make up the body's systems and defense mechanisms, such as [[red blood cell]]s, [[white blood cell]]s and [[platelet]]s, while antagonists represent [[virus]]es and [[bacteria]] that threaten to attack the human body. Every episode of the series featured a different organ or system within the human body (like the [[brain]], the [[heart]], the [[circulatory system]], etc.).{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

In addition to its countries of origin, the series was also aired in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf]], Armenia, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Soviet Union, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, and Zimbabwe.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

==Music==
The opening theme song of the serie is "{{lang|fr|L'hymne à la vie}}" (French for "hymn for life") composed by [[Michel Legrand]]. It is performed in the original French-language version of the series by [[Sandra Kim]],<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/kNnpHAszq64 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170825050205/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnpHAszq64&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnpHAszq64| title = Il était une fois... La Vie - Le Générique | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 8 April 2017 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> winner of the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1986]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Final of Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986/final |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416103300/https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986/final |archive-date=16 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the English-language dub, its lyrics were translated and was retitled as "This life is life that's life".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imP2MZxoM-s |title=Once upon a time... Life - Opening Theme |date=2011-03-30 |last=Once Upon a Time... (Hello Maestro) |access-date=2025-01-29 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Characters==
The series makes use of recurring human characters originally from both ''Once Upon a Time... Man'' and ''Once Upon a Time... Space''. Every character in the series appeared as a real person (the old intelligent doctor, the dedicated blonde mother, the boy and the girl, their obese friend, and the pair of bullies) and [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] representations of [[Cell (biology)|cells]] and cellular functions within the human body. 
* '''The manager of the [[human brain|brain]]''' – represented by Maestro, the bearded old man. 
* '''The manager of the [[cell nucleus]]''' – represented by Maestro, usually asleep in his chair. 
* [[Enzyme|'''Enzymes''']] – The human body's workmen, shown usually as a man in a [[bib overall]] and a baseball-type cap. 
** [[Digestive enzyme|'''''Digestive enzymes''''']] - Works of digestion. Some enzymes are shown as female and most as male. The females are only seen in the [[stomach]]. The males appear in the [[stomach]] and [[small intestine]]. 
* [[Hormone|'''Hormones''']] – messengers for the body, represented as humanoid robotic outboard motors spray-painted according to function; those representing [[thyroxine]] are given life by [[iodine]]. These hormones are all female. 
* [[Red blood cell|'''Red blood cells''']] – represented by red humanoids. Most notable is elderly Professor Globus, who tells a lot about how the body works; he is accompanied by dimwitted big boy called [[Hemoglobin|Hemo]]; and his inquisitive and mischievous friend [[Globin]]. They can be pink colored when they carry [[oxygen]] bubbles or [[carbon dioxide]] bubbles in a back pouch, becoming dark red when carrying [[carbon dioxide]]. 
*[[Neurotransmitter|'''Neurotransmitters''']]-The blue speedy guys that can deliver messages as papers or passengers through [[nerve]]s and stations. They are mostly running anytime on delivery, and pick up or drop off passenger times until they reach the end. 
* [[Platelet|'''Platelets''']] – represented as red disks with a face, legs and arms. 
* [[White blood cell|'''White blood cells''']] – The body's police force. 
** [[Neutrophil granulocyte|'''''Neutrophil granulocytes''''']] – represented by foot-patrol "policemen" which are completely white in color, and wear a yellow star badge. They carry [[club (weapon)|batons]] and swallow any [[bacteria]]s that they find. They can clone themselves. Most of the time they function as traffic cops. Their commander is the same but with a Caucasian head, and is named Jumbo or Jumbo Junior.
** [[Lymphocyte|'''Lymphocytes''']] – represented by:
*** [[B cell|'''''Lymphocytes B''''']] – as marshals in a small one-man round flying craft with two aimable side-mounted [[hydrojet]] propulsors; two of them are a version of Peter and Psi (named Captain Peter and [[Lieutenant]] Claire). Some other (unnamed) B cell pilot characters each appear more than once, for example a [[acne|spotty-faced]] teenage boy. They can drop [[Antibody|antibodies]] from an underbelly [[bomb bay]]. They can multiplicate themselves through [[mitosis]] duplicating the craft and the pilot. Their uniforms are very light blue with shoulder pads. (Those uniforms appear in the outside world in a few futuristic scenes as [[astronaut]] uniforms/[[undersuit]]s.)
*** [[T cell|'''''Lymphocytes T''''']] – the same sort of craft but with a large uppercase T on the underbelly at the [[Bow (ship)|bow]]. They can discharge a purple smoke that kills [[bacteria]] and [[cancer cell]]s. 
** '''''[[Phagocyte]]''''' – hovering spherical craft with several large suction tubes coming out of them. A pilot's head can be seen through a small [[aircraft canopy|canopy]] on top. They can engulf bacteria. 
** [[Basophil|'''''Basophils''''']] – plump women with body like granulocytes, who instead of swallow bacterias carry a basket of "[[histamine]] grenades" and throw them to attack toxins. 
** [[Macrophage|'''''Macrophages''''']] – (a big yellow ground vehicles shaped like frog heads with a big front scoop grab and three wheels; each "eye" is a small canopy revealing a pilot's head), "the cleaning services of the body". Most of the time they function by removing the body' waste and during emergency times they [[phagocyte]] bacteria and viruses. 
**Immature leucocytes: teenage humanoids with the same uniform as the lymphocyte B pilots: seen in the [[thymus]], which is represented as a police training college. 
* '''The [[Antibody|antibodies]]''' – a small white insectoid characters which after being launched at infectious agents, fly around the bacteria or viruses and paralyze them. Their commander is named Metro. 
*'''The [[Pathogen]]s''' are the main antagonists of the series. They are the characters that make people sick. The other antagonists are the Immature leukocytes in Bone Marrow,
** '''''The [[bacteria]]''''' (represented as blue bullies) – the big bully. Mostly blue in color. 
** '''''The [[virus]]es''''' (represented as yellow worms with hands) – the smaller bully. Mostly yellow in color. 
* '''[[Organic compound|Organic molecules]]''', which are represented in two cases as characters. 
**[[Fat|'''''Fats/Fatty acids''''']]: Represented as fat yellow ponies.
**[[Protein|'''''Proteins''''']] : Represented as a tall, strong, and muscular orange character in overalls with some doglike features.
**'''''[[Glucose|Sugars]]''''' : Small green-and-purple hexagons and pentagons. Sometimes appear as candylike characters. 
**'''''[[Amino acid]]s''''' : Similar appearance to antibodies, generally invisible until the episode dealing with protein synthesis.
**'''''[[Nucleic acid|DNA/RNA]]''''' : Represented quite accurately and in detail when explaining protein synthesis.
**'''''[[Vitamin]]s''''' : Represented as colored living letters. As seen in the [[lymphatic system]], P is present but rarely. 
**'''''[[Cholesterol]]''''' : Yellow seal-like characters that can block a passage of a blood vessel. As seen in ''"The liver factory"'', the cholesterol accumulated around Jumbo, blocking the passage of the red blood cells in the blood vessel.
*[[Bile|'''Gall/Bile''']] : Blue-green-colored liquid that makes the fats shrink, as seen in ''"The digestion"''. 
The series describes a "society inside the body" with a strong pyramidal stratification of work.<ref name="Nuncius">{{cite journal|last=Brodesco|first=Alberto|title=I've Got you under my Skin: Narratives of the Inner Body in Cinema and Television|journal=[[Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science]] |year=2011|volume=26|issue=1|page=214|doi=10.1163/182539111x569829|pmid=21936210|url=https://unitn.academia.edu/AlbertoBrodesco/Papers/824001/_Ive_Got_you_under_my_Skin_Narratives_of_the_Inner_Body_in_Cinema_and_Television_Nuncius._Journal_of_the_material_and_visual_history_of_science_vol._26_Ways_of_Voyaging_Through_the_Human_Body_2011_pp._201-221 | access-date=24 August 2012}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{{Episode table |background=#000000 |overall=5 |title= |aux2T=Timeline(s) |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 1
 | Title = The Cell Planet
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La planète cellule}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|09|13|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[Cell (biology)|cells]] and the [[DNA]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 2
 | Title = Birth
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La naissance}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|09|20|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[Human reproductive system|reproductive system]], [[pregnancy]], and birth.
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 3
 | Title = The Body's Sentinels
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les sentinelles du corps}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|09|27|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[white blood cell]]s and the [[immune system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 4
 | Title = The Bone Marrow
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La moelle osseuse}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|10|04|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[bone marrow]] and the [[haematopoietic system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 5
 | Title = The Blood
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Le sang}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|10|11|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[blood]] and the [[circulatory system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 6
 | Title = The Tiny Platelets
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les petites plaquettes}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|10|18|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[platelet]]s and the [[hemostasis]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 7
 | Title = The Heart
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Le cœur}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|10|25|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[human heart|heart]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 8
 | Title = Breathing
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La respiration}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|11|01|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[respiratory system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=9
 | Title = The Brain
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Le cerveau}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|11|08|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[brain]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 10
 | Title = The Neurones
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les neurones}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|11|15|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[neuron]]es and the [[nervous system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 11
 | Title = The Eye
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|L'œil}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|11|22|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[human eye|eye]] and the [[visual system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 12
 | Title = The Ear
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|L'oreille}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|11|29|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[ear]], the [[hearing]], and the [[vestibular system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 13
 | Title = The Skin
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La peau}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|12|06|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[human skin|skin]] and the [[integumentary system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 14
 | Title = The Mouth and the Teeth
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La bouche et les dents}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|12|13|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the mouth and the [[Tooth|teeth]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 15
 | Title = The Digestion
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La digestion}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|12|20|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[Human digestive system|digestive system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 16
 | Title = The Liver Factory
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|L'usine du foie}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|12|27|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[liver]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 17
 | Title = The Kidneys
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les reins}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|01|03|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[kidney]]s and the [[urinary system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 18
 | Title = The Lymphatic System
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Le système lymphatique}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|01|10|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[lymphatic system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 19
 | Title = The Bones and the Skeleton
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les os et le squelette}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|01|17|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[bone]]s and the [[human skeleton|skeleton]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 20
 | Title = The Muscles and the Fat
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les muscles et la graisse}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|01|24|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[muscular system]] and the [[Adipose tissue|fat]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 21
 | Title = Toxin Wars
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Guerre aux toxines}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|01|31|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[Microorganism|microbes]] and the [[Antibody|antibodies]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 22
 | Title = The Vaccination
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|La vaccination}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|02|07|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[vaccination]] and [[immunization]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 23
 | Title = The Hormones
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les hormones}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|02|14|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[hormone]]s and the [[endocrine system]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 24
 | Title = The Chain of Life
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Les chaînes de la vie}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|02|21|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On the [[food chain]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 25
 | Title = Repairs and Changes
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Réparations et transformations}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|02|28|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary= On [[Regeneration (biology)|regeneration]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber = 26
 | Title = And Life Goes On
 | NativeTitle = {{lang|fr|Et la vie va...}}
 | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|03|13|df=yes}}
 | ShortSummary = On [[ageing]] and [[death]].
 | LineColor = 000000
}}
}}

==Regional home-video releases==
In some English-language versions, the title is rendered as "Once Upon a Time – Life" in the opening credits.

A [[partwork]] version called ''How My Body Works'' was produced for the United Kingdom in 50 [[hardback]] volumes, each with about 30 [[A4 paper size|A4]]-sized pages, described as "an [[Orbis Publishing|Orbis]] play & learn collection". In it, some of the characters have different names: The Professor for the Maestro; [[Captains Courageous#Derivative usages|Captain Courageous]] and Ace for the lymphocyte B crafts' pilots; Plasmus and Globina for Hemo and Globin, Corpo for Jumbo; Toxicus, Germus and Infectius for the bacterium characters; Virulus for the virus character. VHS copies of the English-language television episodes were included with issues.

A DVD box set of all the episodes of the series was produced by Procidis, and distributed locally by various distributors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.procidis.com/gb/collection/d_dvd.html |title=Procidis - Collection DVD |access-date=2007-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016044547/http://www.procidis.com/gb/collection/d_dvd.html |archive-date=2007-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The DVD series was produced in French, English, Polish, Finnish, German, Italian, Hebrew, Norwegian, Hungarian, Dutch and Swedish, but was not released in the United Kingdom. In 2011, the DVD box set was available in English in Canada, distributed by Imavision.

Full episodes are available on Youtube.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Once Upon a time... Life |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKnJDcjkfEp0AEalF2mrq-wOSX8jCAMnz |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>

==Biological accuracy==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2021}}
Most biological terminology is translated with care, but a few mistakes were made and there are some [[anachronism]]s.

* The heart chamber now known as the [[Atrium (heart)|atrium]] is called the "auricle" in episode 7, a term correct at the time of production, but which is now used for [[Atrial appendage|another structure in the heart]]. 
* In episode 4, "Pulmonary aorta" is used for "[[pulmonary artery]]", which is a mistake because unlike fish, humans do not have two aortae.
* More inaccuracies include complete lack of [[antigen presenting cell]] activity (by [[Macrophages]], [[B-cells]] and [[Dendritic cells]]) in order to trigger the [[adaptive immune system]] according to [[MHCII]] complex. Though it is mentioned that [[antibodies]] need to be specific to the disease's [[pathogen]], the way that specificity is obtained is not shown. Also, some aspects of the immune system are not portrayed, like the [[complement system]].
* In episode 11, it is explained that [[lysosome]]s are found in [[tears]] to protect and clean the eye surface, but the correct term are the [[lysozyme]]s. 
* In episode 13, when professor Globus explains the receptors of the skin, the [[Tactile corpuscle|Meissner's corpuscle]] is mentioned as [[Golgi apparatus|Golgi corpuscle]], a cell organelle responsible for protein transportation.

==See also==
* [[List of French animated television series]]
* [[List of French television series]]
* ''[[Osmosis Jones]]'', a 2001 American film with a similar premise
* ''[[Cells at Work!]]'', a 2015 manga series with a similar premise
* [[Fantastic Voyage]]
* [[Innerspace]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hellomaestro.fr/home.html Official website] - series producer
*{{IMDb title|id=0284735}}
*{{anime News Network|anime|11517|Seimei no Kagaku Micro Patrol}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/onceuponatimechannel/about Hello Maestro] at ''[[YouTube]]''<!--This is a legal, official show link-->

{{Once Upon a Time...}}
{{Eiken}}
{{Televisión Española original series}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Science|Biology|Medicine|Television|Animation|1980s|France}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Once Upon A Time... Life}}
[[Category:Once Upon a Time...]]
[[Category:1987 animated television series debuts]]
[[Category:1987 French television series debuts]]
[[Category:1988 French television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s French animated television series]]
[[Category:1987 Japanese television series debuts]]
[[Category:French children's animated education television series]]
[[Category:Health education television series]]
[[Category:Human body]]
[[Category:Eiken (studio)]]
[[Category:Canal+ original programming]]