Anime Production Terminology

*Translated from Furasujin connection

 Anime Production Terminology
Useful Vocabulary
English Translation Japanese
& Definition

Storyboard E-konte (絵ーコンテ): ​Using the given scenario, one illustrates cuts,
screen composition, and character actions along with voice lines and
duration. Serves as blueprint of animation. Is often drawn by either the
series director, episode director, or dedicated Storyboard staff.

Layout/1st Key Reiouto (レイアウト)/Dai-Ichi Genga (第一原画):​ Step in which the Key
Animation Animator, called “Genga-man” ​draws the background and roughs for
a cut. This includes drawing all keyframes for all of the cels, as
well as instructions for any camera/slide work in a cut. Depending
on the production it is also common for roughs for 3d animation to
be drawn at this point. The xsheet (time sheet) is also filled out at
this point, designating the timing and any other necessary
instructions for the composite staff.

Key Animation Genga (原画):​ Illustrations of key movement points (beginning, critical
junctures, end). Genga are required for every time a vector of movement
changes, or the space between drawings is too big for an in betweener.
Those in charge of this section are called “Genga-man.” In modern
animation this is used to refer to the layout artist in the credits, and the
cleaned up 2nd keys in house. Because of it’s nebulous usage it is
preferable to use either Layout/1st Key to refer to roughs, and 2nd Key to
refer to pre inbetweener cleanup.

2nd Key Animation Dainigenga (第二原画):​The cleaned up retrace/brushup of the Animation

Director’s corrections. Since ADs generally can not redraw/correct all of
the keys Key Animators must update any of their old drawings that
require fixes to be consistent with the AD’s corrections.

Inbetweens Douga (動画):​ Clean up Key Animation. Keys are all retraced and in
betweens are drawn according to the xsheets and spacing charts.
People in this section are called "Douga-man”.

Coloring Shiage (仕上げ):​ Process of coloring in characters and objects conveyed

as cels. Now, colors can be digitally added on with a computer, but
during the Cel days, colors were painted on transparent acetate sheets.
 Anime Production Terminology
Background Painting Haikei/Bijutsu (背景/美術):​ Background painting, based on the layouts
given to the painter.

Composite Satsuei (撮影):​ Generally done in After Effects, staff places digital cels
on top of backgrounds, add effects, pans etc and exports each cut as
movie data. Before digitalization, the process consisted of placing cels on
top of illustrated backgrounds and actually taking pictures with a camera.

Episode Director Enshutsu Check (演出チェック ):​ Check done by the Episode Director.
Check Fixes are done to both backgrounds and composition, as well as
character expressions and timing. Character fixes will always need to be
brushed up onto model by Animation Direction staff.

Animation Director Sakkan Check(作監チェック):​ Check by Animation Director. Redraws

Check Key Frames to maintain coherence in drawing style among all cuts. This
is separated into two phases: Layout Sakkan and Genga Sakkan, where
larger corrections are done to the layout, and then final corrections again
done to the keyframer’s retrace before being sent to in betweening staff.

Color Check Cel Kensa ( セル検査):​ There is something called a “Color Model“ that is
a record of how to color in the characters that is made per scene by the
color setting staff. Color Direction instructs which color model to use per
cut. Sometimes, the colors of small objects that only make an
appearance for one episode are decided by this section. The cuts that
have their color models decided are then sent to a ”Finish“ section where
they are actually colored in. The inspection section then checks to see if
the correct colors were used, and if any mistakes are made.

X-Sheet Taimushiito (タイムシート):​ Known as an X(short for exposure) Sheet

in the west, this sheet has spaces where the timing of the drawings is
filled in to show when to show what drawing for how many frames. The
x-sheet is also used to give instructions for slides, pans, multi-plane
camera movement, and any post processing effects. Sheets in use are
24 frames per second.

Image Board Imeeji Boodo (イメージボード)

Episode Director Enshutsu (演出

Sound Effect/Voice Afureko (アフレコ)

over

Series Director Kantoku(監督)

 Anime Production Terminology
Picture/Drawing Gamen/E (画面/絵)

Dialogue/Sound Serifu/Oto (セリフ/音)

Action Naiyou (内容)

Time Jikan (時間)

Total Time Goukei Jikan (会計時間)