A

(Afu-Reko)
ADR
Abbreviation for "After Recording." Record voices in sync with video. In anime,
instead of using the completed version, there is a version specifically created for
ADR. Recording voices first, then matching the animation to the voices is called "PreSco" for Pre-Scoring.

(Iro Tsuki)
Colored
Movies made for editing and audio with color in them. An almost-complete state.
Uncolored video is called Sen-dori (Line Film) or Shiroi (White). Compared to
Colored video, one cannot do as much work edit-wise nor audio-wise. Because of
worsening production conditions, it is not rare to perform audio work with Sen-dori.

(Iro ShiteiKensa)
Color Directions/Inspection
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.

(Ire-Kiri)
Full Insert
Handing over all materials needed for work.

A Part
First part of the episode before the commercial break.

(E Konte)
Storyboard
Using the given scenario, one illustrates cuts, screen composition, and character
actions along with voice lines and duration. Serves as blueprint of animation.

(E-Konte wo Kitteiru)
Cut the Storyboard
Means to draw the storyboard.

(Enshutsu)
Episode Director
Using the storyboard, position that directs acting and images for certain sections.
Present at all meetings/checks throughout anime process.
*Literally means interpretation/mise-en-scene but acts more like a stage director in anime
production.

M
Theatrical and/or accompaniment music.

All Rush
Put all cuts in numerical order and check. During this process, person in charge can
pick up mistakes in continuity and check coherence within a scene.

(All Konte Satsu)

All Board Filming
Movie that connects all filmed storyboards together.

(Omoi Cut)
"Heavy Cut"
A cut heavy in calories, meaning a cut requiring a lot of hard work.

(Onkyou Seisaku)
Audio Production
Section that operates and deals with audio staff, VA (voice actor), staff arrangement,
audio studio arrangement, order ADR script.

(Onkyou Kantoku)
Audio Director
The person responsible for all things audio for an anime. Does everything from voice
actor casting, ordering which pieces of music to use, deciding how to use BGM and
sound effects during Dubbing, and instructing voice actors with their acting.

Ka

(Kaishuu)
Retrieval
In the anime industry, there are many times when the staff cannot get together in one
place. Production goes to their workplaces and gathers their work.

(Cut-Bukuro)
Cut Bag
A thick envelope to protect materials from damage and dirt during shipping. Despite
digitalization, art is still drawn on paper. Cut number, duration, advisor, sheet
number, camerawork, footnotes, various other pieces of information are directly
written on the bag.

"Cutting"
Editing process. See "Editing" for full definition.

"Camerawork"
Term for technique of postulating a movie camera filming a character, and moving that
camera.

(Gaya)
Chatter
Chit chat voices that have no specified dialogue, such as casual talking in the
background and cheering of crowds.

(Kantoku)
Director
The person that brings together everything regarding an anime. Participates from the
very first stages of production, including planning and scenario building, and when
the work enters production, he or she provides instructions such as acting and
renditions for certain scenes and his/her interpretation of the works world.

(Kan-Pake)
"Complete Package"
Data with all work finished and is in a state ready to be broadcasted.

(Kyakuhon)
Script
Who is doing what, when and where. Character actions and dialogue written out as text.
Made up of paragraphs, dialogue, and stage directions.

(Kiroku)
Records
During Rush Check for retake, sometimes work is broken up into check movie controls
and record-keeping. Records on retake and cut numbers are kept.

Cue Lamp
Lamp inside the (voice) recording booth. Also used at times when staff from the
adjustment room wants to give cues to the cast.

Character Design
Person who creates a character blueprint, a 3D design that makes it easier for
animators to move the characters. Designs for a characters physical image is done by
a Character Genan (Character Draft), but when an animator handles
the first drafts, he or she will also often be responsible for character designs.

Gloss
Means Assemble. Also called Gloss-Dashi (Gloss Out) and Gloss-Uke (Gloss In). When
dealing with a TV series, production Gloss is outsourced on a per-episode basis from a
base company to a different production company. There are also other forms of Gloss,
such as animation and finish.

(Genga)
Key Animation
Illustrations of key movement points (beginning, critical junctures, end). Those in
charge of this section are called Genga-man.

(Genga Youshi)
"Key Animation Paper"
The paper that a Genga-man uses to draw on.

-New-

(Gensatsu)
"Key Filming"
Movie data filmed in its Key Animation stage.

(Gen-ban)
"Original Version"
Here (at Musashino Animation), this term points to the master video data that will be
copied and eventually sent to the broadcasting companies.

(Koubanhyou)
"Cast List"
List that shows which characters show up at which scenes. The list used by Audio and
Animation are different. What you see in episode 2 is the audio list.

(Kouka)
"Effects"
Section that prepares ambient and emotional sounds, and adds sound effects when
needed. Sound Effects = SE.

(Conte Satsu)
Board Filming
Film the storyboard for a predetermined amount of seconds, or the movie format.

Sa

(Sakuga)
Animation
Collective term for Key, Inbetween, A.D. Correction.

(Sakuga Retake)
Animation Retake
During Rush Check, retakes on animation that needs to be fixed. Missing character
parts, corrections on actions and facial expressions, etc.

(Sakuga Houkai)
"Animation Deterioration"
When the quality of the product drops drastically. A tragedy due to a collapse in
scheduling.

(Sakuga Plan)
"Animation Plan"
Plan of action for a character, and the planning for the final make-up of what is on
the screen of a particular cut.

(Saku-Uchi)
"Animation Meeting"
Meeting for animation staff. E.D. and Genga-men come together to discuss acting plans
based on storyboard.
*Uchi is short for Uchi-Awase, which means meeting.

(Sashikae)
Replace
Taking an unfinished take from an edited movie, and replacing it with a more completed
take. There are different types of replacements, such as pre-ADR replacing, preDubbing replacing, and pre-Original movie replacing.

(Satsuei)
Filming
Digital software now allows production to composite character on backgrounds, add
effects, and export in movie data. Before digitalization, process consisted of placing
Cels on top of illustrated backgrounds and actually taking pictures with a camera.

(Satsuei-Uchi)
"Film Meeting"
Episodic Director and Filming Director's meeting before their work.

(Satsu-Ire)
"Film Insert"
The act of handing over work to the film section.

(Satsuei Ire-Kiri)
"Film Full Insert"
Fully handing over all materials to the film section.

(Sakkan)
A.D.
Abbreviation for Animation Director.
In charge of certain episodes and their animation quality. Checks coherency among
animations drawn by several key animators, and adds corrections. Has very high
technique. If schedule is tight, one episodes work is headed by several Animation
Directors.

(Sakkan Up)
A.D. Up
Either the deadline for an Animation Directors work, or the directors finished
work itself.

(Sakkan Ire)
A.D. Insert
The act of giving materials (Layout checks or Key Animation) to the Animation Director
so that he/she can work on it. Or the materials themselves.

(Sakkan Sagyou)
A.D. Work
Corrections made by the Animation Director.

(Sakkan-Ho)
"A.D. Assist"
Assist the A.D. and lessen the load of their work.

(Shiage)

Finish
Process of coloring in characters and objects. Now, colors can be digitally added on
with a computer, but during the Cel days, colors were painted on transparent acetate
sheets.

(Shiage Kensa)
Finish Check
Finish is coloring picture data from video. Finish Check is review of
Finished product, so that there are no errors and everything is colored as
directed.

(Shinkouhyou)
Progress Sheet
One episode is made up of roughly 280~340 cuts. The table that compiles each cuts
progress is the Progress Sheet. Sheet management is most important in
understanding and managing a schedule. Although rudimentary, rookie producers often
forget to update the sheet, after which they get yelled at by the Desk.

(Shinjin Genga)
Rookie Key
A Genga-man with little experience.

3D Check
Check 3DCG modeling data and motions.

(3D Kantoku)
3D Director
Person responsible for all the 3DCG used in the anime. Performs operations such as
checking the CG made by the staff and managing schedules as well as the materials.

(Seisaku Shinkou)
(Animation) Production Progress
Person responsible for managing production from storyboard to delivery for specific
episodes. From scheduling and material management to staff arrangement, distribution,
and transportation, there is endless work. Since they have a hand in basically all
sections, they often go on to become directors or producers.

(Seisaku Iinkai)
Production Committee
An organization that handles various business operations, as well as collect funds to
produce the anime. It aims to disperse capital risk by investing in numerous companies.
Shareholding companies are given different kinds of rights and royalties, and in turn
use those rights to perform business. (Ex: Books, CDs, Packages, Toy Distribution)

*You always see the name of each animes committee at the very end of the opening/ending
credits.

(Settei Seisaku)
"Setting Production"
Supervise settings of characters, art, objects, and collect references and materials
of these settings.

(Sou-Sakkan)
"General A.D."
Gather the work from several A.D. over several episodes, and unify the small changes
in character art.

Ta

"Time Sheet"
Paper with timing for animation and directions written during filming.

"Tap"
Tool that holds animation paper, which has holes in it, in place so they don't go out
of alignment. During animation, it becomes the position of standard.

Dubbing
Matching sound data, BGM, and sound effects with video.

Desk
Person for schedule management and progress coordination for the entire anime. Main
work: adjust workload of the main staff, follow up progress, solve problems that occur
over time. The stuff he/she hears over the phone are almost never good news.

(Doushi)
Inbetween Finish
Douga (animation)+Shiage (finish).
Also can be used for Doushi-Maki, which is the shipping of animation and finish.

(Douga Kensa)
"Video Inspection"
Section that checks whether the exported video has any errors and if it was made as
instructed.

(Douga)
"Video"
Clean up Key Animation, add in-between movements, make into animation. Or the actual
materials themselves. People in this section are called "Douga-man."

(Togaki)
Stage Direction
Everything in the scenario that is not actor dialogue. Includes situation, emotions,
actions put into words.

10

"Talkback"
Machine that communicates between control room and recording room. Audio Director
instructs cast inside the recording room while pressing the Talkback Switch.
*In episode 2, the button the director (chubby in blue) presses when theyre talking about how
the voice actor should be saying her lines.

(Trace Dai)
Trace Table
Also known as Light Table. A table with a board of glass or acrylic over a light
source such as a fluorescent lamp. It is built into the animation desk. The light
makes overlapping animation paper transparent, enough for the bottom to be visible
through the top. It is used for key, inbetween, and video animation work.

11

Na

(Nakawari ga Tokeru)
The Inbetween is melting
The process of adding video (meaning frames) between Key images is called nakawari
or inbetween animation. When this inbetween portions quality decreases and
the animation seems to deteriorate, it is sometimes referred to as melting.

(Ni-Gen)
2nd Key
Abbreviation for Secondary Key Animation.
Animation is broken up into two parts: Key Animation and Layout. Furthermore, Key is
at times split into 1st and 2nd Key. 2nd Key are like assistants.

(Nouhin)
"Final Product"
Finalizing the completed movie. Beyond this stage are sponsors, distributors, and
broadcast companies.

12

Ha

(Bara)
"Scatter"
Data by cut. Checking this data and fixing retakes for it is called "Bara-Check."

(Bara-Check)
Scatter Check
Check each cut to see if it was filmed properly or if data is correct. Points out cuts
that need corrections for quality upgrade. Since the cuts are scattered, this is
called Scatter Check or Retake Order.

-New-

Para
A type of video effect. Adding shadows on the screen or putting gradations. Before the
digital age, these were added using paraffin paper (wax paper), hence the name Parra.

(BG Uchi)
BG Meet
BG = Background. Meeting with art companies if/when they are employed to draw
backgrounds. Also called Bi-Uchi or Fuukei-Uchi.
*Bi is short of Art, and Fuukei means backgrounds.

B Part
The second half of the episode, following the commercial break.

(V-Hen)
"V-Edit"
Abbreviation for Video Edit. Insert telop (captions/subtitles), perform final checks,
and make product into satisfactory form.

(Henshuu)
Edit
The Edit process.
connects the cuts
intended meaning,
broadcast format,

Also called Cutting. Following the storyboard, the editor

of all filmed data, adjusts length of each cut so that it shows the
changes the order of cuts, etc. In a TV series, there is a specific
and so the editor must adjust length for TV.

13

(Help no Shigoto)
Helpers Work
Here (at Musashino Animation), this points to when someone helping out with another
episodes key animation in their free time, despite it not being from an episode they
are assigned to.

Voice Over
Taking translated audio and placing them over video.

Board Check
The art materials that serve as guidelines for each cuts background work is called
the Art Board. This is the check for that board.

14

Ma

(Maki)
Disperse
The process of shipping out animation and finishing work. For times when work is
outsourced to different studios, which is how the process got its name.

(Maki Modosu)
Re-Disperse
The process of re-outsourcing to another person/organization, if for some reason a
studio is no longer available for assistance.

(Mawari Komi)
"Wrap-Around"
Expression of putting character on an axis and wrap the camera around. Requires
precise calculations and time-consuming animation technique.

Mixer
Person in charge of adjusting the balance of the volumes of character lines, sound
effects, and BGM, then processing the audio.

(Mixer Joshu)
Assistant Mixer
Handles recording operations using Protools as well as manage the settings of the
equipment at the audio studio. Helps to make operations run as smooth as possible.

"Maker P"
Often means Producer of package production company. FYI, it is common to separate
animation production () and merchandise production ().
*Both and are read as Seisaku, which means production.

-New-

(Me-Pachi)
Eye Flash
Luminance or shine.

15

(Moto-Uke)
Base Company
An animation company that a sponsor company directly contracts for production. In a TV
series, it is rare for one company to produce all episodes. Often, another company
will be employed for production on a per-episode basis. This secondary company is
called Gloss-Uke. Even when production is outsourced (called Gloss-Dashi),
however, pre- and post-production is often managed by the Moto-Uke company.
*Uke means receive or redeem. Literally, Moto-Uke means receive the original. Dashi
() means to export.

16

Ra

"Line P"
Abbreviation for Line Producer. Responsible for production site. Mainly performs
staffing, scheduling, budget management duties.

RushRush Check
Rush (film) is a term from the days when film was used. It is film developed for postproduction work so that the original film will stay undamaged. This term is now means
the movie data made for checking.
Rush Check is the process of checking the movie data to see if there are any problems.
There are two types: Bara-Check and All Rush.

- Bara-Check (Scatter Check)

Check each cut to see if it was filmed properly or if data is correct. Points out
cuts that need corrections for quality upgrade.
Since the cuts are scattered, this is called Scatter Check or Retake Order.

- All-Rush
Put all cuts in numerical order and check.
During this process, person in charge can pick up mistakes in continuity and check
coherence within a scene.

Rush Room
Room with all the necessary equipment to perform Rush Check.

(Rough-Gen)
Rough Key
As previously mentioned, the Key Animation work, up to Layout+First Key Animation
(Ichi-Gen), AKA the deliverables. The product before the Finish Work of the Key
Animation.

Line Director
Line refers to the manufacturing department that the project is assigned to. The
director heads that department.

Retake
Cut in need of correction.

(Retake Shuusei)
Retake Revision
Correction of Retake content that was ordered during check.

17

"Layout"
Screen composition drawn from storyboard. Has character positions and backgrounds.
After going through layout presentation and A.D. checks, this layout is sent to the
background section for background art work.

18