Appendix:Japanese film credit terms

This page is a glossary of Japanese film credit terms translated into English. Translation of credits requires knowledge of the terminology used by both the American and Japanese film industries, including live action and anime. This article provides an easy translation guide for those wishing to do so.

Terms

Terms are listed alphabetically according to romanization.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English	Notes
アフレコ	afureko	dubbing	from "after recording"
アニメーション	animeshon	animation
アニメーション監督	animeshon kantoku	animation director
アニメーション協力	animeshon kyouryoku	animation assistance / co-operation
アニメーション制作	animēshon seisaku	animation work
アニメーション制作協力	animeshon seisaku kyouryoku	animation work assistance	Normally by studios that does work outsourced to them by the main animation production company (アニメーション制作—animeshon seisaku).
アニメーター	animētā	animator
アシスタント	ashisutanto	assistant	Can be used after any credit term
アソシエイトプロデューサー	asoshieito purodyūsā	associate producer
アテレコ	atereko	dubbing	from to lay down a voice 声をあてる koe wo ateru
番組担当	bangumi tantō	program manager
美術監督	bijutsu kantoku	art director	Pertaining to the backgrounds.
美術設定	bijutsu settei	background artists	Refers to the major backgrounds; usually used for individual artists.
文芸担当	bungeitantou	script supervisor
チーフプロデューサー	chīfu purodyūsā	chief producer
著作	chosaku	publication, author
デジタル合成	dejitaru gousei	digital composition
動画	dōga	in-between animation
動画チェック	dōga chekku	in-between animation check	Checks the in-between animation drawings. Also credited as 動画検査 (dōga kensa) or in-between animation inspection.
エグゼクティブプロデューサー	eguzekutibu purodyūsā	executive producer
絵コンテ	ekonte	storyboards	Literally "picture continuity".
演出	enshutsu	animation director/episode direction/overview/direction/technical director	Literally "production (e.g. play) / direction".
演出補佐	enshutsu hosa	assistant episode direction/assistant direction/assistant technical director
演奏	ensō	musical performance/performed by
フィルム	firumu	film
副監督	fukukantoku	assistant director	助監督(jokantoku) is also used for "assistant director"
原案	gen'an	original plan
原案協力	gen'ankyōryoku	original plan assistance
原画	genga	key animation	Literally "original picture".
原作	gensaku	original work
現像	genzō	film developer
販売	hanbai	marketing
背景	haikei	backgrounds setting scenery	Usually used for studios or groups that produced the backgrounds, sets, or scenery.
配給	haikyū	distribution	The company that distributed the film.
編曲	henkyoku	arrangement (music)
編集	henshū	editor
翻訳	hon'yaku	translation
衣装デザイナー	ishō dezainā	costume designer
色指定	iro shitei	Colour coordination	Determines the color scheme of the anime in general. Generally come from the shiage (仕上げ) department.
監修	kanshū	supervision
監督	kantoku	director	ディレクター(direkutā) is also used.
火薬技師	kayaku gishi	gunpowder technician
企画	kikaku	planning	Usually called "development" in western production
企画協力	kikaku kyōryoku	planning coordinator
記録	kiroku	recorder production diary/journal
小道具	kodōgu	props stage properties
広報	kōhō	publicity public relations
公開日	kōkaibi	release date
構成	kōsei	organization (as in "series organization")
脚本	kyakuhon	script screenplay
脚本家	kyakuhonka	screenwriter
キャメラマン	kyameraman	cameraman
キャラクターデザイン	kyarakutā dezain	character design
キャスティング	kyasutingu	casting
協力	kyōryoku	coordination collaboration
メカニックデザイン	mekanikku dezain	mechanical design	Usually shortened to "メカデザイン" ("mekadezain"; mecha design). This mostly refers to the design of robots.
ミキサー	mikisā	mixer
大道具	ōdōgu	stage setting scenery
音楽	ongaku	music composer	mostly refers to "music"
音楽監督	ongaku kantoku	music director
音響	onkyō	sound
音響監督	onkyō kantoku	sound director / audio director
音楽製作	ongakuseisaku	music production
音楽協力	ongaku kyōryōku	music co-production / music cooperation
音響効果	onkyō kōka	sound effects
音響プロデューサー	onkyō purodyūsā	sound producer
音響制作	onkyō seisaku	sound work
プロデューサー	purodyūsā	producer
プレスコ	puresuko	pre-recording	from "pre-scoring"
ラインプロデューサー	rainpurodyūsā	line producer
ライティングディレクター	raitingu direkutā	gaffer
連絡デスク	renraku desuku	communications desk response desk
録音	rokuon	audio recording
録音演出	rokuon enshutsu	sound director/sound production/audio director/audio production/recording director/recording production
作画	sakuga	animation key animation
作画監督	sakuga kantoku	animation supervisor key animation director	Literally "drawings supervisor". Checks the key animation and drawings and also ensures faces are drawn according to the character design. As such many character designers often double up as 総作画監督 (sou sakuga kantoku) or chief animation supervisor who checks the drawings, especially the character drawings.
作詞	sakushi	lyrics (music)
作曲	sakkyoku	composer (music)
撮影	satsuei	photography camera
撮影技師	satsuei gishi	camera operator
撮影監督	satsuei kantoku	director of photography DoP, DP
撮影制作	satsuei seisaku	photography work
宣伝	senden	promotion/marketing
選曲	senkyoku	theme song/music selection
製作	seisaku	production producer executive producer
制作	seisaku	production work
制作事務	seisaku jimu	production office work
制作管理	seisaku kanri	production manager
制作進行	seisaku shinkou	production advance
製作担当	seisaku tantō	executive producer/production manager
仕上	shiage	Coloring finish animation touch-up animation ink & paint	The people who do the clean-up work to make sure the animation cels look good. They also add color to the animation (using computers).
色彩設計	shikisaisekkei	colour design
照明	shōmei	lighting
照明技師	shōmei gishi	lighting technician
照明監督	shōmeikantoku	lighting director
総	sō	chief…	This can appear before any title. It can also mean general.　"チーフ(chīfu)" is also used.
挿入歌	sōnyūka	insert song	song used during the movie, usually in the background (i.e., in a cafe)
総作画監督	sōsakuga kantoku	chief animation director
主題歌	shudaika	theme song
スチール	suchiiru	still photography
タイトル	taitoru	titles/titling	The credits.
提供	teikyou	sponsor
テクニカルディレクター	tekunikarudirekutā	technical director
特殊効果	tokushukōka	special effects
歌/唄	uta	song/sung by/performance/vocal	usually refers to who is singing the song
ゼネラルマネージャー	zenerarumane-jā	general manager