What is genga?
Genga (原画) are the key animation drawings. A key animator draws the extremes of a motion — the poses that define where an action starts, changes direction, and ends — along with the character's key expressions. Genga establish the timing and feeling of a cut before any in-betweens exist.
Where genga sit in production
Working from the storyboard and layouts, the key animator produces genga in pencil, often with rough and cleaned-up versions and notes on timing. These drawings are handed to the in-between department, which adds the drawings between them.
Why collectors value genga
Genga carry the animator's hand more directly than any other production material. They frequently include:
- Colored pencil markings indicating shadows, highlights, and separate cel layers.
- Timing notes and cut numbers.
- The rough, energetic linework of the original artist.
A genga paired with its matching douga and cel tells the complete story of how a single moment was built.