Introduction
I love collecting anime Genga.
I wonder how many people are currently collecting anime Genga. Probably not that many. Compared to animation cel, Genga seems plain at first glance, and I think it’s normal for anime fans to prefer animation cel that looks close to the finished scene. On the other hand, Genga is an item that appeals to people more interested in art than anime, and from that perspective, it’s very profound.
Besides enjoying the animation techniques, I’m also drawn to the fact that they are handwritten one-of-a-kind pieces. The reason is that I feel that handwritten pieces provide more information compared to copies. And if it’s a one-of-a-kind piece, you can recover the purchase cost by selling it when you’re in a financially tight situation. For these reasons, I am able to spend a considerable amount of money on those.
It’s been over a decade since I started collecting, and my feelings towards collecting original art have calmed down compared to the early days. Instead of repeating the same thing, I thought that summarizing my experiences somewhere might contribute to my personal growth, so I decided to create this page. I hope you find it interesting, even if just a little.
※The terminology regarding anime production materials such as “Genga” and “Doga” can be confusing. However, on this site, when we refer to “Genga” alone, we are specifically imagining hand-drawn materials up to “Layout/Rough Genga, Check Genga, Secondary Genga, Secondary Check Genga, and In Betweening Doga.”
2023/09/24
original website:https://genga.net/
Three Important Points for Collecting Original Anime Art
There are plenty of eye-catching and interesting Gengas out there, but collecting them indiscriminately may not bring much satisfaction. To continue enjoying the hobby, it’s important to set rules based on past mistakes and to hone one’s own abilities. I’ll introduce three important points that I’ve felt during my Genga collecting journey.
①Training Your Eyes
In recent years, with the absence of animation cels in productions, if one desires materials, they would have to collect Gengas. However, if someone doesn’t have much interest in art, they may not fully enjoy it. One of the characteristics of animation production is that most Gengas reach a certain level of quality after going through direction and animation supervisor corrections. To find standout Gengas, it’s necessary to train your eyes by looking at a large number of them. By being able to correctly perceive the exceptional skills of a single animator or the collaborative efforts of each staff member, collecting should become more enjoyable.
②Establishing Collection Rules
At the beginning of my collecting journey, I didn’t set any rules; I just collected whatever caught my eye. In the middle, I attempted to collect with specific themes in mind, such as by “work,” “animator,” “material type,” or “specific parts.” However, none of these approaches lasted long, and I found myself thinking more specifically about what exactly I was looking for in Genga. Recently, as my collecting rules have become more solidified, I’ve been able to focus only on the Gengas that
③Managing Money
Achieving satisfying collection requires careful management of your spending. If you buy things impulsively without considering what you truly desire, you might find yourself unable to afford something you really want when the opportunity arises due to financial constraints. Even if you manage to purchase it, it’s common for something else you desire to appear the following week. To approach collecting with ease, it’s important to set rules like in step 2 and evaluate whether a Genga is truly worth having before making a move. It’s best to avoid a situation where you buy something impulsively, feel satisfied upon receiving it, and then stash it away for years without enjoying it.
Collection Methods
One can acquire Genga through methods such as online auctions (net free market), online shops, physical stores, purchase incentives, and gift campaigns. The extent to which one explores these avenues directly correlates with their collecting capability. For instance, while platforms like Yahoo! Auctions and Mandarake feature a wide range of listings and are easily noticeable, platforms like Mercari, Rakuma, and Sekaimon might not seem as promising at first glance. However, in reality, this is not always the case.
Even with fewer listings, diligent observation often leads to encountering valuable items. Additionally, since the number of people who notice items listed in less mainstream places is typically lower, these items can often be obtained at lower prices. Finding hidden treasures at affordable rates is part of the thrill of collecting, especially since such items are unique and can only be acquired from specific sources. Continuously monitoring within one’s feasible range is essential to avoid missing out on opportunities and subsequent regret.
While trading and selling among collectors is another viable option, personally, I tend to avoid such methods to minimize potential conflicts or issues. I have only engaged in them briefly during the early stages of my collecting journey.
Storage Methods for Genga
Genga is typically drawn on thin paper. This thinness is likely for convenience during the production process, where large quantities of paper are handled. However, it also means extra care is needed for storage after production. Additionally, since a large amount of paper is used, storage space can become an issue.
Storage Methods
Genga preservation might involve simply storing them in cardboard boxes tucked away in a corner of the room. However, the enjoyment of appreciation is a significant motivation for collecting. Finding a balance between preservation and accessibility becomes crucial, and each individual may need to explore methods that best suit them. It’s essential to be prepared for factors that could cause degradation for each preservation method.
In my case, I take photos and upload them to cloud services for easy access anytime, anywhere. Additionally, I store my favorite pieces in clear files, allowing me to view them whenever I like. The remaining Genga is wrapped in plastic and stored in cardboard boxes in a non-intrusive area of my living space. This way, I can easily take them out and flip through them whenever I feel like it.
Storage Space
Those who are already collectors will understand that anime Genga takes up a lot of space. Buying them by the cut often results in having over 100 sheets, which is quite common. Before you know it, you end up with several cardboard boxes, and it can become a state where you don’t know what is where. Even if you have space, I think there’s a limit to the number one person can manage.
When Genga that I don’t need to keep on hand comes up, I try to let it go so it can reach someone who truly needs and wants it. Keeping them out of habit can encroach on the spaces needed for daily life, lowering its quality. Collecting is done to add enjoyment to life, so if it starts to cause stress, it becomes counterproductive.
Deterioration of Genga
Paper naturally deteriorates over time, but I want to take measures to preserve it as much as possible. Here are some examples of the causes of deterioration:
- Folding marks: Animation paper is very thin. It can easily develop small folding marks when placed in frames, filed, or removed from storage items.
- Light: Exposure to ultraviolet and infrared rays causes paper to discolor. It’s best to avoid environments where paper is exposed to light for extended periods.
- Humidity: Placing paper in high humidity areas causes it to absorb moisture, resulting in waviness. It’s recommended to store paper in places with minimal humidity fluctuations.
- Scotch tape: Scotch tape deteriorates, changing color and leaving adhesive residue. It’s best not to touch it too much as attempting to remove it may damage the Genga. Even if removed cleanly, adhesive residue remains on the paper, making discoloration unavoidable over time.
- Staple pins: Leaving staple pins attached for a long time causes rust, leading to paper corrosion. If paper is stapled, it’s best to carefully remove them as soon as possible.
Especially materials used during the era of acidic paper seem to deteriorate quickly (discoloring and crumbling). Neutral paper, which is less prone to deterioration, is used in recent productions, but it still deteriorates gradually.
Storing paper in a dark place indefinitely might still lead to mold or insect damage. Occasionally exposing it to light and air for sterilization seems necessary.
Managing Information about Genga
I’ve compiled information about purchased Genga into a spreadsheet on Google Drive. Originally created as a means to list and track details of acquisitions, it serves as a reference for knowing who I bought materials from, and when, in case any issues arise. Continuously updating it allows me to keep track of what I own, their acquisition history, and even calculate total expenses incurred by purchases in a given year, such as in 2022. To ensure data safety and accessibility, I manage it online to avoid the risk of loss in case of PC malfunctions or data loss.
Since Yahoo Auctions provide the most purchasing opportunities, I find it convenient to copy and paste entire rows from the won items list on the auction site into my spreadsheet. This action populates fields such as “Auction Number,” “Item Name,” “Winning Bid Amount,” “Purchase Date and Time,” and “Seller ID.” For transactions outside of Yahoo Auctions, it requires a bit more effort to input this data manually. However, I believe it’s essential to have this information documented. In case of any disputes, it serves as evidence that I am merely a purchaser and not directly involved in any fraudulent activities.
I’ve expanded the spreadsheet to include additional columns for management purposes. For instance, I input information such as “Animation Staff,” “Character Name,” “Scene,” “Episode/Opening/Ending/Theater/OVA/CM,” “Type of Material,” and “Number of Sheets,” as far as it’s known.
In the management section, there’s also a field for “Reflection,” where I enter my self-assessment regarding the purchase of each item. I fill in specific details after options like “Correct,” “Reasonable,” or “Failure.” Reflecting on my actions during the purchase, I evaluate them and aim to learn from them for the future. Looking back, it’s quite enjoyable to recall my feelings at the time, such as “Lost my mind during bidding, probably missing corrections.” There are even instances where items I initially considered failures turned out to be the correct choice.
The overview of Genga
Genga refers to the materials drawn as images from among the intermediate products created during animation production.
Types of Genga
Layout, contain elements such as backgrounds, characters, effects, and camera movements for a particular scene. When there are significant camera movements, layouts may be larger or consist of multiple sheets, but typically, there’s one sheet per cut, so the total number of layouts in the entire keyframe set is relatively low.
Rough Genga, when paired with layouts, serve as the foundation for action. They depict rough sketches of performance plans by the keyframe artist and are used as a guide for subsequent “corrections.” Since they are intended for corrections, they typically do not include detailed rendering of specific elements.
Check Genga, also known as “Genga,” involve directors or animation supervisors making adjustments to layouts or rough keyframes. These corrections typically focus on aspects related to performance, so the drawings may still appear somewhat rough. For example, shadows may be specified only in the minimal amount necessary for directing purposes.
Secondary Genga, also known as “clean-up keyframes,” are keyframes created by combining the intentions of layouts, rough keyframes, and correction keyframes into a refined drawing. In recent years, they are often assigned to less experienced animators.
Secondary Check Genga, are keyframes where the animation director makes detailed corrections to the inbetween keyframes. At this stage, if corrections are made to the entire frame, it’s referred to as “full correction.”
In Betweening Doga, involves creating in-between frames (interpolated frames) based on the second keyframes and correction keyframes, after cleaning up (clean-up) the drawings. Except for special cases, these in-between frames are often handled by novice animators.
Hanken Genga. Original artwork for licensed products refers to the original drawings used for jackets, posters, books, merchandise, etc. While they may appear similar to the aforementioned keyframes at first glance, they are actually entirely different in nature. I’ll introduce the differences when there’s an opportunity.
Other items include “backgrounds,” and though they may be difficult to obtain intentionally, they encompass “hand-drawn setting materials” or “hand-drawn storyboards.” Additionally, while not visual artwork, “cut bags” and “timesheets” provide supplementary information about the materials, so having them included is preferable.
Each type of material has its own role and characteristics, and not knowing them can diminish the enjoyment of collecting and appreciating them. For instance, without knowing what makes animation valuable, there might be a misconception that “all animation is worth less than keyframes.” This could lead to questioning why animation commands high prices. Eventually, one might realize the value, but it’s important to understand that good animation is rarer than good keyframes, making it more of a fortunate find. Opportunities to acquire it are scarce.
Appreciating Genga
Anime keyframes contain both “visual elements” and “action elements,” but what I seek in keyframes is primarily the visual aspect. Regarding action, I can confirm about 80% of it by viewing the final scene (although parts obscured by cells above may not be visible). Checking action in keyframes is very time-consuming and carries the risk of dirt or damage. Therefore, unless I have a strong interest in a particular scene, I refrain from purchasing keyframes solely for their action elements.
Drawing is a technique that gives a sense of depth and texture to a flat surface, and the same technique is used in animation. Those less familiar with drawings tend to prefer more detailed and understandable ones. For example, cel animation features clear shadows and colors, making it very easy to understand, almost like a photograph. Next would be inbetween keyframes, correction keyframes, layouts, and animation from the cel animation era. They often have solid lines, color trace lines, and color fills drawn on the surface, making it easier to perceive the form. The remaining types include rough keyframes and animation with underpainting, where the lines are more prominent.
While detailed drawings are indeed easier to understand, it’s not accurate to say that drawings with fewer details indicate a lack of skill. In animation, adding just one more line to a character can increase the total number of lines drawn by hundreds to thousands for a single episode. The real challenge lies in how effectively an animator can convey the desired expression with minimal lines. It involves eliminating unnecessary lines and enhancing the quality of essential lines to maximize their impact. Understanding animators’ attention to line quality and the correct drawing techniques for each stage allows for a deeper appreciation of various materials.
The stage of collecting
Looking back from my childhood, I’ve collected not only original artwork but also trading cards, gemstones, doujinshi, and other items, but they all followed a similar pattern and eventually came to an end. It’s a feeling akin to the following steps:
- Collecting is just pure fun: Enjoying both collecting and appreciating items, as well as the challenge and creativity involved in acquiring them.
- Seeking validation: Wanting recognition by showing off the collection. Seeking praise and approval. Feeling satisfied when the collection is praised, as it reflects positively on oneself. However, merely displaying items doesn’t necessarily lead to recognition. It’s common knowledge, although easy to overlook when it comes to oneself, that simply owning something created or modified by others doesn’t inherently make one impressive.
- Self-satisfaction: Consuming the collection privately, intending to keep it until the end. Since personal standards govern the collection, there’s no need to seek validation from others, thus avoiding unpleasant experiences. While always feeling perfect internally, there’s still a sense of emptiness.
- Weeding out: With an increased collection, the desire to understand what’s truly important arises. Proceeding to declutter, starting with items that can be let go of, until only the most cherished ones remain. Likely, attention shifts towards finding different sources of enjoyment. A sense of boredom sets in.
When it comes to collecting original artwork, I felt the desire to avoid following the same pattern as before. So, when considering alternative routes, I came up with the following:
★Customizing Collection to Suit My Style
I’ve been contemplating a different approach to collecting, one that doesn’t follow the same pattern as before. And I arrived at the idea of integrating my unique expressions into the collected items and experiences and sharing them. By becoming a creator of content, I might uncover new avenues beyond just collecting. With that sentiment in mind, I created this page.
As I’ve shifted towards seeking rarity in my collection, arriving at original artwork may have been a natural choice. For widely recognized items, there are likely already many individuals sharing similar content. If circumstances permit, I’d like to create something akin to an art book or catalog someday. I’ve amassed many items that feel too precious to keep solely for my own enjoyment.
Discussion on Rights “Japanese law”
Acquiring an original artwork grants ownership rights.※１ So, what else is permitted besides private use when you have ownership of the original artwork? (Note: Collectors do not hold copyright.)
Exhibiting physical items in public spaces (Copyright Law, Article 45) Even if there’s no copyright, this is generally allowed. There’s even a precedent for including such displays in pamphlets distributed during exhibitions. However, note that permanently exhibiting outdoors or creating main art collections with original artwork is not permissible.
What about posting on websites or social media? Posting with the copyright holder’s permission is generally allowed. However, it’s uncommon for individuals to obtain such permission before posting. Since there are many instances of artwork, including cel paintings, being uploaded without permission, it’s challenging for copyright holders to address each one. Therefore, while the chance of being called out is low, it’s not impossible. Posting is done at one’s own risk, and if any issues arise, it’s one’s own responsibility.
Publicizing reproductions for sale purposes (Copyright Law, Article 47-2) Reproductions can be publicly displayed to facilitate transactions when selling original artwork, such as on auction websites. Therefore, it’s generally permissible to post images for auctions or sales.
※１ If it is known that the original artwork is stolen when obtained, ownership rights are not established. However, collectors may not be aware of whether the artwork is stolen unless the original owner files a claim. It’s quite common for collectors to sell it, distribute it to production staff, or sell it to related parties in bulk. Additionally, there are situations where it’s unclear who the original owner of intermediate products is (whether it’s the production committee, production company, or freelance staff who actually drew it).
Reference page ”Japanese Language”
Can You Freely Make Postcards of Purchased Paintings?? – A Discussion on Ownership and Copyright
If Mickey Mouse’s copyright expires at the end of 2023 in the United States, will it become freely available for use in Japan as well?
“Galaxy Express 999” animator selling illustrations of Maetel on Yahoo! Auctions, would it be permissible if it were for a doujinshi?
Paid Talk ”Japanese Language”
In our paid article on Note, we feature more specific anecdotes. We delve into the processes that have led to our current perspective, including unusual transactions and common experiences shared by collectors.
We do not feature collection’s photographs.
Links
・Museo A website where Japanese collectors upload images of cel paintings and original drawings (not very numerous).
・Rubberslug A website where collectors upload images of cel paintings and original drawings.
・unkoer A Tumblr site where you can see plenty of production materials.
・Sakuga@wiki Check the participation works by animator.
・Anime Staff Database Check the staff for each episode of a work.
・sakugabooru Check videos by work or animator.
・ATAC (Anime Tokusatsu Archive Center) Contact them before disposing of your collection if you’re having trouble managing it.
・WEB Anime Style Lots of columns and interviews here for study purposes.