The terms on a record
Every term a Rinkya Authentic record uses, in plain words. Japanese and American animation use different words for the same things, so each entry gives both where they differ.
The pictures on this page are AI-generated illustrations made for the glossary. They are not photographs of production artwork; those are on the records.
What the object is19How a verdict is written11Condition: cels16Condition: drawings and paper19Condition: backgrounds3Where a sale is documented1
A setup, taken apart
How a single frame is built from layered artwork. Choose a layer to read it.
What the object is
Gold stars mark the kinds collectors seek most, one to three.
Bank cel
A production cel kept by the studio and reused across more than one episode or scene. In Japan the word is typically used for recurring scenes such as transformations.
Highly desired by collectors
Cel layer
A separate cel, layered with the main cel, that carries another part of the scene: a prop, or a part that moves on its own such as hair, a limb or the mouth.
Douga
The finalized, cleaned-up drawing made after the genga (the rough key frames) are drawn and approved, including the drawings for the in-between frames. Its linework is what was transferred to the cel and painted.
Ending cel
A bank cel used solely for a show's ending sequence.
Highly desired by collectors
Eyecatch
An eyecatch is the short animated clip shown going into and out of the commercial break. An eyecatch cel is a cel from that clip.
Highly desired by collectors
Genga
A key animation drawing, in pencil on paper.
Highly desired by collectors, if by a key animator
Hanken cel
A cel made by the studio for commercial, promotional or merchandising use, not for the broadcast episode.
Highly desired by collectors
Harmony cel
A cel from a moment where the action stops and the frame is rendered as a detailed still painting, used for dramatic emphasis.
Highly desired by collectors
Key master setup
A production cel, or cels, together with the exact background painted for and filmed with that frame.
Highly desired by collectors
Opening cel
A bank cel used solely for a show's opening sequence.
Highly desired by collectors
Original matching production background
A one-of-a-kind hand-painted artwork used as the backdrop for a scene. There is usually one background per cut. A matching background is the one painted for and filmed with a specific cel.
Original production cel
A hand-painted transparent sheet photographed as one frame of the animation. Each is one of a kind.
Highly desired by collectors
Original unmatching production background
A production background from the same production, paired for display with a cel from a different cut or scene.
Oversized cel
A cel on a larger sheet than standard, used for highly detailed or complex shots.
Highly desired by collectors
Pan cel
An extra-wide or extra-tall cel made for a shot where the camera moves across the artwork.
Peg holes
Registration holes used to align the sheet on peg bars during production.
Settei
The official reference design for a character: proportions, colors and views from several angles, used to keep the animation consistent.
Highly desired by collectors
Studio envelope or bag
The original studio envelope or bag.
Title cel
The cel that carries the title card of a broadcast episode.
Highly desired by collectorsHow a verdict is written
“By”
In our opinion, a work by the named entity. Highest certainty.
Attributed to
Probably a work by the entity, some uncertainty.
Studio of
Executed in the entity’s studio, possibly under supervision.
Workshop of
By the entity’s workshop, pupils, assistants, or subcontractors.
Circle of
A work of the period of the entity, closely related to their style.
School of
A work in the style of the entity’s school.
Follower of
Executed in the entity’s style but not necessarily by a pupil.
Manner of
In the entity’s style but of a later date.
After
A copy of a known work by the entity.
Inconclusive
Evidence insufficient to attribute.
Inauthentic
Claimed attribution is provably wrong.
Condition: cels
Line Fading
The lines on animation cels were applied with ink or pigment on the reverse side of the acetate. Over time, these lines can fade through light exposure, chemical changes in the paint, or natural aging of the acetate substrate.
Paint Chipping / Paint Loss
The vinyl paint used on production cels can chip or flake over time, particularly at edges, corners, and areas of fine detail.
Paint Cracking
A network of fine cracks across a painted area, caused by the differential aging rates of the paint layer and acetate substrate.
Bloom
A hazy, oily, or in some cases crystalline deposit on the surface of the cel, caused by plasticizer migrating out of the acetate over time.
Acetate Browning
The cellulose acetate base of production cels naturally browns over time through oxidation.
Stuck to Background
The cel has become adhered to its original background and cannot be separated without risk of damage.
Stuck to Overlay Cel
One or more overlay cel layers have adhered to the main cel through plasticizer migration or prolonged storage in contact.
Stuck to Douga / Sketch
The cel has adhered to its underlying pencil sketch (douga).
Surface Haze
A milky or cloudy appearance on the surface of the acetate, distinct from bloom.
Water Damage / Tide Marks
Visible evidence of past moisture exposure.
Adhesive / Tape Residue
Residue from tape, labels, or adhesives previously applied to the cel or its storage materials.
Acetate Scratches
Surface scratches on the acetate layer.
Warping / Waviness
The acetate has deformed from its original flat plane.
Vinegar Syndrome
Vinegar syndrome is the hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate base, and the acetic acid it releases is its earliest sign.
Prior Restoration
The piece shows evidence of prior conservation or restoration work.
Lamination Failure
Where a cel has been laminated (encapsulated between protective layers), the lamination has begun to delaminate, cloud, or otherwise fail.
Condition: drawings and paper
Tears or Dog-ears
Physical damage to the paper.
Creasing
Sharp lines where the paper was folded.
Skinning / Delamination
Top layer of paper fibers peeled or rubbed away, often from removing tape.
Yellowing / Age Toning
Paper has turned yellow or cream with age.
Browning / Acid Migration
Darkening caused by acidic wood pulp, contact with non-archival materials (cardboard backing, wooden frames), or mat burn from previous framing.
Foxing
Small reddish-brown spots caused by fungal growth or metallic impurities in the paper.
Mold / Mildew
Fuzzy or powdery growths (often black, white, or green) that digest paper fibers.
Pencil Fading
Lines have lightened, making the drawing harder to read.
Graphite Smudging
Soft animation pencil graphite has smeared, reducing readability.
Adhesive Staining
Brown, oily stains where old tape adhesive has sunk into the paper fibers, affecting the image area.
Plasticizer Migration
An oily, often sticky sheen caused by contact with degrading PVC sleeves or vinegar syndrome cels.
Curling
Permanent memory in the paper from being stored in a tube or roll.
Peg Hole Wear
Registration holes (used to align paper on peg bars) are worn, enlarged, or slightly torn from repeated use during production.
Animator Pencil Indentations
Grooves in the paper from heavy-handed drawing pressure, visible even when the pencil line itself is intact.
Cinch Marks
Horizontal or vertical pressure marks from the drawing being stored at the bottom of a heavy studio stack.
Pinhole / Staple Holes
Small punctures from being pinned to a board or attached to other production documents during the animation process.
Light Graphite Transfer
Faint graphite offset from the drawing stacked above during studio storage.
Handling Fatigue
Distinctive wear patterns — including soft creasing, superficial soil transfer, and fiber rounding — located on the edges or corners of the sheet.
Amateur Repair
Non-professional repair using tape, glue, or non-archival materials.
Condition: backgrounds
Color fading
Colors have shifted from the original.
Paint lifting / flaking
The paint layer has separated from the paper support.
Backing material damaged
The original production backing or mounting material is damaged, missing, or has deteriorated.
Where a sale is documented
Mandarake ZENBU
The printed catalog of the Big Auction (大オークション大会) that Mandarake, the Japanese dealer in manga and animation collectibles, holds several times a year. Each lot is pictured with its lot number and its starting bid. An item pictured in an issue was offered at that auction, so the catalog page shows when it was sold and what was sold with it.
A term missing, or defined differently where you collect? authentic@rinkya.com