Following up on my post on how to get an animation job in Japan I thought some of you may be interested in the language around the office. You can use this to get a head start with some animation specific vocab and phrases that you will hear on a day to day basis. With the help of 3 translators from Polygon Pictures ( ポリゴンピクチュアズ ), here is a run down on what they and I think will be most useful and so you can hear the correct pronunciation from native Japanese speakers.

Loan Words “Gairaigo”

3D – surii dii – スリーディー

Computer – conpyuutaa – コンピューター

Animation – animeshyon – アニメーション

Modelling – moderingu – モデリング

Texturing – tekusuchyuringu – テクスチャリング

Rigging – rigingu – リギング

Lighting – raitingu – ライティング

Keyframe – kiifuremu – キーフレーム

Character – kyarakutaa – キャラクター

Slow Motion – hai supiido – ハイスピード

Path/ Pass – pasu – パス

Approved – oke desu – オーケーです

Japanese Vocab

Same – Onaji – 同じ

Different – Chigau – 違う

Faster – Hayaku – 早く

Slower – Osoku – 遅く

Longer – Nagaku – 長く

Shorter – mijikaku – 短く

Variety of movement/ shape/ energy – MeriHari – メリハリ

Got it/ understood – Ryoukai desu. – 了解です

Ease in/ Ease out – Tame/ Tsume – ため・つめ

Japanese Phrases

Working hard!? Keep it up! – Otsukaresama desu – お疲れ様です

Sorry for the disruption – Shitsure shimasu – しつれします

Sorry I’m leaving before you – Osaki ni shitsure shimasu – おさきにしつれいします

Thanks in advance - Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu – よろしくお願いします

Today I am working on X – Kyo wa X o yarimasu – 今日はXをやります

I’m finished – Owarimashita – 終わりました

Around this area/ about here – Kono hen desu – このへんです

I corrected (the retakes/ changes) – Shuusei shimashita - 修正しました

I submitted X – X o teishutsu shimashita – Xを提出しました

Maya has crashed – Maya ga ochimashita – Mayaが落ちました

Maya has crashed again – Maya ga mata kurashu shimashita – Mayaがまたクラッシュしました

Tips

Learn the numbers and generic counter

Do not trust google translate, but use it as a very rough guide.

Speak slowly in English to help Japanese people understand you

If all else fails, say you will get the translator! – Tsuyaku o yonde kimasu – つうやく（通訳）をよんできます

Don’t forget to check my previous post on how to get an animation job in Japan and do leave a comment or drop me a line on twitter if you have any questions. Happy studies!