General production process
These are the general steps of a classic anime production. I will briefly explain every step below. You can click on the links to see more detailed information about each step.
It's important to note that this process remained basically unchanged since the celluloid era. In theory, today's system could also function with paper and celluloid frames! This can help understanding some things
Kikaku - Project
Before the production starts, it needs to take the form of a project draft, and this is used to find sponsors and various money source. It may be used to explain the project to newcoming animators as wel (I do not know much about this step)
Script
The story is written in the form of a text. For Yaiba, I could see documents showing the general guidelines of the story, and also detailed scenarios for each episodes, with dialogues etc
Settei Design
Someone works on creating the documentation for the various environnements where the anime will take place. For example, map/ design of the main character house...etc
Character Design
Someone designs the characters, so that all animators can use this as a reference when drawing them. It often happens that the character designer also works as an animation supervisor when the production starts.
Storyboard
Someone draw the storyboard, based on the script. The storyboard for anime is made on a sheet template, it is not animated
Layout
The animators draw layouts for each cut, based on the storyboard. Layout is a first draft with all the informations about the action of the cut
Layout supervision
The different supervisors check the layout and apply corrections
BG Paint
After layout corrections, the backgrounds guides are sent to the bg painting department. They will paint the backgrounds of every cut.
Genga
The animator polishes the key animation based on the supervisors corrections.
Genga supervision
Supervisors check the genga and draw over some frames if necessary
Douga
The douga artist will draw all the frames of the final animation (with inbetweens), based on the genga
(Trace)
In the celluloid era, someone would trace the lines of every douga sheet onto a transparent celluloid sheet (with hand, and later with a tracing machine)
Shiage
Someone puts color to the final animation ! Its is now ready for compositing
Satsuei / compositing
The comp artist assemble all the animation and the background together, and apply additional effects. In celluloid era, this step was done with a camera taking pictures of the scene from above.