画集gashu
Quick definition:An art book is a published collection of artwork from an anime, manga or game, containing character designs, concept sketches, backgrounds and illustrations, often with commentary from the artists.
Meaning
An art book is a large, well-printed book that collects images from a series or by a particular artist. Typical contents include final illustrations, character designs, rough sketches, backgrounds, colour settings and posters, sometimes with notes explaining how the artwork was made. They are collected by fans who want to study the visual design of a series.
Art books come in several kinds. Some are made for a single series and may be released alongside an anime or game, while others collect the work of one illustrator or a studio. Many include interviews with the staff and tell the story of how the world and characters were developed. Quality of paper and printing is usually high.
For aspiring artists, art books are a source of learning, since they show how a character is built from sketches to the finished design. Some editions are sold as limited sets with posters or slipcases, and fans often look for Japanese editions for the largest range, although translated versions also exist.
Origin:Art book is an English phrase, and in Japanese the term gashu, meaning collection of pictures, is used for a book of illustrations. Illustrated collections have been published in Japan for a long time, and the modern anime art book developed as fans wanted to see designs and artwork from favourite series.
Example:A fan opens a thick book of artwork from a favourite fantasy anime and finds early sketches of the hero in different costumes, painted backgrounds of the castle and a page of notes on how the colour palette was chosen. The finished design looks different from the first drafts.
Did you know?Art books often include settei, the design sheets that animators use as a reference, showing a character from several angles with notes on colour and proportion. Seeing these pages lets fans see how studios keep a character looking consistent from scene to scene.
