原 作 家(げんさくか)

げんさくか

noun

original author; creator of the source work

1. original author; creator of the source material

The author or creator of an original work that is later adapted into another medium, such as a novel adapted into a film, or a manga adapted into an anime.

原作家(げんさくか)がアニメ化(か)に反対(はんたい)した。

The original author opposed the anime adaptation.

この映画(えいが)の原作家(げんさくか)は有名(ゆうめい)な小説家(しょうせつか)だ。

The original author of this film is a famous novelist.

原作家(げんさくか)と脚本家(きゃくほんか)が協力(きょうりょく)して、ドラマの台本(だいほん)を作(つく)り上(あ)げた。

The original author and the screenwriter collaborated to create the drama script.

Composed of 原作(げんさく) (original work, source material) and 家(か) (professional, specialist). Used frequently in discussions about adaptations of manga, novels, and light novels into anime, films, and live-action dramas. In Japanese media culture, the relationship between the 原作家 and the adaptation team is a frequent topic of discussion.

Common collocations

原作家(げんさくか)の許可(きょか): the original author's permission
原作家(げんさくか)が監修(かんしゅう)する: the original author supervises
原作家(げんさくか)と作画(さくが)担当(たんとう): original author and illustrator
原作家(げんさくか)の意向(いこう): the original author's wishes

Usage

In the manga industry, some works are created by a team: an 原作家 who writes the story and a 作画家(さくがか) (illustrator) who draws. This division of labor is common in weekly manga magazines.

Similar words

原作者(げんさくしゃ): original author — essentially synonymous but uses 者(しゃ) instead of 家(か); slightly more neutral
作者(さくしゃ): author, creator — the general term for any creator of a work
脚本家(きゃくほんか): screenwriter — the person who writes the adapted script

Related Words

Compare: 原作者(げんさくしゃ) (original author)

Compare: 作者(さくしゃ) (author, creator)

Compare: 脚本家(きゃくほんか) (screenwriter)

general

Added 2026.5.1 23:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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