noun
key animator; lead animator
Refers to a senior animator responsible for key frames in animation production, often overseeing the visual style and quality.
彼は有名なアニメスタジオで原画家として働いている。
He works as a key animator at a famous animation studio.
この作品の原画家は、キャラクターデザインも担当した。
The lead animator for this work also handled the character design.
動画マン (in-between animator) fills the frames between key frames, a junior role compared to 原画家.
Compound of 原画 (key frame, original picture) and 家 (specialist, expert). The term likely emerged in the animation industry to denote a senior artist responsible for key frames.