AnimeSuki Forums

Isilwen Nightfall · 2013-08-16, 07:42

Hi there.

I apologize for the maybe dumb question, but I've been noticing a trend in various anime / videogames that started bothering me a while ago - and decided, just now, to ask this community for enlightenment.

Why is it that many anime characters (females, usually) often keep their middle and ring fingers together instead of spread out?

...not sure if my question is clear, what I mean is this:

http://www.wallsave.com/wallpapers/1...ime-437421.jpg

In almost every anime I watch, there is ALWAYS someone keeping the fingers like that.
I don't have other examples at the moment, but I guess you get what I mean.

Is there a reason for this?
Is it just because it should look more kawaii or..?

Fireminer · 2013-08-16, 08:09

Well, I have no clear answer for this. Maybe it's just a drawing technicle. Japanese don't keep their fingers like this, that is for sure!

Isilwen Nightfall · 2013-08-16, 08:14

Yeah I've been in Japan a few times during University years, and I never heard about a "cultural gesture" like this.

But seriously, in anime series it's everywhere.

Safu · 2013-08-16, 08:21

No reasons? Or, I found something that may be related to this. It's different though. I think it's something like a sign.

"NE: 'roots' hand: an ASL 5 hand pointed downward". (Wikipedia)

Isilwen Nightfall · 2013-08-16, 08:32

Hmm interesting, but definitely not the same thing.

I find it difficult to believe there's no reason - it's way too common to lack a reason :/

Fireminer · 2013-08-16, 08:43

Maybe they copy from each others? Or just a convinient way to draw a scene? I mean in most of them, the hand is an uniportant body part.

Isilwen Nightfall · 2013-08-16, 09:00

Well, the point is, it also happens then the hand is clearly the focus of the attention (for example when raising hands, waving, or making a "stop" gesture).

In the Elfen Lied image I posted, for example, the hand takes a prominent position in the scene.

http://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbn...gthumbnail.jpg

http://walzzz.com/wp-content/uploads...-Wallpaper.jpg

Just some images I found with 5 minutes of googling.

KanbeKotori · 2013-08-16, 09:41

Doesn't happen in most of the anime I've watched ._.

MisaoFan · 2013-08-16, 10:07

I don't pay much attention to hands when watching an anime but maybe the animation was drawn in a much more simple way or something I don't know.

Isilwen Nightfall · 2013-08-16, 10:20

Interestingly enough, it also happens in CG drawings.

Haiprbim · 2013-08-16, 10:32

Nice find!
In fact, I've also spotted that in quite a few cases, but I find it rather good-looking and did not really bother if there is any deep meaning to it, so I just left it as it is.

Isilwen Nightfall · 2013-08-16, 10:38

Yeah it's good looking, this is why it might just be a "kawaii" trick.

Anyway I'm happy I'm not the only one who noticed this :P

Dhomochevsky · 2013-08-16, 13:25

Gangstas.

Secret gang signs yo?

ninja edit!!!!!! *swush* you saw nothing...

Haiprbim · 2013-08-16, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhomochevsky

Gastas.

Secret gang signs yo?

I'ma bang ya in teh kawaii style, brotha!

RobotCat · 2013-08-16, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haiprbim

Nice find!
In fact, I've also spotted that in quite a few cases, but I find it rather good-looking and did not really bother if there is any deep meaning to it, so I just left it as it is.

I think this is the main reason. It looks better than having all the fingers spread apart. It gives an air of elegance without having to do any specific poses.

Fireminer · 2013-08-16, 21:20

But the question is why? I have done some research, and even some rough Seinen mangas have that!

walkofshane · 2013-08-18, 09:31

Maybe it has no deep meaning. Maybe they only do that to make the hands more delicate looking? I don't know if that's the correct term thought. But it looks better than when the fingers are all spread out, right?

Qikz · 2013-08-21, 05:55

It's quite possible that some people rest their hands like that. My hands actually rest like that naturally when I'm using a keyboard/doing other things so either I'm weird or only noticing it now/doing it subconciously after reading it, but I guess it may be a thing.

Chiibi · 2013-08-21, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobotCat

It gives an air of elegance without having to do any specific poses.

Yup, I was going to say this exact thing.

Quote:

But the question is why?

*shrugs*
Why does extending the pinkie while drinking from a cup look elegant?

It's just one of those odd things. As some have already stated, to an artist, it visually looks nicer than if all the fingers are spread apart. Hands are one of my favorite things to draw...but also the most challenging. I can vouch this is a good finger position.

risingstar3110 · 2013-08-21, 20:17

First time i saw that hand signal is in 3x3 eyes when they have to use spell. So maybe it has some Shinto ceremony related.

But on the drawing side, i guess it's easy to draw the index finger and the little finger first (when they draw the palm). And then throw middle and ring finger in together in the middle. Less thing to worry about. Look nice too

2013-08-16, 07:42	Link #1
Isilwen Nightfall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Odd finger positioning in many anime. Hi there. I apologize for the maybe dumb question, but I've been noticing a trend in various anime / videogames that started bothering me a while ago - and decided, just now, to ask this community for enlightenment. Why is it that many anime characters (females, usually) often keep their middle and ring fingers together instead of spread out? ...not sure if my question is clear, what I mean is this: http://www.wallsave.com/wallpapers/1...ime-437421.jpg In almost every anime I watch, there is ALWAYS someone keeping the fingers like that. I don't have other examples at the moment, but I guess you get what I mean. Is there a reason for this? Is it just because it should look more kawaii or..?

2013-08-16, 09:00	Link #7
Isilwen Nightfall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Well, the point is, it also happens then the hand is clearly the focus of the attention (for example when raising hands, waving, or making a "stop" gesture). In the Elfen Lied image I posted, for example, the hand takes a prominent position in the scene. http://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbn...gthumbnail.jpg http://walzzz.com/wp-content/uploads...-Wallpaper.jpg Just some images I found with 5 minutes of googling. Last edited by Isilwen Nightfall; 2013-08-16 at 10:40.

2013-08-21, 20:17	Link #20
risingstar3110 ✘˵╹◡╹˶✘ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Australia	First time i saw that hand signal is in 3x3 eyes when they have to use spell. So maybe it has some Shinto ceremony related. But on the drawing side, i guess it's easy to draw the index finger and the little finger first (when they draw the palm). And then throw middle and ring finger in together in the middle. Less thing to worry about. Look nice too __________________

2013-08-16, 08:09	Link #2
Fireminer Lumine Passio Author Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam Age: 18	Well, I have no clear answer for this. Maybe it's just a drawing technicle. Japanese don't keep their fingers like this, that is for sure!

2013-08-16, 08:14	Link #3
Isilwen Nightfall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Yeah I've been in Japan a few times during University years, and I never heard about a "cultural gesture" like this. But seriously, in anime series it's everywhere.

2013-08-16, 08:21	Link #4
Safu 猿も木から落ちる。 Graphic Designer Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Indonesia	No reasons? Or, I found something that may be related to this. It's different though. I think it's something like a sign. "NE: 'roots' hand: an ASL 5 hand pointed downward". (Wikipedia)

2013-08-16, 08:32	Link #5
Isilwen Nightfall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Hmm interesting, but definitely not the same thing. I find it difficult to believe there's no reason - it's way too common to lack a reason :/

2013-08-16, 08:43	Link #6
Fireminer Lumine Passio Author Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam Age: 18	Maybe they copy from each others? Or just a convinient way to draw a scene? I mean in most of them, the hand is an uniportant body part.

2013-08-16, 09:41	Link #8
KanbeKotori 失礼、噛みました Join Date: Jul 2013	Doesn't happen in most of the anime I've watched ._.

2013-08-16, 10:20	Link #10
Isilwen Nightfall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Interestingly enough, it also happens in CG drawings.

2013-08-16, 10:32	Link #11
Haiprbim Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Visual Dream Panire	Nice find! In fact, I've also spotted that in quite a few cases, but I find it rather good-looking and did not really bother if there is any deep meaning to it, so I just left it as it is.

2013-08-16, 10:38	Link #12
Isilwen Nightfall Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013	Yeah it's good looking, this is why it might just be a "kawaii" trick. Anyway I'm happy I'm not the only one who noticed this :P

2013-08-16, 13:25	Link #13
Dhomochevsky temporary safeguard Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany	Gangstas. Secret gang signs yo? ninja edit!!!!!! swush you saw nothing...

2013-08-16, 21:20	Link #16
Fireminer Lumine Passio Author Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam Age: 18	But the question is why? I have done some research, and even some rough Seinen mangas have that!

2013-08-18, 09:31	Link #17
walkofshane Member Join Date: Jun 2013	Maybe it has no deep meaning. Maybe they only do that to make the hands more delicate looking? I don't know if that's the correct term thought. But it looks better than when the fingers are all spread out, right?

2013-08-21, 05:55	Link #18
Qikz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Age: 33	It's quite possible that some people rest their hands like that. My hands actually rest like that naturally when I'm using a keyboard/doing other things so either I'm weird or only noticing it now/doing it subconciously after reading it, but I guess it may be a thing.