

I am sure many of you have come across this trope in some anime/manga, where a
character gives a thumbs up with an imprinted spiral.

![Charlotte](https://i.stack.imgur.com/bmZwTm.jpg)
![Re:Zero](https://i.stack.imgur.com/44wiRm.jpg)
![Touhou](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6RqHjm.jpg)
![Ibitsu](https://i.stack.imgur.com/33dQUt.jpg)

The spiral is probably a simplified
[hanamaru](https://jisho.org/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keyword=%E3%81%AF%E3%81%AA%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8B):

![Hanamaru](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WG9DT.jpg)

which basically has the same meaning as a thumbs up, or "good job".

**The focus of this question, however, is on the spiral that appears on the
index finger.**

![Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Rokd.jpg)
![Ibitsu](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ov3KJm.jpg)

In the two examples shown above, the characters were obviously not showing
approval, so the idea of the spiral being a simplified hanamaru is out.

Someone has asked the same question
[here](http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=112336):

> **Spirals.** Just spirals. Apparently there are "spirals of depression" and
> "spirals of happiness?" I think I heard the depression spirals are meant to
> represent "sad spirits/ghosts" or something like that? But if the character
> has spirals on her cheeks, she's happy. **If there's a spiral on her finger
> when she points at you, she's being triumphant or prideful.** Can anyone
> clear this up? :3

Is there any source to that statement in bold?

My question is: what is the intended effect of the spiral on a character's
index finger, and where did this trope or art style originate from?


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tropes
What is intended by a spiral on a character's finger and what is the origin of this trope?


As mentioned before, it's a fingerprint.

Usually the spiral only appears when the character's finger/thumb is close to
the screen. The reason for this is simply to add detail to something which is
taking up a lot of the screen. Look at the image without the spiral:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/dmM5Vm.png) ![enter
](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Rokdm.jpg)

Because the finger takes up a lot of the screen it's harder to focus on when
it's all the same colour. The inclusion of the fingerprint helps break up that
space - even if it is a basic design.

The reason it's a spiral is for simplicity's sake. Fingerprints are very
intricate and are more trouble that it's worth, unless perhaps the entire
animation is ridiculously detailed - otherwise you would get a sharp jarring
contrast between the foreground and background:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Bh4xJ.png)

Obviously, this is exaggerated, but I imagine half-hearted attempts would also
look out of place.

> If there's a spiral on her finger when she points at you, she's being
> triumphant or prideful.

I don't think there's any real evidence to suggest this. This design is used
in many situations, often when a character is angry.

**TL;DR** \- It's to break up the area on the finger without going into much
detail


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