Finger Spiral?

[Xirix]

This has been bugging me, what exactly does it mean when a character in an anime suddenly has a Red Spiral Symbol on his fingers? Usually whilst pointing. I've tried to look it up but failed miserably.

[NeoBear]

i dont think it means anything its just to make the finger seem extra hardcore!

[Bucket]

As you may be aware, it becomes increasingly necessary for American censors to be able to tell a cartoon pointy finger from, say, a penis or tampon or anti-Jesus gesture or something. The 'fingerprint spiral' is simply there to expediate the butchering,er... sterilization, uh... marketability of a promising franchise.

[Xirix]

O.o... Surely there is an actual reason? I'll wait until someone who actually knows replys. ;[

[Ryllharu]

It is a crude facsimile or interpretation of a fingerprint, since it's scientific fact that all Japanese people have Whorl fingerprints on every finger. (see image (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Whorl.jpg))

[Xirix]

Interesting.. but doesn't explain the usage, why does it only appear usually in a dramatic pointing.