Strange Gesture

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:07 pm

During the anime most of the cocky characters (see Gotenks) have at one point or another done this. They wipe under their nose with their index finger, usually when they are gloating, or they sort of flick under their nose with the tip of their thumb. I have always wondered what this gesture means.

Zuhalter2000 · Post by **Zuhalter2000** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:10 pm

I personally dont know but my guess is that its an anime/japanese thing. There are many different little quirks unique to the anime culture (or at least thats what I've seen/perceived).

jjgp1112 · Post by **jjgp1112** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:15 pm

I've noticed this as well. Goku used to do that as a kid, too.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:35 pm

Hopefully somebody can shed some light on the subject. I think it's just a taunt or a sign of arrogance.

saiyanprincess · Post by **saiyanprincess** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:12 pm

I think it is like a taunt, or maybe its just like you say a sign of arrogance or cockyness.

Its hard to say, because Goku did it a lot on Dragonball and he isn't exactly arrogant or anything like Vegeta or Trunks. Although all the times I have witnessed with Trunks, Gotenks etc they have all been showing off, or they know or think they have the upperhand.

I believe its similar to a smirk, in the way that it can portray itself. If I recall I can even remember Piccolo doing this.

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:23 pm

Maybe its supposed to show that, despite having an opponent in front of him, Gotenks (or whoever) is more preoccupied with something insignificant, suggesting their opponent is weak.

Tanooki Kuribo · Post by **Tanooki Kuribo** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:34 pm

I think it's just how Japanese taunt each other.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:36 pm

Kid Trunks wrote:Maybe its supposed to show that, despite having an opponent in front of him, Gotenks (or whoever) is more preoccupied with something insignificant, suggesting their opponent is weak.

That seems like a pretty good explanation, kind of like telling the opponent that they aren't even worth your time.

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:27 pm

^ Going off of that idea, I guess an English equivalent would be something like pretending to check your nails or start filing them. I haven't seen that done in any recent stuff, but I know it's been done before. In recent cartoons, they do more of a play no that idea, with the person doing multiple things at once (ie: laundry, paddle ball, crossword...).

Also, since it's kinda related, I was wondering what the significance of Fat Boo's nose extending when Goku comments him. Based on the context, it seems similar to the thing with the nose brushing in that it could suggest that the guy is just being a bit too proud.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:32 pm

DaemonCorps wrote:Also, since it's kinda related, I was wondering what the significance of Fat Boo's nose extending when Goku comments him. Based on the context, it seems similar to the thing with the nose brushing in that it could suggest that the guy is just being a bit too proud.

That was a Pinocchio reference because if I remember correctly Goku complemented Buu and Buu said thank you, but he obviously didn't really thank Goku because he was being sarcastic.

Vekurotto · Post by **Vekurotto** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:48 pm

SSJ2bardock wrote:That was a Pinocchio reference because if I remember correctly Goku complemented Buu and Buu said thank you, but he obviously didn't really thank Goku because he was being sarcastic.

No it wasn't a Pinocchio reference. It was just Boo being a proud guy just like Gotenks later on when he did the same taunt.

NeptuneKai · Post by **NeptuneKai** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:50 pm

Vekurotto wrote:
SSJ2bardock wrote:That was a Pinocchio reference because if I remember correctly Goku complemented Buu and Buu said thank you, but he obviously didn't really thank Goku because he was being sarcastic.
No it wasn't a Pinocchio reference. It was just Boo being a proud guy just like Gotenks later on when he did the same taunt.

Having a long nose is a way to show you're arrogant.
Where it stems from I have no idea, however I'm fairly sure it isn't Pinocchio.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:08 pm

So your saying that their is no possible way it was a Pinocchio reference?

The context seems to fit: Goku comments on Buu's power, Buu lies when he says thank you while he has a long nose.

Pinocchio lies/nose gets longer
Buu lies/nose gets longer

Seems pretty obvious to me.

Vekurotto · Post by **Vekurotto** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:20 pm

SSJ2bardock wrote:So your saying that their is no possible way it was a Pinocchio reference?

Yeah. I don't know the exact dialogue but Goku says that Boo may have a strange look to him but since he can deflect amazing attacks that he's completely underestimated him. Then Boo's nose extends. He's being arrogant. It has nothing to do with Pinocchio and lying.

Again would you say it was a Pinocchio reference with Gotenks when even in the dub it's shown that's he's clearly being arrogant.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:25 pm

But in the Gotenks situation he didn't had a long nose, he was just rubbing his index finger under it.

kvon · Post by **kvon** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:31 pm

SSJ2bardock wrote:So your saying that their is no possible way it was a Pinocchio reference?

The context seems to fit: Goku comments on Buu's power, Buu lies when he says thank you while he has a long nose.

Pinocchio lies/nose gets longer
Buu lies/nose gets longer

Seems pretty obvious to me.

Though it seems very obvious, this is Japanese material we're talking about. If different meanings exist for the same gesture in an anime, one would assume that researching the culture of its country of origin (in this case, Japan) would be the first step, not the European, American, or other cultures.

You see it in other anime as well. Nobita from Doraemon, Satoshi from Pocket Monsters, and plus other characters all elongated their noses under the effect of vanity and pride, which can be related to the Tengu. Read more into it and you'll see that such monster is known for its pride, along with its long nose. So it's pretty safe to rule out Pinocchio.

As for Gotenks' gestures, maybe pride has something to do with it. I mean, Goku was doing the same thing in the filler wedding episode, where he brushes under his nose right after Chi-Chi grabs onto his arm during their wedding.

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:49 pm

Nice job on bringing good evidence to the table and proving me wrong, I respect that.

Also, I found this interesting bit on Wikipedia.

"Profoundly entrenched in the Japanese imagination for centuries, tengu continue to be popular subjects in modern fiction, both in Japan and increasingly in other countries. They often appear among the many characters and creatures featured in Japanese cinema, animation, comics, and video games."

Vekurotto · Post by **Vekurotto** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:50 pm

SSJ2bardock wrote:But in the Gotenks situation he didn't had a long nose, he was just rubbing his index finger under it.

I'm referring to this time with Gotenks...

This was after Piccolo said that Majin Boo was always used to being the strong one but now that Gotenks is holding his own, Boo is feeling frustration because he's not winning. Which he then responds with the image I posted...

SSJ2bardock · Post by **SSJ2bardock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:53 pm

Ok, i was mistaken and if you look in my other post it says how the "tengu" are used in Japanese pop culture.

Vekurotto · Post by **Vekurotto** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:56 pm

^Yeah I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page though.

Kanzenshuu

Strange Gesture

Strange Gesture

I agree