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Questions tagged [symbolism]

This tag is for questions looking for meanings, either explicit or subject to interpretation, behind a character, a setting, an action of a character, a plot point.

Use this tag when the aim of the question is to clarify the intended (or not) meaning of a character, a setting, an action of a character, a plot point, ...

This is a complementary tag, it should be used in addition to some other tag that specifies the franchise in question (e.g. for a question regarding the meaning of something that happens in Naruto).

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What is the purpose served by cicadas in anime?

Why do so many anime (e.g. Code Geass, Steins; Gate, Ano Hana) have cicadas in the background?
okarin
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About the artworks used in the Elfen Lied opening scenes (contains nudity)

The anime Elfen Lied is notorious for its one of a kind OP, featuring the mesmerizing theme song Lilium composed by MOKA and performed by Kumiko Noma, as well as sequences of art porn, a homage to Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. The idea to…
Gao
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What's the meaning behind all the chairs in Madoka's room?

In Episode 9 of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, during Madoka's conversation with Kyuubei, we see that she has a ton of chairs in her room: At first I thought this was just the usual Shaft weirdness. But I stumbled on a blog post that attempted to…
Torisuda
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What is the relation between the flowers and the heroines in ED sequence of Photokano?

At the end of the ED sequence of Photokano, 7 main (?) heroines are shown. Then in the next scene, at the same position, a pot of flower is shown for each of the girls. What are the flowers shown in the screenshot? And how are they related to the…
nhahtdh
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Is there symbolism behind the language choices in Bleach?

In Bleach, different languages are used by or to represent different groups. For example, the Bount spells are all in German. Many of the terms referring to/for Hollows are Spanish (e.g. Hueco Mundo, Las Noches). "Pluses" (整 (プラス)) is also an…
kuwaly
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Ubiquity of Totoro

Why is the image of Totoro (from "My Neighbor Totoro") so common? Even outside anime, background drawings can include Totoro dolls or posters. Is it just a question of marketing or is there something special about the figure or character? I wonder…
igelkott
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What is happening at the start of episode 12 of Steins;Gate?

At the start of episode 12 of Steins;Gate, Okarin and Mayuri have time traveled 70 million years into the past. They are in an arid desert environment which appears to be the inside of an hourglass. Mayuri says that you could say that they are just…
James
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What kanji is this, and what's its meaning?

In the anime Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (精霊の守り人), when the Star Diviners are speaking and do not wish for the contents of their conversation to be heard, they say something like "There is no-one else in this room." or "This room has only empty…
JNat
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Is there a meaning behind the paintings in Tsubaki Kureha's living room?

In episode 7 of Yuri Kuma Arashi, I noticed that Liberty Leading the People was hanging on the wall in Tsubaki Kureha's living room: Here's an image of the full painting: I get the symbolism of the painting itself, but what's the symbolism it…
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Is there a meaning/message behind Akira?

Is there some hidden meaning/message in Akira? Does it have something to do with the scars left in the Japanese by the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? And ultimately... is Akira the A-Bomb? Or is there another deeper meaning than the one…
JNat
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What's the significance of the 'w' finger position in Elfen Lied?

I've noticed that in the opening sequence, and the big climactic moment at the very end of the season, Lucy has her hands on the figure's back with the ring/middle fingers together and the other two fingers separated in a 'w' sort of shape. Is…
Alexander Troup
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What is the symbol on Kakashi's ninja dogs' backs?

Every one of Kakashi's ninja dogs has a symbol on its back that looks like a face: What is this symbol and what is its meaning?
JNat
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Do the moths during Grumman's thoughts have any symbolic significance?

In episode 47 (12:08) of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, general Grumman's thoughts about a leadership position in Central are made audible to the viewer: Miles: And what about the plan, sir? Aren't you going to proceed to central? Grumman: I…
Cattua
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Why is Toradora's ED about oranges?

This site has Toradora's second ending theme, Orange (オレンジ), together with lyrics both in Japanese and translated. First, it's worth noting that the word Orange is ambiguous in English, referring both to a color and a fruit, and it is used to this…
Logan M
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Is the Hyuuga main family's juinjutsu a Swastika?

In Naruto, the Hyūga clan is divided into two houses: the main house and the branch house. The main house members brand the branch house members with a Juinjutsu (Cursed mark), which has the objective of sealing away the Byakugan upon the death of…
JNat
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