What is the symbolism behind the sludge?

You see it in Monnonoke, and again in Spirited Away. It seems too prominent to not have significance.

Hi Bluesea, welcome to the forums!

I am not very sure what the "sludge" you mean is. Can you explain it in greater details, or point out the scenes where they are found?

If you are talking about the slime of Didarabocchi after losing his head, I think it symbolises death and revival, just like Shishi-gami himself. When the black slime flow through the forest, the Kodamas died and fell onto the ground. It also cut the head of Moro and the arm of Eboshi. Generally, everything on its way, including the Tatara-ba, was doomed to destruction. But when Didarabocchi passed away, new grasses grew on these regions originally covered in the slime. It was a revival of the nature, but by no means a complete revival, as the grassland was no match with the previously luxurious forest.

In this sense it may mean the tides and forces are changes are inevitable if we press something too hard. Even though destructions can be repaired, there cannot be a truly complete revival and restoration. Ignoring what we have done, and turning the clock back to the time before the changes happened is simply impossible. What we can only do is to learn to adapt to these changes if they do arrive.

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There's a lot of sludge in both, mind telling us which?

EDIT: Ey' I'm a baron now! Think Shizuku will like me now?

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quote:

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Originally posted by fenkashi
Screw your opinions, they are not relevant ^^.

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Post last edited by Roarkiller on 04.04.2005, 11:05 AM.

There are many things that the sludge can be said to symbolize. In my opinion in both cases it probably represents the mood and situation, filled with darkness, dread, confusion, just negativity in general. I'd say the reason behind there being so much is the same reason why many Japanese animated films use a lot of blood, to over emphasis the feelings tied in with the sludge.

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Post last edited by Kodama on 04.07.2005, 12:15 PM.