In ROTJ, what is the blob on the Emperor's Head?

In Return of the Jedi there is that strange black blob on the right side of the Emperor's head. It looks like ILM was trying to cover up a mistake in the costume or something. It is very obvious and wasn't fixed in the special editions. Screen caputures I have seen from the latest DVD release shows the blob to still be there. What is the mystery of the blob?

Russ

 

There was a lighting mistake. They had to cover it up somehow.

 

Can someone post a screenshot?

Thanks

 

They are commonly referred to as THE EMPEROR'S SLUGS.

DVD note: They are still there, but very miniscule -- but still there, nonetheless.

 

Can someone post a screenshot?

Thanks

 

It's on the hood, not the head.

 

I've never seen these slugs. Hope never to see them.

 

I saw them in the theater in '83. They didn't bother me then and they don't bother me now.

 

I remember when I saw them in the theater as a kid, I thought they were like matte lines, so I kept wondering what the special effect was on the Emperor's face-- it looked like he had just normal make-up on, so I thought maybe it was some sort of effect on his eyes or his mouth or something.

 

I can't see them anymore on my TV, but when I watch the DVD on my computer it's still there, although much less noticeable.

 

I heard that the black slugs were added in to answer critics' complaints...

...that there weren't enough 'black' characters in the OT.

 

He's storing dark matter energy, he gives off so much power that it fluctuates there, so it can be reenergized and if you believe this, you just might be a star wars fan.

 

The Emperor's relationship to the slugs is symbiotic.

They hide his over-sized, malformed ears...


...and he gets them a cameo in one of the most successful movie franchises of all time.