Anime Tattoo Mistakes

Mistake #3: A.I Generated Anime Tattoo Designs and Tattoos

No Effort - Permanent Mistakes

AI is here and it's going no where. Just as I mentioned before, there are tattoo artists who are more than willing to plug a photo of someone else's tattoo into AI and try to sell the resulting piece as a unique design. While I think AI can be an excellent tool for many things, I do not support it for art. We all will have our own opinions on it, but for those of us who are against AI, I doubt you want an anime tattoo artist that utilizes AI for their tattoo designs. There are ways to spot it though, and all it takes is having a critical eye when analyzing the tattoo or the design.

Visual Flaws Commonly Made by AI:

• Strange anatomical mistakes: It's one thing for an artist to make a hand too small or have the eyes not line up perfectly, it's another for a hand to have multiple fingers, an unconnected shoulder, or broken joints.

• Impossible structures and forms: Objects, shapes, or subjects that don't line up properly, don't connect right, or "break" in unnatural or random ways.

• Overcrowded details or weird lines: Tiny micro details or crowded objects that look great digitally but wouldn't work well on a tattoo. Lines that are nonsensical or seem to melt in strange ways.

Red Flags in an Artist's Portfolio

• No healed examples of their work: All photos are of seemingly fresh tattoos, available designs, or even tattoo mock-ups. But there is no way to see their healed work.

• Impossible Textures: High contrasting glow effects and lack of real skin texture - seems airbrushed or oddly digital in a way that a tattoo needle can't possibly replicate.

Mistake #4: Shopping for Price not Quality

The Tattoo Rate is the Secondary Factor in Making a Decision

I get it. Tattoos are mighty expensive these days. We went from a back-alley rebel service to a full out luxury trade service. Tattoos are more popular than ever - so much so that individuals without tattoos are seen as fucking unicorns! A common phrase within and outside of the tattoo industry is "you get what you pay for" as a sort of catch all for excusing luxury pricing. This is not always true though - and while I myself tell people that price should be a secondary factor in your anime tattoo artist search, I will not deny that there are cases where you spend more and realize later it wasn't worth it. That's why I always express researching artists based on portfolios, testimonials, and healed photos before committing to one. The time spent researching will justify your choice much more than price shopping because you know why you've locked in on that particular artist.

Mistake #5: Not Planning Tattoo Placement Properly

2D surface versus a living canvas

This goes for both the client and the artist, because it is the artist's duty to be up front with you about how well your desired placement works for your idea. We don't expect clients to know how placement works, this is part of our job after all, but most artists will agree that you can't fit a full bodied anime character on a forearm. So I recommend clients be realistic and open to placement options and possibilities. When choosing an artist, pay attention to the portfolio - what sorts of compositions do they do for different parts of the body? Seeing the anime artist's body of work should show you what to expect when you consult with them about your idea, and it may help you settle in on an idea if you were struggling with visualizing the direction of your vision.

Mistake #6: Cramming too much into One Tattoo

No, you shouldn't do a full bodied character on your ankle.

I totally get it - you are ready for your tattoo, and you are super excited to showcase your favorite anime character on your upper arm. But as your ponder your idea, you realize that the character has had such an amazing journey and you want to symbolize it as much as possible in your tattoo! That, and its an investment, so you want to get as much as possible out of your project. But please trust me when I say that simpler is better. Cramming symbolism of a character's entire meaningful journey into a single tattoo with the character themselves will be a hot mess. For myself, when I approach a tattoo like this, I ask the client what moments stood out to them most about their beloved character - was it their tenacity in the face of impossible obstacles? Their power or charisma? Was it a specific fight where they broke through their previous limitations? And I use my illustrative background to compose a design that tells a story without being crowded or messy. Be careful choosing artists that are willing to jampack a bunch of elements into a single space - designs that breathe age the best and look the best.

Mistake #7: Ignoring the Importance of Color and Contrast

"I want my Pokémon colors exactly the same as the show!"

Please don't. Flat colors don't translate well over time - you need high contrast and saturation for the best long-term results. Also, shadows and highlights don't need to be as simple and black and white, find an artist who plays with unique color combinations that compliment your character choices! I once had a client who got a gyarados upper arm tattoo - and as I was working dark purples into the shadows over his blue colors, my client became confused . They didn't say anything until later, so I had no idea he felt this way. But during a session for his forearm, he told me that at first we wasn't sure what to think, but then when his arm got the attention of the whole gym, he thanked me. He was so used to the flat colors of the classic Pokémon show that he didn't think creative color choices would work right. Of course now, it reminds him of the dynamic illustrations on special Pokémon cards!

Mistake #8: Not Checking Portfolios for Healed Work

It's all about the longevity!

A fresh tattoo will always appear more vibrant and crisp compared to a healed tattoo. And when a polarized lens and good lighting is used to capture tattoos for portfolios, a tattoo can look like a digital sticker! There is nothing wrong with polarized lenses, I talk about that here if you want more about why I recommend them for artists - but having plenty of healed work for a client to scan through is un-negotiable. You can't fake a good heal - and it shows that an artist is willing to guarantee their work and stand by the results. Personally, I'd never trust an artist that never shows video or photo of their healed pieces.

Mistake #9: Planning an Anime Tattoo Last Minute

Fell in love the first episode? Give it time.

You're hooked. That pilot episode was so freaking good, and your new favorite character is a new obsession! So you go to schedule that tattoo and be the first to get it done! Hold up though, did you read the manga? Do you have any idea where that character ends up or what they later do? I've seen it before with clients jumping on getting a tattoo of a badass character only to later find out they were a terrible choice. Either the character does something horrific and unforgivable, dies early, or turns out to have less-than-ideal choices that step over moral boundaries. In some cases, the client realizes their favorite character is actually someone else, and they wasted prime real estate on a character they don't quite love as much. Take your time! If you can't wait for the show, read the manga! Be certain of your choices!