Anime

A character tattoo keeps a figure or a symbol from something you love. We decide at the start whether to carry the original line over as it is, or to redraw it in my own hand.

Why people choose a character

Attachment

Something you have loved for years is less a taste than a record of time. That is why it lasts regardless of fashion.

The form is already settled

A character is already a finished drawing, so the direction of the design is easy to fix.

Size is easy to choose

Just the face, just the symbol, the whole figure — you can take as much as you want.

It needs no explaining

Those who know will know at once. It is a good subject to keep quiet, too.

How the work goes

Line

We decide first whether to keep the heavy line of the original, or carry it over as fine line.

Colour

Rather than full colour, I often put colour on one part only.

Copyright

If copying the original artwork worries you, taking only a symbol or a line of dialogue is another way.

Placement

A design with a lot of detail, such as a face, clogs up if it goes too small. Size and placement are decided together.