The world of anime is filled with iconic characters, worlds, and even iconic anime eyes that are so unique, memorable, and impressive that any anime fan worth their salt can easily recognize them. It's the same with anime tattoos. There are many female and male anime characters who proudly wear their iconic ink and even inspire fans to create their own versions.
In anime, characters have tattoos for many reasons. Some of the strongest anime characters can even gain extra power thanks to their tattoos. However, sometimes these tattoos have an emotional meaning in much the same way that tattoos often do in real life.
Updated on September 30, 2024 by Hamza Haq: An easy way to personalize a character in anime is to give them defining traits like a recognizable scaran unusual hair color or even a unique tattoo. Some tattoos go beyond the everyday and become as much a part of the character as their signature hairstyles and clothes.
14 Medusa
Soul Eater
Medusa is one of the most terrible and vile characters in the Soul Eater who happens to own one of the coolest and most adorable tattoos in anime. This brilliantly evil witch is also Crona's mother and has never been afraid to use her powers and manipulation skills to defeat and kill her enemies.
She was the most powerful witch in the series, and with her unique magic and tattoo, she could also control over a thousand snakes in her body to easily fight the strongest demon weapons in Soul Eater. Medusa had a giant snake tattoo that was all over her arms and could come to life and become deadly arrows and blades. Soul EaterThe story follows a group of students who were trained as demon hunters.
13 Renji Abarai
Bleach
Renji Abarai was one of the most confident and courageous fighters in the 11th Division. He took his training seriously and worked hard to become the best in his division and even surpass his captain. Although he often covered up his tattoos, he was proud of them.
Renji has some of the most iconic anime tattoos what Bleach fans often love to get themselves due to their simple yet elegant design. Most of his upper body and some parts of his forehead are covered in tribal tattoos. BleachThe story follows a young Ichigo who embarks on a journey to become a powerful Soul Reaper.
12 Gaara
Naruto
Gaara is one of the most famous characters in the Naruto with an incredibly recognizable large red tattoo on the left side of his forehead. During the Chuunin Exams arc—when Gaara was first introduced—viewers were teased with this mysterious tattoo that didn't fully reveal Gaara's face, explaining his introduction of this defining feature.
Gaara's tattoo is a symbol of the word “ai” which means “love” or “love only yourself”. As it later turns out, this tattoo is Gaara's way of announcing to the world that he only loves himself and that nothing and no one is more important to him. This realization comes to him when he is quite young and faces an assassination attempt on a man he considers a close friend. Gaara keeps this tattoo even after his redemption arc, perhaps as a reminder of who he was and how far he's come.
11 By us
One Piece
Nami is an original member of the Straw Hat team and one of the main characters One Piece. Aside from her red hair and insatiable greed, her main feature is a blue tattoo on her upper arm, near her shoulder. When Luffy and Zoro first meet Nami, they notice this tattoo and later refer to it to try to find her when she abandons them. Originally, this tattoo serves as a harsh reminder to Arlong Nami that she is forever in his hands. After the events of the East Blue Saga, where Luffy throws Arlong into the dirt and Nami is finally freed from this monster, she changes this tattoo not only as a sign of her freedom, but also as a reminder of who she cares about most. heart A new pinwheel tattoo with an orange hanging from the top. The orange represents her mother's garden, a place of incredible significance to Nami, while the pinwheel represents Genzo, the sheriff of Kakayashi Village, and her father, who took care of her after Belmir died.
10 Natsu
Fairy tail
Natsu Dragneel, the main character Fairy tailhas an iconic red dragon tattoo on his upper right arm. More than just a cosmetic accessory, Natsu's tattoo serves as a seal of Igneel's power.
Whenever Natsu finds himself in a tough situation facing a strong enemy and really needs to let loose, he unlocks this tattoo and unleashes the power within to gain considerable strength. For lovers Fairy tailNatsu's tattoo is as iconic as Ash Ketchum's cap-twirling move, signaling that the fun is about to begin.
9 Tatsumi Oga
Beelzebub
Although Tatsumi Oga is only a high school student, he already has to learn to be the father of Beelzebub IV, who turns out to be a demon child. Since Oga is a rather cruel and often sadistic character, he was happy to learn that Beelzebub could help him defeat his enemies more easily.
One day, Oga mysteriously finds a powerful Zebul Spell tattoo on his right arm. This tattoo was the seal that signified the contract between Oga and Beelzebub, and through it Oga could access more and more demonic powers the more he fought. Although Augie's tattoo is small, it quickly became one of the most popular anime tattoos that much Beelzebub fans like to get tattoos on themselves.
8 Revy
Black Lagoon
Revy is there Black Lagoonmerciless patron. No matter what danger her team faces, Revy is there to destroy their enemy, often in very sadistic ways. While she is definitely tough, she also has a fun and even humorous side that she shows to those she deems worthy.
Her iconic and meaningful tribal tattoo on her upper right arm goes perfectly with her explosive and incredible personality. Revy's tattoo covers most of her arm and goes down to her neck. Despite its size, it is one of the most popular tattoos made by anime fans, both men and women.
7 Uta
Tokyo ghoul
Tokyo ghoulThe fan-favorite mask designer has several iconic tattoos. Some things are different in Tokyo ghoul manga compared to the anime, but Uta remains the same artistic ghoul that fans fell in love with. While Uta was quiet, he also often showed his sadistic and hostile side.
The most beloved member of the Clowns had numerous tattoos on his arms and hands, as well as a giant sun tattoo that covered his left chest. However, without a doubt, Uta's most iconic tattoo is her neck tattoo. This is a Latin quote that depicts the conflicted relationship between ghouls and humans.
6 Gray Fullbuster
Fairy tail
Gray has a cold personality and was one of the strongest characters Fairy tail. Not only that, he's also one of the most iconic anime characters with ice powers. Gray's magic ability was ice creation, which allowed him to create ice and manipulate it however he wanted.
He received powerful ice-making magic from his father, and then he also got a tattoo on his right arm that symbolizes magic. This is not only a famous tattoo, but also one of the most popular for Fairy tail lovers write on themselves.
5 Meliodas
The seven deadly sins
The strongest character in The seven deadly sins The series was also a fan favorite. Melody had exceptional physical and magical combat skills that helped him defeat even the strongest enemies.
The dragon tattoo on his arm has a deep meaning to him. Melodias' tattoo is of a dragon eating its own tail, called Ouroboros, and is an ancient symbol that symbolizes infinity. It is a symbol of Melody's curse, immortality. This is one of the anime tattoos that most fans can easily come across in real life, especially when they attend anime conventions.
4 Portgas D. Ace
One Piece
One of One PieceThe most honored characters in the anime had the most iconic tattoo in the series. A loving and brave big brother, Luffy was always there to save the day and take on even the toughest enemies.
Ace had two tattoos that became iconic, each with its own meaning. The largest of these was a large Whitebeard symbol on his back, representing his time with the Whitebeard Pirates. However, his most famous tattoo was on his left arm and reads “ASCE” with a crossed out S. This tattoo had even more meaning as the S was a tribute to his half brother.
3 Tatsu
The way of the householder
The way of the householder gave anime fans the world's funniest ex-Yakuza gang member, Tatsu. While Tatsu looks and even talks very menacingly, he has actually happily put his violent days behind him to be a loving and caring husband to Miku. There are many things that make Tatsu a unique character, and the giant dragon tattoo on his back is definitely one of those things. It is an ascending dragon, and it has to do with the meaning of his name, as well as his Yakuza past.
This tattoo is iconic not only because of its beautiful design, which was inspired by a traditional Japanese wooden board, but also because of its authenticity. It looks exactly like a tattoo that a real Yakuza would wear. So much so that the Chinese government even censored the series and removed Tatsu's tattoos, making him one of the most famous and iconic anime tattoos.
2 Fireplace
Guren Lagan
The fireplace is not only one of the best Guren Lagan characters, but he also has one of the coolest anime tattoos of all time. He is the brave and often brash founder and leader of Team Gurren. He is also one of the most loved Anime characters with tattoos on both arms as well as on the shoulders and back.
Kamina is a passionate and often arrogant character, so his large and bright tattoos perfectly match his charismatic personality. Guren Lagan is set in a dystopian future where humanity lives in isolated underground villages, but two teenagers, Simon and Kamina, plan to finally get back to the surface.
1 The scar
Steel Alchemist: Brotherhood
Scar was one of the most powerful alchemists in the Steel Alchemist: Brotherhood. He got most of his tattoos because of the bloodiest war in which he was an Ishvalan warrior-monk completely consumed by hatred after his homeland was destroyed and most of his people, including his family, were killed.
After Scar was badly injured and lost his arm, his talented alchemist brother gave him his. His brother knew he was going to die and decided to save Scar from that very belief. For this reason, Scar tattoos are easily some of the most recognizable and most powerful tattoos in the entire anime world.
