New School Tattoos

Heavily influenced by old-school Americana tattoos, new-school tattoos feature vivid colours and bold outlines.  With a lot of designs featuring anime and cartoon characters, new school tattoos are becoming more and more popular around the world.

Are you a science fiction fan or fascinated by how technology and the human body can work together? Why not honour that fascination with an epic biomechanical tattoo?

Biomechanical tattoos are incredibly unique and stunning works of art that have gained popularity over the years. Essentially, they are tattoos that give the illusion of seeing mechanical parts beneath the surface of your skin.

What Are New School Tattoos?

Heavily influenced by old-school Americana tattoos, new-school tattoos feature vivid colours and bold outlines.  With a lot of designs featuring anime and cartoon characters, new school tattoos are becoming more and more popular around the world.

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Different Styles of New School Tattoos

Japanese
While Japanese tattoos are a style in their own right, the influence of Japanese anime, manga and video game culture are popular subjects for new school tattoos.  Traditional Japanese tattoos are more detailed and have a subdued colour palette. However, new school Japanese tattoos present a more modern and playful take on traditional Japanese motifs.  Due to the successful introduction of Japanese anime, manga and video games into the United States in the 1990s, many new school tattoo artists draw inspiration from these characters, motifs and scenes for their designs. 
Disney
Like how Japanese anime became popular in the Western world in the 1990s, Disney animations became even more popular.  Disney has significantly influenced new school tattoo designs by creating some of their most well-known films in the ‘90s, such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan and much more.  Even today, over 30 years later, those beloved Disney movies and characters still hold a special place in the hearts of many. Due to the success of those Disney films and many others, the characters are now some of the most requested new school tattoo designs.
Graffiti
Alongside cartoons and anime, graffiti profoundly influences new school tattoos.  While graffiti was prevalent in the underground during the 1980s, it didn’t become popular in the mainstream until the 1990s and 2000s when Obey and Banksy hit the scene.  Today, tattoo artists draw inspiration from graffiti work, incorporating bright colours, drop shadows and swooping into their new school tattoo designs. 
Video Games
As you would’ve gathered, new school tattoos draw a lot of inspiration from pop culture, including video games.  Are you a gamer? Do you want to get your favourite character or franchise inked? If so, the new school tattoo style is the best choice to do it justice.  Using the features that form the new school style, your favourite character can be brought to life in a colourful and fun way! 

Design Tips for New School Tattoos

Whether you’re a gamer and want to get your favourite character inked or pay homage to your favourite Disney movie, there are a few things to consider before getting a new school tattoo.

Are you ready to get a new school tattoo dedicated to your favourite pop culture reference? Book an appointment at your nearest Celebrity Ink studio to see what we can make of your vision!

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Size

The size of your tattoo will depend on how much you want to showcase.  If you only want one tattoo of a character you love, then a small one will work for you. However, new school tattoos are usually large, so they can be seen and appreciated by anyone who sees them. Therefore, a larger tattoo will be better if you want to showcase an entire anime series or Disney film. 

Placement

Now that you know what size your tattoo will be, you need to decide where to put it on your body.  If you’ve chosen to get a smaller tattoo, you can place it anywhere, whether on your wrist, ribs, or even your leg.  However, if you’re getting a larger tattoo, the most common placements include the arms, legs and back.

Colours

Compared to other styles of tattoos, when it comes to new school tattoos, choosing the colour scheme is almost as important as choosing the subject matter.  Before getting inked, you’ll want to ensure the chosen colours are ones you’ll be happy to wear for the rest of your life. If you aren’t sure which colours would look good, sit down with your tattooist and create a colour scheme you’re happy with.
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