Out of all the cartoons that have ever been in existence, there aren’t many that are more popular than Pokémon and I am talking even the old Bugs Bunny cartoons and the Disney cartoons. Pokémon has a giant fanbase of its own and between the toys, video games and TV shows, Pokémon has become a big part of our culture these days.
The storylines are great, the characters are fun and the plots are fun to follow. Because this show has all of this going on, it is easy to see why so many people are obsessed with it and have even been known to get a tattoo here and there.
To get a Pokémon tattoo is the ultimate sign of fandom and there are a lot of different ways you can do it. There are a whole bunch of different characters and if you grew up watching the show, or any cartoon for that matter, you know that there is always a connection with a character. It is the character that takes you back to and makes you remember the times that were more carefree.
In this post, we are going to talk about Pokémon and the different characters within this show. Because there is a different flavor for everyone, you should know a bit about the different characters so if you aren’t sure which one is your favorite, this should help a little bit. By the end of the post, you should feel like a Pokémon expert. This goes for the characters of the show at least. We will also talk about the meaning behind some of these Pokémon tattoos if there is any meaning.
About Pokémon
Originating in Japan, the cartoon television show Pokémon has been a favorite among children, into their adulthood, since its debut in the 1990s. Along with the cartoon, Pokémon cards have also been introduced so that collecting and “battling” among friends can be done as well, simulating the premise of the television show. Since the release of the game application “Pokémon Go” for electronic devices, Pokémon has grown in popularity even more, becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
Generally, a favorite Pokémon character is chosen and used as the tattoo design, giving literally hundreds of options. Both the Pokémon creatures and masters, taken from various series that the original show branched into, are used. The creatures are categorized into various elements, according to the nature and powers they are allotted, such as fire element for the dragon-like Charmander or water element for the turtle-like Squirtle.
Imagery of fire, water, earth, rock, air, and much more are included with the designs to create larger pieces. Rock Pokémon are often rendered in a mountainous scene with boulders while clouds and blue skies can fill the background of flying Pokémon.
Each creature has the ability to “evolve” into numerous forms, becoming more powerful with each evolution. Larger designs can include the evolution of a beloved Pokémon, highlighting the progression of the creature from its origins to its more advanced state. This is almost always done in full color, capturing the bright and bold tones of the creatures, although greyscale or more muted tones are sometimes used to deemphasize the cartoonish appearance.
More generally, Poké balls, through which the creatures are captured and tamed by the masters, are used as images. The spherical red and white containers denote a successful master whose goal is to capture and train the creatures for the purpose of battling against other Pokémon. As the balls are thrown at the creatures to trap them, both the Poké balls and Pokémon can be incorporated into one piece, showing the ball being thrown at the creature, or becoming captured inside the ball.
Harkening to the original video game or the Pokédex used as an information source, the Pokémon along with the statistics of the creature can be used. Rendered in an “8-bit” style, the tattoo mimics the video games created for Nintendo’s Gameboy device, often played by fans of the original television cartoon.
Pokémon Characters
Below is a list of some of the more popular Pokémon characters. Believe that if someone has a tattoo involving Pokémon, some of these characters might be involved in the image you see. We know there are many variations of the show and different spinoffs so we wanted to list some of the more well-known characters.
Ash Ketchum Tattoo
Ash is the main character of the Pokémon anime series. The story of the series starts when Ash turns ten years old and because he turned ten, Ash was able to get a starter Pokémon and become a Pokémon trainer. Ash was born in the Kanto region and he was offered three choices for his first Pokémon which included Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Just as Ash was getting ready to choose Squirtle, Professor Oak gave Ash Pikachu because he had woken up late the day he was to choose.
Throughout the series, Ash battles enemies from Team Rocket which is a Pokémon crime organization. You will always see Ash if there is Pokémon involved and therefore, he has become one of the most tattooed characters on the show behind the next one.
Pikachu Tattoo
Pikachu was the first Pokémon that Ash ever had. He weighs about 13 pounds and is about a foot and a half tall. Pikachu becomes very strong throughout the show. This power that he contains actually sets him apart from other Pokémon. Because of this, Team Rocket is always trying to catch Pikachu and take him from Ash. There are other Pikachus out there and Ash almost released him at one point because he thought he’d be happier in the wild.
The Pikachu tattoo is extremely popular amongst fans. Pikachu is essentially the Mickey Mouse of Japan and people are often hired to dress as Pikachu and stand in public places like the mall or an amusement park. Because of this, it should be understandable that Pikachu is the character from Pokémon that is tattooed the most.
Misty Tattoo
Misty is one of the main characters along with Ash Ketchum in the Pokémon series. She is essentially always traveling with Ash and in the series, she was the leader of the Cerulean Gym until she left it to her three sisters. Misty has a stubborn, temperament, little patience and a wicked temper. As the show goes on, Misty becomes more sensible but many people connect with Missy on many levels so to see a Misty Pokémon tattoo would symbolize their connection with the little spitfire.
Brock Pokémon Tattoo
Brock is the most mature character of the group of main characters. He is usually the voice of reason and looks out for the other characters in the show. Brock is a tactician and is well-versed in Pokémon battle. This is probably because he was once a Gym leader himself. Brock can always be found with maps and books and because of this, he is usually the one leading the way.
For those who connect with Brock’s sense of leadership and calm under pressure, you might see a tattoo of Brock on their body. Many connect with Brock because of these reasons and even though he isn’t shown in many battles, he is the one with some of the best plans.
And these are just a few of the characters that get chosen as the subjects of tattoos by Pokémon fans. There are many more and many fun characters that look cool as well so they make great choices.
The Pokémon characters are usually tattooed in a cartoon style so before getting them, make sure your artist is versed in this style of tattooing. If you aren’t sure about them, check out their portfolios online because in times like these, you can find most of that information online.