The Big 3 raised a lot of us. Naruto, Bleach, One Piece. Long arcs, slow burn growth, and characters we watched change over hundreds of episodes. New gen anime didn’t replace that. It picked up where it left off and pushed things further.
Stories got darker faster. Characters started breaking earlier. Power came with real consequences right out the gate. Instead of waiting seasons for a turning point, shows like Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Black Clover hit you with moments that feel tattoo-worthy almost immediately!
That shift shows up in the ink. New gen anime tattoos focus on raw expressions, split-second decisions, and characters caught at their most intense. Less buildup, more impact. These pieces capture why this era of anime feels different, and why fans are immortalizing on their skin!
Sung Jin-Woo (Solo Leveling)
Artist: Nicolas Gauthier
This piece by Nicolas Gauthier captures Sung Jin-Woo right when he fully steps into that Shadow Monarch energy. Head slightly down, eyes glowing, shadows creeping in from every direction. It’s that calm-before-everything-gets-erased look that Solo Leveling fans know too well.
The color work is what really sells it. Deep purples, reds, and blacks blend into each other smoothly, giving the shadows real weight without muddying the piece. The lighting around Jin-Woo’s face keeps him readable even with all that darkness wrapped around him, and the way the shadows stretch up the arm makes the whole tattoo feel like it’s still moving.
It’s clean, dark, and confident exactly how Sung Jin-Woo feels once he realizes he’s no longer the weakest hunter in the room!
Charon (Fire Force)
Artist: Deshawn King
Charon has always been one of those Fire Force characters who doesn’t say much but makes every scene feel heavier. Calm, loyal, and absurdly durable, he’s basically a human shield who turns defense into offense. His fight where he absorbs an attack and redirects it back, including literally stopping and blowing away a falling meteor, is one of those moments that makes you stop and go “yeah, he’s different.”
This tattoo leans fully into that energy. Deshawn King keeps it black and grey, letting the blindfolded grin and massive hands do most of the talking. The negative space around the fingers and forearm gives the piece room to breathe, while the soft shading keeps it grounded and clean instead of overworked. It’s not flashy. It’s controlled, heavy, and confident, just like Charon himself.
Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
Artist: Jess Kelly
Bakugo’s growth is one of the most satisfying arcs in My Hero Academia. He starts off loud, angry, and convinced that raw power is everything. But as the story goes on, especially during the war against Shigaraki, you see what’s really underneath that rage. Guilt. Responsibility. And a desperate need to protect the people he once pushed away. This moment comes from when Bakugo stops fighting just to win and starts fighting for others, fully stepping into what it means to be a true hero.
This tattoo captures that shift perfectly. Jess Kelly leans into heavy emotion with Bakugo’s expression, battered but focused, while the explosive color palette keeps the intensity high. The warm reds and oranges feel volatile, like his Quirk is barely contained, while the darker shadows ground the piece and keep it from feeling chaotic. The added All Might comic detail ties everything back to Bakugo’s motivation and legacy. It’s loud, emotional, and hits exactly where it should.
Akaza (Demon Slayer)
Artist: Sol Rugama
Akaza is one of those villains who stays with you long after the fight is over. Introduced as pure menace in Mugen Train, he comes in disrespectful, confident, and obsessed with strength. His battle against Rengoku sets the tone, but it’s his later fight with Tanjiro and Giyu that really cracks him open. That’s where the story shifts. You’re no longer just watching a demon fight to win. You’re watching someone running from his past, clinging to power because it’s the only thing he has left.
This tattoo captures that perfectly. Sol Rugama leans into Akaza’s calm but unhinged presence, with his expression sitting right between pride and emptiness. The blue markings are clean and bold, instantly recognizable, while the pinks and reds layered through the piece give it that violent, emotional edge. The snowflake motif in the background is subtle but important, tying back to Akaza’s technique and the cold inevitability of his fate. It’s sharp, emotional, and hits hard without overdoing it!
Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Artist: Sierra Condon
Gojo has been that guy since the moment he showed up. Confident, untouchable, and fully aware of it. He jokes around, messes with everyone, and still walks into every fight knowing there’s basically nothing on the other side that can stop him. But beneath all that confidence is someone carrying the weight of being the strongest and the loneliness that comes with it.
This tattoo nails that balance perfectly. Sierra Condon captures Gojo mid-action, hand extended, right as his technique comes alive. The expression feels playful but dangerous, like he’s enjoying the fight just a little too much. The purples and soft pinks flow cleanly through the piece, giving it that cursed energy glow without overwhelming the skin. The linework stays crisp, the color packing is smooth, and the motion in the hand pulls your eye straight into the center of the tattoo. It’s clean, confident, and unmistakably Gojo!
