Meet the Tattoo Artist Bringing Anime Magic to London
Featuring magical girl anime, Studio Ghibli vibes, and Sanrio cuteness, tattoo artist 33 brings kawaii dreams to life for London’s tattoo lovers.
Growing up in Hong Kong, tattoo artist 33 was immersed in the vibrant world of kawaii culture and anime from a young age. Iconic shows like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura shaped her creative imagination, alongside the whimsical worlds of Studio Ghibli and beloved Sanrio characters. These influences have left a lasting impression, inspiring the unique kawaii tattoo style that defines her work today. She started tattooing in Hong Kong, before moving to London four years ago to continue her journey in the UK’s capital. To find out more about her creative influences and artistic journey, we recently sat down with 33 for a chat.
S&I: Was it hard to break into the London tattoo scene?
33: Yes, it was difficult. When I was in Hong Kong, all the clients grew up with a similar background to me. They knew everything about the anime characters and Sanrio characters and all the cute characters from different cartoons. But after I moved to London, I found that not many people grew up with watching anime. Also, the major tattoo styles in London are mainly just black work. You can see people walking on the street. They are all covered with black tattoos only. So, it's pretty hard to change the trend and convince people, ‘why not get a colour tattoo? Why not do that?’
S&I: Do you think the Kawaii style will grow in popularity?
33: Yes, I do. I do! I do think Kawaii style can grow. Just because there's always a group of people that understand this style. If you reach out to the right clients, they will always understand what you're doing. And they're always appreciative of your work. I think the Kawaii style is like a timeless thing. It will grow. It will evolve. But it won't stop.
S&I: Do you think tattoos can empower people?
33: I think my kawaii tattoo style empowers them to become their own selves. A lot of my clients are over 30s… they have become a mom, etc. But then they tell me that they have had this tattoo idea for a long time. When they were still a little girl, they were worried about getting judged by people. Because it's not a normal style people usually get tattooed on their body. Now they’re older, I think they can express themselves more by customizing a cute tattoo, collaborating with their favourite character from when they were younger, such as Hello Kitty or some of the cute Disney characters. My tattoos can encourage them to be their own self and have the confidence to show their body more and be their true self.
S&I: How do you balance client requests while ensuring you stay true to your own style?
33: Most of my clients will tell me that they trust me. They're like, ‘I like your style and you can just do what you want.’ So, it's pretty easy. But sometimes when clients have difficult or different requests that are against my style, I will give them some recommendations for other artists. Some people ask, for example, ‘Can you do some fine lines or just black work for me?’ And I will just tell them, that's not my strength. I try to explain to them what I specialize in and sometimes convince them to try something new. In these cases, it’s important to talk and negotiate, to build a design together instead of just one side accepting the other side's requests.
S&I: Do people ever have the wrong idea about tattoo artists?
33: Some people think tattoo artists are just like a printer - if you show them a design, they’ll just do the exact same thing for you. People also think that they can use a design for an artist, but they can ask another artist to do that for them. Maybe because of the price of the tattoo - the other artist is charging way lower than the original artist - they try to find a cheaper option.
S&I: Thanks for talking with us, it's been a pleasure. Any final words?
33: Can I just encourage people to get the tattoo they've been looking to get for a long time? If you want to do it, just do it! I've got a lot of clients that have been waiting for 10 or more years until they have the guts to get a tattoo. Do it when you're younger. Just remember, at the end of your life, tattoos are the only thing that will be with you until the very last moment. Get what you want and get your favourite character on your body. Don't regret not doing it!
See more of 33’s work @33.tattoo
[Sections of this interview have been edited for clarity]
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