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Playing video games and watching cartoons are just a few activities that transcend the early years of life, making their way into adulthood (and even seniorhood). Many proudly revisit their top cartoon shows, whether it's cartoon series from the '90s or cartoons of the '50s later on, to bring a gush of sweet recollections from the past.

No matter the year, the nostalgia hits just the same — warm, welcoming, and a little bittersweet. To relish those memories and have them engraved in one's skin (literally), getting classic cartoon character tattoos has been a relatively popular practice among cartoon lovers and ink heads.

Cartoon tattoos, also known as new school tattoos or neo-traditional tattoos, draw inspiration from pop culture, cartoon characters, anime, or comic strips. You can tell it's a cartoon tattoo when you see one. It's often bright and colorful with a lighthearted, silly, or tongue-in-cheek tone to it. However, cartoon tattoos are not limited to any particular tattoo style.

The choice is highly personalized and up to you, whether you want your cartoon tattoo designs done in traditional, old school, realism, blackwork, or any other style available. Go with whatever tickles your fancy. But make sure you pick a tattoo artist specializing in your preferred style to avoid mishaps or miscommunication!

Below, we've compiled plenty of cartoon tattoo ideas to contemplate, whether you are looking to reminisce on your favorite cartoon characters, take on the role of a judge from Ink Master, or seek inspiration for your next (or first) tattoo.

Did you like any of the cartoon character tattoo ideas listed below? Give them an upvote! Do you have any cool cartoon tattoos on your body? Describe them in the comments!

#1

Calvin And Hobbes Arm Tattoo

Calvin and Hobbes arm tattoo

"Done by Kyle at the Factory In Troy, NY."

ReachAround_Sue Report

#4

Chibi Spiderman Tattoo

Chibi style Spiderman arm tattoo

andreapalombi_tattoos Report

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#7

Adventure Time House Tattoo

Adventure Time house on a snail leg tattoo

"Adventure Time house on a snail by Allison at Hollow Moon in Boone, NC."

lou_who_12 Report

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#8

South Park Tattoo

South Park forearm tattoo

ahcarol_ink Report

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#9

Timon, Pumbaa And Simba Tattoo

Timon, Pumbaa and Simba arm tattoo

tattoo.pencil Report

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#11

Up Inspired Tattoo

Up Inspired arm tattoo

edit_paints Report

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Whitefox
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, this reminds me of the angel theory! There is a fan theory that Carl dies in the beginning and Russell is his guardian angel sent to guide him to heaven.

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#12

Cute Cartoon Cat Tattoo

Cute spooky cartoon cat tattoo

elcuervodoradotattoo Report

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#13

A Sailor Moon Inspired Tattoo

A Sailor Moon inspired arm tattoo

log_tattoo Report

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#14

Anna From Frozen Arm Tattoo

Anna from Frozen arm tattoo

"More progress on the Disney sleeve by Bailey Kay tattoo at the Henderson Collective in Dallas Texas."

ThomasTiltTrain Report

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#18

Crayon Shin Chan And Family Tattoo

Crayon Shin Chan and family arm tattoo

broccoli_tattooer Report

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#20

Rick Sanchez From Rick And Morty Tattoo

Rick Sanchez From Rick And Morty and Albert Einstein tattoo

Inkedmag Report

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#21

Disney Tattoos

Marie from The Aristocats and Stitch tattoos

inkyelf Report

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#22

Totoro Tattoo

Totoro with umbrella tattoo

scatto_tattoo Report

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#23

Bart Simpson Tattoo

Bart Simpson skating tattoo

vincent_bloodline Report

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#24

Yoshi Tattoo

Yoshi arm tattoo

julie_agnes Report

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#25

The Lion King Tattoo

Simba and Nala from The Lion King arm tattoo

alfodospuntosdix Report

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#26

Magic Broom From Disney's Fantasia Tattoo

Magic Broom from Disney's Fantasia arm tattoo

"Magic broom from Disney's Fantasia (1940) by Andrew at Exposed Temptations in Manassas, VA."

trust_me_I_reddit Report

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#28

Arale Chan From Dr. Slump Tattoo

Arale Chan from Dr. Slump arm tattoo

artamentum Report

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#30

Winnie The Pooh Tattoo

Cute Winnie The Pooh tattoo

annn.chunnn Report

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#31

Moomins Tattoo

Cute Moomins with flowers tattoo

ab.ambre Report

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#32

Kuromi Omamori Tattoo

Cute Kuromi Omamori rattoo

modoink_kimi Report

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#34

Ariel From The Little Mermaid Tattoo

Ariel from The Little Mermaid arm tattoo

tattoo.pencil Report

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#35

Chip And Dale Tattoo

Chip And Dale with balloon tattoo

ianlars.tattoo Report

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#38

Cute Cat Tattoo

Cute smiling cat with flowers tattoo

littlerachtattoo Report

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#39

Pikachu Tattoo

Pikachu using thunderbolt tattoo

rott3ntattoo Report

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#40

The Astro Boy Tattoo

The Astro Boy arm tattoo

catchnkill Report

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#41

Itchy The Mouse From The Simpsons Tattoo

Itchy the mouse from The Simpsons tattoo

pepperinflame_tattooshop Report

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#42

Powerpuff Girls Tattoos

Powerpuff Girls Bubbles and Buttercup tattoos

rocktattoo_opole Report

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#43

The Powerpuff Girls Villain Tattoo

The Powerpuff Girls villain tattoo

vivahat3 Report

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#44

Sailor Moon Tattoo

Fine line Sailor Moon thigh tattoo

"Sailor Moon by Tina at Drop Dead Tattoo - North Ridgeville, OH."

emilyuwo Report

#45

Anime Inspired Tattoo

Anime inspired tattoo

official_s1n_x Report

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#46

Buttercup From The Powerpuff Girls Tattoo

Buttercup from The Powerpuff Girls arm tattoo

babie_lato_tattoo Report

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#47

Tasmanian Devil Cartoon Tattoo

Tasmanian Devil cartoon tattoo

hekate_thirsty Report

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#49

Lil Cutie Marge Tattoo

Marge from The Simpsons leg tattoo

bloodclubtattoo Report

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#50

Spirited Away Inspired Tattoo

Chihiro Ogino from Spirited Away tattoo

moths_ink Report

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#51

Maggie Simpson Tattoo

Maggie Simpson tattoo

txttoo Report

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#52

Rugrats Inspired Tattoo

Rugrats inspired tattoo

leasytattoo Report

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#53

Bojack Horseman Tattoo

Bojack Horseman Tattoo

freakyraccoon_tattoo Report

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#54

Scooby Doo Tattoo

Scooby Doo leg tattoo

sunnydtattoos Report

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#55

The Dragon Ball Gang Tattoo

The Dragon Ball gang tattoo

"The Dragon Ball gang, by James Tran at Full Circle Tattoo, San Diego, California."

SithCorgi Report

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#56

Celeste From Animal Crossing Tattoo

Celeste from Animal Crossing arm tattoo

"Celeste from Animal Crossing, designed and tattooed by Hope at Human Canvas, Pittsburgh, PA."

_astrolotl Report

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#57

Dory Tattoo

Dory from 'Finding Nemo' tattoo

"Just keep swimming Dory by the Disney queen Ailie of Blancolo Tattoo & Piercing, Glasgow City centre."

bluebear653 Report

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#58

Futurama Inspired Tattoo

Futurama inspired tattoo

27.tattoos_ Report

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#59

Cartoon Mashup Tattoo

Cartoon Mashup tattoo

"Cartoon mashup by Katie Beth at Blue Geisha Tattoo in Seattle."

ZombiKitties Report

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#60

All Dogs Go To Heaven Tattoo

All Dogs Go To Heaven inspired tattoo

brittkneelynch Report

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#61

Hades From Hercules Tattoo

Hades from Hercules arm tattoo

aprilteixeira.art Report

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#63

Patrick Star Tattoo

Unique Patrick Star arm tattoo

mambotattooer Report

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#64

Cartoon Fish Tattoo

Cartoon fish tattoo

malou_arts Report

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#65

Jessica Rabbit Watercolor Piece

Colorful Jessica Rabbit watercolor arm tattoo

chloeinkflow Report

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#66

Sleeping Beauty And Prince Phillip Tattoo

Watercolor Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip tattoo

"Sleeping Beauty with her prince charming, it's like full circle of love."

carissafarewell Report

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#67

Animated Series Joker Tattoo

Animated series Joker tattoo

"Animated series Joker by Tim Harris at Hope Gallery Tattoo East Haven, CT."

Sausty Report

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#68

Lisa Simpson Tattoo

Lisa Simpson in a heart tattoo

"Lisa Simpson by Alex Strangler."

huffpuff94 Report

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#69

Doraemon And Tororo Tattoo

Colorful Doraemon and Tororo tattoo

polyc_sj Report

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#70

How To Train Your Dragon Tattoo

Toothless and Light Fury from How To Train Your Dragon shoulder tattoo

queenofheartstattoobp Report

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#71

The Powerpuff Girls Tattoo

The Powerpuff Girls as dogs in a heart tattoo

vica.tattoo Report

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#72

Hercules And Megara Tattoo

Hercules and Megara tattoo

yurici_tattoo Report

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#73

Sailor Moon Tattoo

Sailor Moon drinking tattoo

"Sailor Moon drinking “juice” done last year by Emma at Glass Beetle in Santa Rosa, CA."

czechczich Report

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#74

Pokémon Half Sleeve Tattoo

Pokémon inspired half arm sleeve tattoo

"My Pokemon half sleeve. Done by Nick Flanagan at Shogun Tattoo, Salem, NH."

Noxington Report

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#75

Jessie And James From Pokémon Tattoo

Jessie and James from Pokémon and 'Born To Lose' script under tattoo

esco_zcc Report

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#76

Childhood Heroes Tattoos

Childhood cartoon heroes leg sleeve tattoo

mikenofcuk Report

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#78

Simba Tattoo

Cute Simba from The Lion King arm tattoo

zizusdrawing Report

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#79

Batman And Joker Tattoo

Batman and Joker arm tattoo

szelmatattoo_wro Report

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#80

Donnie From The Wild Thornberrys Tattoo

Donnie from The Wild Thornberrys tattoo

ins_tattss Report

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#81

Kanahei Tattoo

Cute Kanahei with Kitsune mask tattoo

to.tattoo.hk Report

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#82

Rafiki From The Lion King Tattoo

Colorful Rafiki from The Lion King tattoo

marta_atzeni_tattoo Report

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#83

Care Bears Tattoo

Cute Care Bears tattoo

cactus.cacta Report

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#84

Adventure Time Tattoo

Adventure Time tattoo

"Finally started the thing; Adventure Time piece by James Mullin at Lotus Tattoo, Hemet, CA."

arcbuffalo Report

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#85

Gen 4 Pokemon Starters Tattoo

Gen 4 Pokemon starters tattoo

"Gen 4 Pokemon starters by Chris at Classic Tattoo in Shellharbour Village."

Skeigel Report

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#86

Chip 'N' Dale Inspired Tattoo

Chip And Dale inspired tattoo

_sweezy_tattoos_scarborough_ Report

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#87

Mort From Madagascar Tattoo

Mort from Madagascar thigh tattoo

ces.art.tattoo Report

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#88

Disney Tattoos

Disney's characters Bambi, Timon & Pumbaa and Minnie Mouse tattoos

RomeoLacoste Report

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Lene
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

#89

Scooby-Doo Tattoo

Scooby-Doo arm tattoo

mellowmadnesstattoo Report

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#90

Casper The Friendly Ghost Tattoo

Casper the Friendly Ghost tattoo

e.loveheartattoo Report

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#91

Yu-Gi-Oh Tattoo

Yu-Gi-Oh forearm tattoo

drewwexelberg Report

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#93

Thomas The Tank Engine Tattoo

Thomas The Tank Engine leg tattoo

pixiemarsh.tattoo Report

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#94

Teletubbies Tattoo

Cute Teletubbies arm tattoo

y.an_ink Report

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#95

Butch Cat Tattoo

Butch Cat arm tattoo

jin051jin Report

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#96

Rugrats Characters Phil And Lil Deville Tattoos

Rugrats characters Phil and Lil DeVille matching leg tattoos

filthytattooart Report

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#97

Dragon Ball Inspired Tattoo

Dragon Ball inspired arm tattoo

parlourno95tattoos Report

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#98

Pokémon Character Eevee Tattoo

Pokémon character Eevee tattoo

truetattoolondon Report

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#99

Snoopy Tattoo

Snoopy tattoo

daniel.montoroo Report

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#100

Anna From Frozen Tattoo

Anna from Frozen tattoo

carissafarewell Report

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#101

Alice In Wonderland Inspired Tattoos

Alice In Wonderland inspired tattoos

tattoosbysteveom4l Report

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#102

Betty Boop Tattoo

Betty Boop talking on phone tattoo

asmodeustattoo Report

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#103

Spongebob Squarepants Tattoo

Doodle style SpongeBob SquarePants tattoo

alenaxmcdonald Report

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#104

Samurai Jack Tattoo

Samurai Jack forearm tattoo

"After years of wanting it I finally got a Samurai Jack tattoo."

Some_guy_named_Lewis Report

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#105

Courage The Cowardly Dog Tattoo

Courage The Cowardly Dog forearm tattoo

sonka_tattoo Report

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#106

Tattoo Of Beerus From Dragon Ball Super

Tattoo of Beerus from Dragon Ball Super

"Tattoo of Beerus from Dragon Ball Super. Done by Andrew Douglas at Neon Dragon Tattoo in Cedar Rapids, Iowa."

syringebinge Report

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#107

SpongeBob And Adventure Time Mashup Tattoo

SpongeBob and Adventure Time mashup arm tattoo

"My SpongeBob and Adventure Time mashup tattoo. Done by Loki Shane Defriece at Silver Fox Tattoo in Atlanta."

Versacejohan Report

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#108

Cute Sailor Moon Tattoo

Cute Sailor Moon arm tattoo

"Sailor Moon by Lilly Sue at Classic Ink & Mods in Amsterdam, The Netherlands."

vomitdogs Report

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#109

Gengar From Pokémon Tattoo

Gengar from Pokémon tattoo

"My Gengar - done by Mary Madsen at Shades Of Grey Tattoos in Edmonton, Canada."

deadszeds Report

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#110

Sailor Moon Crisis Compact Tattoo

Sailor Moon Crisis Compact leg tattoo

"Sailor Moon crisis compact by Ryan Wiebusch at Artcore Tattoo in Seattle, WA."

walnutwhale Report

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#111

Peach And Luigi Tattoo

Peach and Luigi arm tattoo

crybabytattooclub Report

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#112

Lightning Mcqueen Tattoo

Lightning McQueen tattoo

ema_tattoo88 Report

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#113

Cynthia From Rugrats Tattoo

Cynthia from Rugrats and 'Fashion Victim' script under tattoo

rubengcao Report

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#114

Gengar From Pokémon Tattoo

Gengar from Pokémon arm tattoo

amc_tattooer Report

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#115

Adventure Time Tattoo

Adventure Time tattoo

"Adventure Time tattoo done by Patrick Goodwin at Darkside Tattoos."

IAmRighteousDee Report

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#116

The Powerpuff Girls Inspired Tattoo

The Powerpuff Girls inspired tattoo

seannewmantattoo Report

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#117

Disney Snow White Tattoo

Disney Snow White tattoo

"Disney Snow White babushka tattoo by Amie Lee 13 Shinko Tattoo Brisbane Australia."

Putsomemilkinitdummy Report

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#118

The Emperor's New Groove Tattoo

The Emperor's New Groove leg tattoo

saraart__ Report

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#119

Patrick Star Tattoo

Patrick Star leg tattoo

nailed.to.the.x Report

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#120

Hey Arnold! Tattoo

Hey Arnold! tattoo

ramon.garcia.tattoo Report

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