Avatar: The Last Airbender is arguably the greatest American-made, anime-style television series, one that has translated to excellent tattoo designs.
The Last Airbender was set in an Asian-type world, melding martial arts and telekinetic themes into concepts familiar to individuals that watched more standard U.S. cartoons.
Avatar’s main character, Aang, and fellow important characters such as Appa, Korra, Iroh, and Toph, make great subjects for designs, as do the elemental symbols which are close to the heart of the show.
The characters in Avatar manipulate one of the four elements – water, earth, fire, or air – with versions of martial arts described as “bending.” The only individual who can bend all four elements is the “Avatar,” which is Aang’s role in the show.
The following collection of the top 23 Avatar tattoo ideas showcase great cartoon and symbolic designs from the popular show that will provide you with inspiration for an airbending piece of your own.
1. Aang Tattoos
One of the most popular designs is a of Aang, an who later learned to bend the three other elements and became the .
Such power! For the , this has a . It captures the essence of the show, as Aang can bend air, water, earth, and fire. Only the can master all four elements. Only he can keep the peace and maintain balance among the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads.
Aang bends air in this sketch-like , a simpler yet classier image of the .
2. Appa Tattoo Art
Appa, a sky bison, is ‘s spirit guide and oldest friend. He is cuddly and adorable, as this shows, but he can also be aggressive if he detects a threat to Aang. Appa is the last of his kind, just like Aang is the last .
Here’s another version of Appa.
3. Iroh and Korra Tattoo Designs
Retired general Iroh, sometimes called simply as Uncle because he’s Zuko’s uncle, is a former crown prince of the Fire Nation, the aggressor in the franchise. He is a firebending master who loves to drink tea. He is said to have killed the last dragon, hence the dragon in this . He sometimes helps and his friends.
Uncle Iroh drinking tea is a popular . All elements in this leg tattoo, including the orange which brings to mind a glorious sunset, evoke a sense of calm.
Korra is the reincarnation and immediate successor of . She is the lead of the spin-off series The Legend of Korra. She had mastered earth, water, and fire before she learned to become an .
4. Avatar Koi Fish Tattoo Ideas
Koi fish tattoos symbolize beauty and serenity. They take on a in the Chinese , where they symbolize the yin-yang principle of duality and complementary forces in all things. In the world of the , the koi fish represent the Moon and Ocean Spirits that help water benders and maintain balance in the Water Tribes.
Here are showing the beautiful and graceful koi fish .
5. Avatar Elemental Symbol Tattoo Ideas
Some people prefer that are not easily perceived as part of the . Just the elements of air, water, earth, and fire would do. True fans of the series will, however, easily recognize these.
6. Toph Tattoo Ideas
Toph is one of the most powerful earthbending masters. She and Aang are friends, although they clash occasionally. But that’s what friends do anyway.
7. White Lotus Symbol Tattoo Designs
Simple and subtle, the white lotus is perfect for a who wants to stay low-key. It’s the of the Order of the White Lotus, an ancient society devoted to sharing knowledge across all four nations in the universe.
What do Avatar tattoos symbolize?
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the USA’s most beloved cartoons, with fans of the show as kids growing into adults looking to get quality cartoon-style ink.
The most popular designs from the show encompass depictions of the major characters, such as Aang, App, Korra, and Iroh.
For others, it’s the elements that underpin the magic and martial arts of The Last Airbender that people choose to get for their ink.
What style of Avatar tattoo should I get?
While the most popular designs are brightly etched characters in the cartoon style, there are other technical applications that also work in Avatar tattoo designs.
Traditional grayscale pieces work well, giving the tattoo an old-school pencil look that focuses on detail in linework and shading.
For others, a cartoon/anime sensibility can be made more individually appealing through more vivid neo-traditional color use, or even watercolor effects.
How much do Avatar tattoos cost?
A small solid black ink Avatar tattoo can cost in the vicinity of $150-$200. A mid-sized traditional black and gray piece can be around $300-$400 for 2-3 hours of work from an established professional.
As a popular colored tattoo choice, an anime Avatar piece done by an established pro starts at $200 per hour, although something requiring a specialist such as watercolor may cost significantly more.
Always make sure you’ve got a solid idea of the tattoo’s price before sitting in the chair.