Do you love Studio Ghibli? Between the endearingly simplistic artwork and the magical storylines, Studio Ghibli films are huge worldwide among anime nerds and film-lovers alike.

To celebrate the release of Hayao Miyazaki’s final feature film How Do You Live?, we’re looking at our favourite Studio Ghibli tattoos inked by our talented sponsored artists.

Simon Mora & Isnard Barbosa - Howl’s Moving Castle

“Like moving the castle isn’t hard enough!”

Partly an extension of Calcifer, the steampunk moving Castle is so much a part of the film that it might as well be a character! Simon Mora created this version of the Castle in blackwork, really emphasising how crooked and off-kilter the whole thing is, while Isnard Barbosa’s colour piece of the Castle looks like it’s in motion. He really captures the weirdness of its frog-like “face” - and both clearly show the little cottage which is the Castle’s front door.

Luiz Lacorte & Mauro de la Fuente - Calcifer

“May all your bacon burn!”

Of course, the Castle is powered by Calcifer, the fire demon who provides some of the snarkiest lines in the entire film, while still remaining the literal heart of it. Luiz Lacorte’s neo-traditional take puts this friendly-looking Calcifer in an ornate lamp - which would, frankly, make it easier for him to get around. Mauro de la Fuente’s version contains more dramatic variances in colour, as well as embers around the edge of the flames. He’s finished the piece with tattoo-style lettering of Sophie’s most famous line from the film.

Nick Limpens & Michael Taguet - Howl & Sophie

“I give up. I see no point in living if I can’t be beautiful.”

Howl has to be one of the most vain characters in any Studio Ghibli film - and these films are filled with flawed people! Nick Limpens created this black and grey depiction of Howl and Calcifer, using blue to highlight the wizard’s piercing eyes, while Michael Taguet’s full Ghibli sleeve features the moment that Howl - disguised as the King - whisks Sophie away from danger.

Jairo Carmona & Cloto - Totoro

“To-to-ro? You’re Totoro!”

If you’ve got that song in your head now…sorry. Totoro isn’t just the name of the largest kami we meet in My Neighbor Totoro - it’s actually the name of the species, of which we meet several! Jairo Carmona uses a comic-style frame around this group of three totoros, maintaining the simplistic colour and style of the original film. Cloto’s interpretation shows a cartoonified version of the creature, surrounded by soot sprites and carrying a fried breakfast.

Nadine Dohr & Toni Angar - Cat Bus

“Everybody, try laughing. Then whatever scares you will go away!”

Although only appearing for a few moments, the Cat Bus is one of the most popular motifs for a Studio Ghibli tattoo. Nadine Dohr’s handpoked Cat Bus is adorable, creating a simplified blackwork version of this expressively-animated vehicle. Toni Angar’s neo-traditional Japanese piece works a mischievous-looking Cat Bus into the design of a Daruma doll, for a unique tattoo!

Kati Berinkey & Ange Pele - Spirited Away

“Welcome the rich man, he’s hard for you to miss. His butt keeps getting bigger, so there’s plenty there to kiss!”

Sometimes you love a film so much you don’t want just one character, but a whole medley of them! In Kati Berinkey’s piece she’s used her avant-garde style to create a cool mash-up of Spirited Away characters, including No Face, the soot sprites and the creepy Kashira. Ange Pele’s black and grey rendition features a large Chihiro, No Face, the soot sprites, and of course Haku with a cloud motif drawing them all together.

Ubik Maja & Guillaume Martins - No Face

“Hey, boss! It's me! I'm hungry! Why don't you wake everyone up?”

Spirited Away is full of disasters, but perhaps the biggest is when Chihiro invites No Face into the bath house. Slightly creepy at first appearance, this lonely spirit soon becomes a ravenous monster, devouring all he sees in the bathhouse. Ubik Maja created this lovely, if a little sad, chrysanthemum tattoo featuring No Face with other traditional Japanese elements, while Guillaume Martins went for a monstrous black and grey version of the spirit that’s so much creepier than anything the film could have shown!

Kevin McNamara & Samanta Annie - Haku

“I remember you falling into my river, and I remember your little pink shoe.”

Haku is one of the most incredible creatures from Studio Ghibli - a river turned into a dragon, who falls in love with a lost human girl. There are a lot of Haku tattoos out there, but this blackwork piece by Kevin McNamara is particularly remarkable for its stark boldness. Samanta Annie took a slightly softer approach with a colour realism version of the dragon, allowing you to see his fur - and of course he’s joined by a soot sprite!

Matt Daniels & Mara Lemmert - Chihiro & Zeniba

“Once you’ve met someone, you never really forget them.”

Haku gets a lot of love, but it’s Chihiro who’s the real star of this story. Matt Daniels created this Omamori of Chihiro and Haku’s heartfelt reunion, framed by flowers and friendly soot sprites in his own neo-traditional style. Mara Lemmert made a huge sleeve filled with different elements of Ghibli films, but we really loved this Zeniba with her hopping lantern  - or is it Yubaba?

Nicklas Wong & Sandra Daukshta - Princess Mononoke

“That woman is evil, and there's no one who can stop me from killing her.”

We had real trouble whittling our options down to just a few from Princess Mononoke - there are so many clever interpretations of the theme! Nicklas Wong put the emphasis of this sleeve on the Princess’s wolf Moro, using a silhouetted image at the bottom to show Mononoke riding her mount. His colour work is a vibrant and faithful interpretation of the film itself, while Sandra Daukshta brings Mononoke to the real world with this colour realism portrait of the beautiful young warrior holding her knife.

Michelle Maddison & Tiggy - Porco Rosso & Pom Poko

“I’d rather be a pig than a fascist”.

While all Studio Ghibli films are magical, some end up being overlooked - like Porco Rosso, the story of a fighter pilot cursed with the face of a pig, who refuses to fight for the new fascist government of Italy. Michelle Maddison’s iconic portrait of the pig captures his signature thumbs up and porcine grin! Tiggy took on a character from another underrated Ghibli film - this is Ponkichi, a tanuki unable to transform, who delivers the very last line of Pom Poko to the audience. His message of protecting the world for all animals is central to the film.

Gaby Castel & Isobel Morton - Kiki’s Delivery Service

“You’d think they’d never seen a girl and a cat on a broomstick before.”

This sweet coming-of-age movie revolves around the confidence crisis of the young witch Kiki. Gaby Castel used her classic geisha style to create this rather sad interpretation of the girl in flight, while Isobel Morton captured so much joy in the face of Kiki’s familiar, Jiji, sitting with her broomstick and satchel bag. It’s been placed right on the difficult elbow spot, worked into a larger Ghibli themed sleeve.

It's the end of our magical Studio Ghibli tattoo collection, and we hope you’ve enjoyed this exploration of the finest Ghibli tattoos our sponsored artists have to offer! Don’t forget to comment on Instagram or Facebook, and share your own Studio Ghibli tattoos!