Oakland Anime Tattoo — Anime, Manga & Gaming Tattoos at Future Ink

With Annie Serrano (takotaco) — currently booking small to medium pieces at apprentice rates

Looking for an anime tattoo in Oakland? Future Ink is the Bay Area's go-to studio for illustrative anime, manga, concept art, and gaming-inspired tattoo work, with tattoo apprentice Annie Serrano — known as takotaco — leading the lane. Anime tattoos at Future Ink run from small flash pieces (Pokemon, Eevee evolutions, anime characters, cute creatures) to medium custom illustrative work. Apprentice rates make Annie's work more accessible than typical resident-artist pricing at Bay Area shops. The studio is at 5251 Broadway in Temescal, Oakland — open seven days a week, 11 AM to 7 PM.

What anime tattoos does Annie tattoo?

Annie's portfolio centers on illustrative anime and gaming-influenced work. The most-requested subjects:

Pokemon tattoos — direct Pokemon designs (Pikachu, Eevee evolutions, Jigglypuff, original Pokedex art, etc.)
Anime character tattoos — characters from popular series, single-character portraits, or stylized group pieces
Manga panel tattoos — adapting iconic panels into tattoo form
Studio Ghibli tattoos — Totoro, Soot Sprites, characters from Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, et
Gaming-inspired tattoos — characters and motifs from video games (Nintendo, Pokemon, RPG worlds)
Original illustrative work — cute creatures, animals in anime-influenced style (bunnies, cats, wizards, snakes)
Flash sheets — pre-designed small pieces at fixed prices, available for first-come booking

Annie works in both black-and-grey and color. For larger or more complex anime work, the design phase is collaborative — expect to discuss line weight, color choices, and how the source material translates to tattoo form.

How much does an Oakland anime tattoo cost?

Anime tattoo pricing at Future Ink falls into two ranges, depending on the artist and the scope:

Apprentice rates with Annie — accessible pricing for small to medium pieces (flash, custom small illustrative work, single-character pieces). Apprentice flash pieces start around $55 for simple designs. Custom pricing is discussed at consultation.
Senior-artist rates — for larger, more complex anime work or pieces requiring resident-artist execution (color saturation work, large-scale illustrative back pieces, etc.), pricing matches Future Ink's standard resident-artist range of $200-300/hour.

Apprentice rates with Annie are typically 30-50% lower than resident-artist pricing for comparable work. This makes Annie a real-value option for clients who want quality anime tattoo work without the wait list and price tag of senior artists.

What references work best for an anime tattoo?

For the best results, bring as much specific reference as possible. Annie translates source material directly — the more concrete the reference, the cleaner the final tattoo. Helpful references:

Source material — anime title, episode and timestamp if you have a specific frame in mind, game name and character, manga volume and page
Multiple angles — for characters, having 2-3 different reference images helps Annie capture the design accurately
Style preference — black-and-grey vs. color, line-heavy vs. shaded
Body placement — where you want the piece, with rough dimensions
Watching for line weight — how thick the lines should be (affects readability over time)

If you're not sure what you want yet, that's fine — Annie can adapt source material into tattoo-appropriate compositions during the consultation. Just bring whatever direction you have and we'll work from there.

How big can an anime tattoo be?

Annie currently focuses on small and medium pieces — flash, single-character portraits, smaller custom illustrative work. As an apprentice, she's actively building her portfolio with pieces in this scope range:

Flash pieces (2-3 inches): single session, 30-90 minutes
Small custom (3-4 inches): single session, 1-2 hours
Medium custom (4-6 inches): single session, 2-4 hours
Multi-element compositions: may require 2-3 sessions
Larger anime work (sleeves, back pieces): we recommend discussing with Future Ink's senior artists for complex large-scale color and detail work

How do I book an anime tattoo at Future Ink Oakland?

Three ways to book:

Message Annie directly on Instagram at @heytakotaco.tattoo — DMs are the fastest way to discuss your idea, see flash availability, and confirm pricing
Email Future Ink at info@futureink.co — include reference images, your placement preference, and your time-frame
Call (510) 200-8065 — during studio hours (11 AM – 7 PM, seven days a week)

For anime or gaming pieces, include the source material in your initial inquiry — anime title, game name, character name, or a screenshot/image. This lets Annie give you accurate pricing and timeline at first contact.

Frequently asked questions

Can Annie tattoo my favorite anime character?

In most cases, yes — Annie works extensively from source material including anime, manga, video games, and original character art. Bring the reference (anime title, character name, screenshot) in your initial message. For copyrighted characters, the tattoo is for personal use and we don't replicate exact licensed merchandise.

Are anime tattoos with Annie really cheaper than at other Oakland shops?

Yes. As a tattoo apprentice, Annie's rates are intentionally more accessible than resident-artist pricing. Small flash pieces start around $55 — significantly below the $200-300/hr senior-artist rates standard at most Bay Area tattoo studios. Apprentice rates reflect her growing experience, not the quality of her work.

Does Annie do color or only black-and-grey anime tattoos?

Both. Annie works in black-and-grey and color depending on the piece. Color anime tattoos take longer (each color requires its own pass for saturation) but add depth and fidelity to source material. We'll discuss color vs. black-and-grey at consultation.

Can I get a Pokemon tattoo at Future Ink?

Yes — Pokemon is one of Annie's most-requested subjects. She's done Eevee evolutions, Jigglypuff, Pikachu, Pokedex art, and many original adaptations. Bring the specific Pokemon (or several) in your inquiry.

Where is Future Ink located in Oakland?

5251 Broadway, Oakland CA 94618 — on the Temescal/Rockridge border, between 52nd and 53rd Streets. About 5 minutes from Rockridge BART or MacArthur BART. Open seven days a week, 11 AM to 7 PM. See our Temescal location page for hyperlocal directions.

How long does an anime tattoo take to heal?

Standard tattoo healing — surface heals in 2-3 weeks, full healing at 4-6 weeks. Anime tattoos with dense color or fine line work may need extra care during healing to preserve the line work clarity. Annie provides aftercare instructions at every session.

Ready to book an anime tattoo in Oakland? Message Annie on Instagram at @heytakotaco.tattoo, email info@futureink.co, or call (510) 200-8065. Or walk in to Future Ink at 5251 Broadway, Oakland — seven days a week, 11 AM to 7 PM.