Cartoon Archives - Things&Ink

Yep, yep it is fun… We’re obsessed with the weird and wonderful world of tattoo artist Woo (@lonely_weirdo_club) who’s based in Seoul in Korea. Think Botticelli’s The Birth Of Venus but it’s kewpies wrapped in spaghetti! Yep, told you, we’re OBSESSED. So we couldn’t wait to find out more about Woo’s tattoo journey…

When did you first fall in love with tattoos?

I grew up in Asian culture, which often suppresses individuality, so I’ve always had a resistance to that. Tattoos seemed free and cool, and I became fascinated by them. They provide a way to express our unique identities, which I find amazing.

How long have you been tattooing for and what was it like learning?

I’ve been tattooing for about 16 years now, and I’m still learning. I constantly seek feedback on what to improve and what to maintain in each piece. I strive to upgrade my skills in various ways. My goal is to keep evolving, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

What size needles do you use to tattoo to achieve your bold designs?

I use a variety of sizes, ranging from 7 to 18. However, I mostly work with 11 to 14. A few years ago, I switched entirely to cartridge needles, which has made my process more efficient and versatile.

What was the first tattoo you did on someone?

It was a six-letter name, and at the time I’d only had my machine for less than a month. A friend bravely trusted me and gave me the chance. I was extremely nervous, but the result turned out well. However, I did sweat two litres and ended up feeling unwell afterwards.

How would you define your style?

I’m cautious about labeling my style, as it makes me feel confined. I enjoy presenting my playful perspective on themes and asking, “How about this? Isn’t it fun?” My style is a blend of various inspirations, including American traditional, Japanese, illustration, Japanese culture and street culture.

How did you develop your style to what it is today?

I followed my instincts. I love growth, and I’ve moved in the direction I feel drawn to, which has led me to where I am now. I have a tendency to like things that are unique and fresh.

We agree that your style is super unique; what inspired that?

I drew inspiration from the flexible expression found in American traditional tattooing. I found it fascinating to capture the characteristics of specific subjects and express them in a fun way.

We love your smutty film tattoos. How did these come about? Are people requesting them now?

Thank you so much! Honestly, there wasn’t a specific moment—it just came to me while I was lying down one day. I was inspired by the upside-down kiss scene in Spider-Man. That idea grew and evolved, leading to more designs. Recently, I created a Slam Dunk series, and I’m hoping to turn those into tattoos soon.

What artists do you admire and why?

I’m influenced by the Japanese artist Sabado. He is true to the essence of tattooing and has taught me about understanding the skin, needle and ink design. Sabado is an artist who focuses on quality for personal satisfaction rather than fame, and I strive to follow that path, too. He is often described as a genre in himself, and I couldn’t agree more. I encourage everyone to dive into his incredible charm.

Although not in the tattoo industry, I was deeply inspired by the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The message of collecting beautiful pieces of the world and creating new combinations resonated with me. I feel there’s always something to learn from every artist, and I genuinely try to absorb the wonderful aspects they offer.

One of the most striking moments for me is during the song “Origin of Love,” where you can see the pain of separated souls reflected in the character’s eyes. There’s a scene where Hedwig makes eye contact with the audience, and it stirred something indescribable in me. It’s a film that has broken my preconceived notions and helped me turn weaknesses into strengths, making it an invaluable inspiration for me as an artist.

How do you usually work with customers? Do you mostly do custom work or do you create flash too?

I do both! I enjoy creating designs from my own thoughts, but I also love discovering ideas through my clients’ suggestions.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are?

My work is based in Seoul, which is not very lenient when it comes to tattoos. Because of this, I tend to go on tours abroad.

Are you planning any guest spots? If so, where and how do we book in?

Yes, I often travel around Asia and Europe. I take bookings through direct messages on Instagram – @lonely_weirdo_club.

What has been your favorite tattoo experience?

I love the atmosphere at conventions. Although it can be a bit chaotic, I enjoy the energy of celebrating like a festival. It’s exciting to see people freely enjoying the culture.

What are your hopes for the future?

I want to develop my perspective on the world to be more inclusive. I want to be an artist who captures beauty and expresses it cleverly, transcending prejudice and stereotypes.

Make sure to follow Woo (@lonely_weirdo_club ) on Instagram and find out how you can book your next tattoo.

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.

Our guest blogger is hobbyist film and TV series reviewer and writer Harry Casey-Woodward. On th-ink.co.uk Harry will be writing a series of posts in which he will be sharing his opinions on things he has watched.

Archer, 2009 to present, cert 15-18, creator: Adam Reed, 4/5

I like adult cartoons. There’s something twisted about taking a medium supposedly aimed at kids on Saturday mornings and infecting it with satire and innuendo. One of the best animated comedies you could be watching right now is Archer, the seventh season of which is released next year. You can get seasons one to five on disc and seasons one to six on Netflix. This is spy comedy but it’s no Kim Possible. If you thought Austin Powers was racy you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

The hero of this epic odyssey of madness is Special Agent Sterling Archer, voiced by H. Jon Benjamin who also voices Bob in Bob’s Burgers. Sterling is a secret agent who combines the smooth, violent alcoholism of James Bond with the crass humour and lust of a teenage schoolboy. In other words, although sometimes he is capable of completing missions, dispatching enemies and looking suave, his safety and sanity (along with those of others around him) are often threatened by a dangerous cocktail of arrogance, alcoholism and unbridled lustful enthusiasm.

Archer works for the unfortunately named private spy agency ISIS, owned by his mother Malory (Jessica Walter) who’s a bit of an alcoholic, scheming, selfish megalomaniac. He works alongside fellow agent and ex-girlfriend Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) who despite being a more dependable agent than Archer is often the butt of department jokes due to her race and apparently oversized hands.

The other ISIS employees include Cyril Figgis the accountant, a combination of bitterness, cowardice and depraved lust. There’s Pam, head of human resources who grew up on a dairy farm, has big appetites for food and various perversions (often combined) and performs in bare knuckle fights for extra cash. There’s medicated secretary Cheryl/Carol Tunt who changed her name as Archer kept getting it wrong and enjoys choke sex. Let’s not forget flamboyantly gay agent Ray Gillette (voiced by the writer) and ‘doctor’ Krieger who may or may not be a Nazi clone and whose experiments are always questionable. Archer’s long-suffering, heroin addicted butler Woodhouse deserves a mention.

It’s this combination of such depraved individuals and their conflicted abusive/sexual relations with each other that make this show so enjoyable, as well as the ludicrous situations they’re thrust into. They encounter terrorists, gangsters, prostitutes, pirates, cyborgs, animals and actors in a variety of exotic locations and volatile situations that swiftly descend into graphic cartoon violence and/or sex.

Besides the characters and the plots, the second reason this show is a winner is that it’s a bold contender for the joke-a-minute claim. In other words, it’s really funny. I’m only up to season five and every episode is still as hilarious, energetic and fresh as the first season and sees no sign of letting up, which is remarkable considering how much is packed into each episode. The dark humour is a sophisticated yet coarse blend of political satire, crude innuendos and culture references (though these are not as obvious and frequent as in Family Guy). As with Family Guy and other such shows, Archer does occasionally go too far with the humour, especially when it comes to racial and sexual stereotypes. Then there’s the almost complete sexualisation of the female characters and you can’t help but wonder if the animators are maybe enjoying it too much. Nevertheless this is a spoof of the spy genre and action thrillers in general, which sexualise women without any apologies, whereas the main women in Archer are often vocally concerned about their dignity. I don’t think the show intends to be malicious or degrading about anyone (except their own characters) and their sole intention is to give us an action-packed, no-holds-barred and thoroughly enjoyable if guilty ride. You will never want to get off.

Tag: Cartoon

“I’m cautious about labelling my style, as it makes me feel confined. I enjoy presenting my playful perspective on themes and asking, How about this? Isn’t it fun?” interview with tattoo artist Woo