Any fan of anime knows about one of the all-time greatest anime series in the world: Naruto! The beloved show is celebrated as possibly the best adaptation of a Japanese Manga in the world.
If you’re hoping to get a tattoo commemorating the excellent characters, designs, and storytelling elements from Naruto, you’ve likely considered choosing Gaara of the Desert for your illustration.
As an impactful villain in the first half of the show, with a powerful redemption arc in the second, Gaara is an inspiring figure to ink. In fact, he’s rarely out of the top ten Naruto characters lists online!
What is the History of Gaara Tattoos?
Before selecting the desert ninja as your tattoo design, it’s a great idea to brush up on the character’s history.
Gaara was designed by Masashi Kishimoto for his manga, Naruto. He was meant to be a foil, or a dark mirror image of the main character, Naruto. Because Gaara and Naruto have similar character histories and are alike in age, Naruto’s best qualities and deepest flaws are put on display any time he and Gaara interact.
One of the ways the red-headed shinobi is similar to the title character of the series is that he, also, is considered a host to a Tailed Beast. In addition, he grew up with great expectations for his future, such as controlling his abilities and leading the Sungakure group, much like the high expectations placed on Naruto.
In personality, however, Gaara is very different from the main hero. Instead of being cheerful and playful, the boy is ruthless, angry, and starts out wanting nothing more than to kill as many people as possible. Instead of having loving people on his side, he is often at odds with his dysfunctional family and teammates. He is a formidable foe against the heroes.
However, by the second half of the story, both in the television show and the manga, Gaara of the Desert has a change of heart and decides to start protecting others instead of destroying them. He even becomes leader of the Sungakure, accepted by his own people!
Aside from his compelling story, the character is also beloved thanks to his genius design. Initially, Kishimoto drew the shinobi with a complex outfit, but this changed to be simpler to draw in later years. His high-collared outfit is reminiscent of costumes from The Matrix film, and his dark eyeliner, red hair, and Japanese symbol for “love” carved over his left temple.
For his redemptive storyline and inspiring design, Naruto’s rival makes a great addition to any collection of tattoos!
What Do Gaara Tattoos Symbolize?
The symbolic significance of these tattoos has to do with the character himself.
Because he was initially introduced to the story as a villain who encompasses many of the things that the hero rejects, such as hatred and murder, the character is often a symbol of ruthlessness.
However, in light of his redemption, the character symbolizes hope and new beginnings. His design includes the Japanese kanji for the word “love,” which was initially supposed to allude to how much Gaara thinks of himself. However, when his character decides to start helping others, the word takes on a new, self-sacrificial meaning.
All in all, the symbolism behind this character is deep and self-reflective.
One of the most poignant elements of the character is the abuse and distance he felt from his family at an early age, eventually overcoming these memories and choosing to be a hero. This is perhaps the most powerful symbol associated with tattoos of the shinobi anti-hero.
What Do Gaara Tattoos Mean?
Tattoos of Naruto’s rival have plenty of different meanings! Sometimes they are associated simply with a love for epic stories and cool anime, and sometimes they can mean that the wearer finds something in Gaara’s tragic backstory or redemptive arc that they can relate to.
Check out the list below to see some of the most popular, meaningful tattoos:
- Character Headshot
- Childhood Headshot
- Love Kanji
Let’s take a closer look at some of these most popular choices and what they may mean for the wearer.
Character Headshot
Thanks to his iconic and well-circulated design, Gaara of the Desert tattoos that simply show off the character’s face, grim and staring, are a popular choice. The dark lineart surrounding his eyes and the Japanese word above his brow are sure to catch the notice of others.
This tattoo is most commonly an indicator that the wearer just loves the Naruto manga or anime. However, any association with Gaara can mean that the wearer also relates more to a darker character with a hard road to redemption than they do the plucky hero.
Childhood Headshot
One of the most endearing, but sad elements of the character’s history is his troubled childhood. This tattoo usually features both Gaara’s typical grim, violent expression, and a stylistic impression of him as an infant holding a teddy bear.
This contrast between an innocent but unhappy child and an equally unhappy, ruthless teenager are striking, and they may mean that the wearer can relate to the abuse or sadness he suffered before reaching adulthood.
A deeper meaning may have to do with the way that the events of our childhood and how others perceive us can lead to rash, unkind behavior in the future.
Love Kanji
Famously, Gaara has the symbol for “love,” which he carved into his left temple, as a prominent part of his character design. Fans of the character will instantly associate any tattoo of this kanji with him.
One possibly deeper meaning behind this tattoo is the idea of loving oneself, which the shinobi ardently believes in during the beginning of his story, but changes to loving others near the end of his story.
Characteristics and Styles of Gaara Tattoos
Gaara tattoos are known to come in many different styles, and even feature a variety of characteristics. Colored tattoos of this character are popular, because his red hair and green eyes, as well as the red love kanji he wears, are helpful in setting him apart among anime characters.
However, it isn’t uncommon to find plain black tattoos of Gaara, especially if they are styled to look sketched or ripped out of the pages of a manga. They usually feature the character’s face or the character from the waist up. It is also typical to see a tattoo that doesn’t include the character, only the kanji he is famous for wearing over his temple.
Where Do Gaara Tattoos Usually Go?
Tattoos of Gaara usually go on the hand or arm, thanks to the usual headshot characteristics of the illustrations. One or two brave tattoo wearers may get the same kanji the character wears tattooed on their face or temple in homage to him.
Summary
In summary, Gaara tattoos are varied in style, but almost always signify that the wearer loves the story of Naruto! They are typically colored to show off his unique character design and are seen in smaller locations, like the hand or face. They symbolize new beginnings and love.
