Pokemon fans are well-known for their creativity when it comes to their favorite franchise; fan-made games are commonplace in the community, alongside artwork, merchandise, and even some original Pokemon designs. However, one talented tattoo artist has taken the spotlight after sharing an incredible piece that features Gengar alongside the classic Game Boy Color.
Gengar is one of the original 151 creatures from the first generation of Pokemon games, Red and Blue. Moreover, its evolution line – Gastly and Haunter – are the only Ghost-type Pokemon available in these games. As such, it is very popular among fans of the series, particularly those who played the original Pokemon Red and Blue.
Created by TikTok user "tattoosbydan," the tattoo shows Gengar leaping from the screen of a Game Boy Color, joined by its glitchy-appearing counterpart. Both feature Gengar's trademark wide-mouthed smile and starkly curved eyes, highlighting the mischievous nature of the Pokemon that has come to be its defining characteristic. It is a close imitation of Pokemon's cartoon-like style, though it emphasizes the three-dimensional nature of Gengar's round shape, framed by the Game Boy Color. The handheld console, meanwhile, is clearly based on its transparent Atomic Purple model, matching Gengar's primary colors.
Where the piece stands out the most, however, is in its attention to detail. The glitched Gengar features some pixelation across its face, a nod to glitches that were in Pokemon Red and Blue. The "Game Boy Color" text across the front of the console's screen is a near-perfect emulation of the real thing, down to the colors and crooked font. In addition, tattoosbydan even nailed the chip in the lower left corner of the Game Boy Color, a key feature of its transparent cover. Each button is labeled just as they are on the original console, and there is even a hint of the charging port and volume dial on the left side.
In all, it is an incredible piece of artwork and one that Pokemon fans have been raving about in the video's comments. Though the Game Boy Color hasn't been in production since 2003, as one of the best-selling systems of all time, it clearly made a mark on the Pokemon community as a whole. Gengar, meanwhile, remains a fan favorite, being the subject of creepypastas, fan art, and more. As Pokemon achieves even greater success as a franchise, it becomes important to remember its origins, and artwork such as tattoosbydan's ensures that fans both new and old can look back fondly on the series' history.