INK'd

Chicago enjoys a regular roster of pop culture and anime conventions - the largest, C2E2, hosts almost 90,000 attendees, making it one of the largest in the world. Size isn’t everything, though, and recently one of my favorite smaller conventions, Anime Magic, inaugurated a spinoff: Anime Magic INK’d.

While not every nerd out there is covered in tattoos, the Venn diagram of anime lovers and tattoo enthusiasts might as well be a circle, so it makes sense for one one event to bring both subcultures together under one roof. The convention played host to 23 different artists and studios with a wide variety of styles, including everything from manga panels to original art to intricate hand-tapped traditional pieces. I was itching for a new tattoo to celebrate my first bodybuilding competition, so my boyfriend and I got matching Joestar Stars - they even have UV reactive ink so that they glow under black light!

As you might expect from a niche con in it’s first year, INK’d was on the smaller side, taking place across several floors of the Hyatt instead of the Rosemont Convention Center, where the mothership convention occurs. The smaller size didn’t diminish the fun, though - there were still a wide variety of activities for those not in the process of getting INK’d, including a performance from the delightful Oriana Peron, karaoke, a games room, and plenty of vendors to shop with.

Whether or not you’re looking for some new ink or just want another excuse to cosplay or people watch, Anime Magic INK’d is absolutely worth your time. I’m already saving up for the 2025 edition - after such an easy tattooing experience last year, I’m dying to get another amazing piece!