Madeline was originally a children’s book series, but if you grew up in the ’90s or early 2000s, you’re likely more familiar with the animated television series.
Written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian-American, Madeline is set in a Catholic boarding school in Paris. Madeline is the smallest and youngest child there, and the only one with red hair.
The original Madeline book was published in 1939 with a further five sequels released between 1953 and 1961. Several decades later, Bemelmans’ grandson published an additional six Madeline books.
There was a 1952 animated short released. but it wasn’t for another four decades that Madeline hit our television screens. In 1993, 20 episodes of Madeline aired, with a further 13 following in 1995 along with a name change to The New Adventures of Madeline. The Disney Channel commissioned another 26 episodes which aired in 2000 and 2001.
In 1998 there was a Madeline live-action film and a direct-to-video sequel in 1999 – there are two further films we don’t believe any of you have probably heard of.
Madeline tattoos are quite rare, despite being a book series and television show released in so many countries around the world. It almost makes us what to yell out “something is not right,” just like Miss Clavel.
There’s only two tattoos to share but hopefully they’ll act as motivation for you to think harder about your own Madeline tattoo. You could get a sketchy illustrative piece inspired by the book series, or think about a special memory you may have shared with your parents or loved ones which reading or watching Madeline and how you can combine two concepts for the one piece.
Madeleine and Genevieve tattoo by @shell_valentine_tattoo
Madeline tattoo by @kirabishoppp