Seattle’s viral critter Jimothy the raccoon inspires tattoo trend

He’s short-spined, a little wobbly on his tootsies, unmistakably quirky and an utter delight to those who know him. Jimothy the raccoon has gone from local curiosity to full-blown cultural mascot, and now he’s finding a permanent home on people’s epidermis in the Pacific Northwest.

Tattoo shops in Seattle’s hipster neighborhood Ballard, where Jimothy has been spotted, are fielding a surge of requests for the singular raccoon as ink masters turn the fluffy new meme king into everything from traditional-style flash to more stylized, grandiose interpretations.

Laura Exley of Electric Kitten Tattoo said she’s booked more than a dozen Jimothy tattoos this past week alone after posting a simple design. 

“I think he’s kind of become a symbol of resilience,” Exley told The California Post. “He’s just going through life a little bit differently and thriving with a little help from his friends. We all just need a little brevity and something fun right now.”

The raccoon first captured attention for his distinctive gait as he was seen scuttling around Ballard. 

What started as local heads swiveling and cause for concern among wildlife lovers quickly crescendoed into a national phenomenon, with Jimothy representing Seattle’s embrace of the imperfect yet oddly endearing.

Tattoo artist Levi Walker Polzin at Slave to the Needle approached the design by distilling Jimothy down to his essence — the tucked head, bulbous bod, twiglet legs. 

“Jimothy is all of us who never quite fit in,” Polzin said. “Jimothy is hope. Jimothy is a happiness you forgot you still had.”

For many getting inked, the tattoo goes beyond a meme. It captures a moment of joy, community and defiance in uncertain times. 

Local comedian Erica Tausch was among the first to get inked with the now-familiar design, and the first by Polzin, who charges $160-$250 for his Jimothy design.

A longtime client who has trusted Polzin with much of her growing collection of indelible inkings, Tausch jumped at the chance when she saw the flash sheet of another local artist Julie Bolene, who also happens to be Polzin’s wife.

Bolene had apparently tattooed one of the first Jimothy tattoos in Seattle, and has since leaned into the virality of the “Jimoment,” inking one to three per week since then and even producing stickers and art prints dedicated to the remarkable raccoon.

Tausch got her Jimothy on her inner knee — a painful spot, but worth it for the small design.

“It brings me a lot of joy and happiness,” she told The Post. “When I look at him and just the joy that he brings other people, it’s just something I wanted to see on my body. I already love raccoons, but Jimothy’s like next level.”

For Tausch, the tattoo isn’t about chasing a trend. “It’s not really about being relevant for me. It was more just because it brings me joy… and to get it in the neighborhood where he’s living. I just felt like it gave me a lot of joy. If it doesn’t stay popular, it doesn’t really matter to me.”

She even posted a photo of her fresh Jimothy ink alongside the classic “no ragrets” tattoo meme. “It’s my body, you know, and it brings me joy. So that’s all that matters.”

Artists note that while trends come and go, Jimothy feels different. Exley — who is offering her signature Jimothy tattoos at her minimum charge of $150 — has completed several pieces already and has more lined up. Some clients request small tweaks, but many are happy with the flash-style versions.

Tausch, who performs comedy in Seattle and Tacoma, has already tried working Jimothy into her comedy act. She sees him as a symbol of acceptance. “People love the quirkiness of him being different but also so cute… and how accepted he is by his family.”

Despite the buzz, the artists and fans remain protective of not only the real Jimothy, but also their respective homages. While some who’ve gone under the needle balked at the chance to discuss their new tattoos, Tausch admits she’s never seen him in person and prefers to love him from afar. 

“I support him being out there, but I don’t really want to add to the volumes of people seeking him out. I want to keep him protected.”

“Like most myths, it’s best if they stay as one,” Polzin said. “Let raccoons be raccoons and all that jazz.”

As the tattoo trend spreads, Jimothy has solidified his status as a hyper-local mascot for Ballard and a quirky emblem for the Pacific Northwest’s love of wildlife and weirdness. Whether the ink holds up as a lifelong reminder of difference and resilience or simply a fun story to tell, one thing is clear: Seattle can’t get enough of this little guy.

And if the needles keep buzzing, move over, Rocket, because Jimothy may end up one of the most permanently documented raccoons in history.

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