Inkblot Art Academy

Inkblot Art Academy is a multiplayer stage in Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3. It takes place in the lot between two school buildings, including a small park, parking lot, and campus pond.

Layout

Inkblot Art Academy features two elevated areas by the spawn points that lead into the central area of the stage. There are water hazards on the side of the stage and two hand-shaped statues that players can jump atop of.^[1]

The spawn point is set at the highest point and far edges of the stage by the streets surrounding the school. Going to the right leads to the greater portion of the stage while going forwards leads to a narrow alleyway that drops down to one of the side gardens. The stage features many different levels and elevations, with the area closest to the spawn point taking place between buildings. In front of the building after leaving the spawn is a lot with a clam statue, which can be accessed from on top of the building. The only way to access this lot normally is from an uninkable ramp behind a wall to the corresponding team's right side. Beyond each team's statue lot is the main plaza, which is a flat battle area with the main obstacle being the tall display at the center of the map which can be climbed on. To each team's left is a ramp leading to the lower garden which contains a tree and a block as obstacles. When in the opposing team's statue lot, there is a single wall on a building that can be inked to reach up and into the team's spawn area.

Ranked Battle terrain

In Ranked Battles, specifications for the terrain or placement of objects are different between the modes; these changes create new paths or new objects to take cover behind.

Splat Zones

The Splat Zone is located at the center of the stage. The top of the display case does not count towards the zone. The only change made to the stage is the inclusion of a single inkable block in the lower lot, creating an additional means of getting to the center of the stage.

Tower Control

The Tower is located at the center of the stage in place of the display case. Two large inkable layered blocks have been added in the center of the stage to both provide coverage and a vantage point. Additional ramps have been added in the lower lot for easier access back to the center, as well as two more prominent ramps in each team's statue lot, which allow much easier access into each team's spawn areas. A block has been added, allowing another path into the opposing team's statue lot, as well as another on the left going up the building. The block that outlooked the middle of the map is smaller, and a wall has been added on the grates so they cannot be used as a vantage point. The Tower travels left around the wall, up the ramp into the opposing team's statue lot before going across the entire area and finishing by going up the ramp and stopping in the parking lot in front of the spawn point.

In Splatoon 2, checkpoints have been added:
Checkpoint	Location	Timer (Seconds)	Progress amount
			Before	After	Total
1	The first checkpoint is located between the wall in front of each team's uninkable ramp and the new block.	5	86	76	10
2	The second checkpoint is located in the opposing team's statue lot.	5	55	45	10
3	The third checkpoint is right before the ramp leading toward the goal.	5	20	12	8

Splatoon 3 checkpoints:
Checkpoint	Location	Timer (Seconds)	Progress amount
			Before	After	Total
1	The first checkpoint is located between the wall in front of each team's uninkable ramp and the new block.	5	86	76	10
2	The second checkpoint is located in the opposing team's statue lot.	5	55	45	10
3	The third checkpoint is located before the ramp leading toward the goal.	4	20	12	8

Rainmaker

The Rainmaker is located at the center of the stage in place of the display case. The goal is located in the parking lot in front of the opposing team's spawn point. The large inkable blocks, the ramps, and the wall to the left are present in this mode, but the block on the right and the wall on the grates are not included. There is another inkable wall, however, the block that overlooks the middle of the stage got bigger, and the statues in the lot have been rotated 90 degrees to the left.

In Splatoon 3, the climbable wall in front of the uninkable ramp is removed. The checkpoint is located there. The inkable wall to the left is removed and an Inkrail is added to the left of it to allow access to the other team's raised area.

Clam Blitz

The basket on this stage is located at the far back of the opposing team's statue lot. The 2 inkable walls are present, the display glass has been replaced by a bumper, the large inkable structures have been rotated 180 degrees, the platforms from Tower Control have been expanded, the block that outlooks the center is only inkable from the front and top, both ramps are gone, and the ramp that leads to the same area as the inkable block from Tower Control is replaced by a sponge.

In Splatoon 3, the Clam Basket is pushed further back onto the team's raised area. The block allowing access to the basket is replaced with a ramp for easier access. The Inkrail from Rainmaker is present.

Splatoon 2

Version history

Version	Adjustments
1.2.0	Inking the trees growing in The Reef and Inkblot Art Academy stages will no longer earn points or fill the special gauge. Fixed an issue occurring at specific points in Inkblot Art Academy where players returning to the point of activation after using the Inkjet special or landing after executing a Super Jump would occasionally fall through the stage.
1.4.0	Fixed an issue in Inkblot Art Academy causing players readying a roller or brella at specific locations in the stage to fall through it.
2.1.0	Adjusted placement of objects in Rainmaker. Added platforms and a slope leading up to the center from the open spaces on the left and right of the map. Increased size of the boxes used to climb into the enemy base from the center of the stage, and adjusted the look to match the stage. Added inkable box for climbing to a high point in the opponents' base, to the left when viewed from the player's base. Adjusted the direction and position of the white objects in each base. Adjusted placement of objects in Tower Control. Added platforms and a slope leading up to the center from the open spaces on the left and right of the map.
4.0.0	Fixed an issue allowing players super jumping from a certain location to reach an elevated position that should be inaccessible.
4.7.0	Fixed an issue causing players Super Jumping to a location near the narrow pathway to the left of the spawn point to mistakenly clip into the stage terrain.
5.0.0	Fixed an issue allowing players to clip inside a specific piece of stage terrain. Fixed an issue making a specific wall impossible to climb smoothly depending on the way it had been inked.
5.5.0	Fixed an issue where the player could get over a specific cover and enter the opponent's side in Turf War, Splat Zones, and Rainmaker on Inkblot Art Academy.

Maps

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  Turf War

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  Splat Zones

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  Tower Control

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  Rainmaker

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  Clam Blitz

Gallery

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  Inkblot Art Academy during a Splatfest.

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  Turf War (Splatfest) icon for Inkblot Art Academy.

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  Early image of Inkblot Art Academy.

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  Locker decoration of one of plaster bust sculpture.

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  Locker decoration of one of plaster face sculpture.

Splatoon 3

Inkblot Art Academy returns in Splatoon 3. Other than the spawn relocation to fit with the spawners, it is visually unchanged.

Version history

Version	Adjustments
1.2.0	— Fixed an issue where a Wave Breaker placed along a certain wall would break immediately after being placed. — In Tower Control mode, slightly adjusted the route of the tower and fixed an issue where the player would become unable to move on top of the small gap between the tower and terrain.
2.0.0	— Fixed an issue where players could jump to boards outside the stage.
2.1.0	— Fixed an issue that allowed you to climb unintended walls.
4.0.0	— Fixed an issue that prevented players from submerging in ink on the edges of some terrain. — Fixed an issue that sometimes caused sub weapons thrown on certain spots to stop on those spots.
4.1.0	— Fixed an issue in Rainmaker mode where there were points where the goal distance did not change as intended.
5.0.0	— Fixed an issue in Rainmaker mode where foes behind certain thin walls sometimes took damage when a Rainmaker shot was fired at those walls.
6.0.0	— Fixed an issue in Rainmaker mode where the countdown would not speed up if a player carried the Rainmaker back to the top of certain walls in their own base.

Big Run

Inkblot Art Academy is where the second Big Run event occurred. There are three tides: normal and low tides both take place in the middle, though the egg basket is placed where the clam statue is normally found at normal tide and at the exact center of the stage during low tide, while high tide takes place at the spawn area. Five gushers are placed throughout the stage to allow Salmonids to spawn during normal and low tides; at normal tide, only one is active, while four are active at low tide. As usual for Big Run, Mudmouth Eruptions, Goldie Seeking, Cohock Charge, and Giant Tornado are unavailable; unusually, The Griller can occur during low tide.

Quotes

View the quotation page.

Maps

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  Turf War

• 

  Splat Zones

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  Tower Control

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  Rainmaker

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  Clam Blitz

Gallery

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  The right side of the spawn area.

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  A screenshot from the stage's Big Run.

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  Another screenshot

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  Inkblot Art Academy during a Big Run.

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  During a Big Run, with minor revisions to the stage.

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  Posters found in Inkblot Art Academy.

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  More posters

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  Artwork found on one team's spawn region.

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  Artwork found on the other team's spawn region.

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  The Clam statue.

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  A building with posters on the outside.

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  A Jellyfish working inside a building.

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  Jellyfish art in style of Vitruvian Man.

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  Splatter artwork on reverse side.

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  Inkblot Art Academy's logo as seen in certain windows found on the map.

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  Player observing an Ink Storm in the sky.

Trivia

• During a Splatfest, the phones could be heard ringing periodically, followed by odd noises sounding like Inklings. They also sound similar to those of the Squid Beakon.
• Pearl says that her and Marina's outfits are designed by a graduate of Inkblot Art Academy, whereupon Marina wonders if she wrote her thesis on "ridiculously large zippers".^[2]
• Off the Hook has performed during Inkblot's music festival, during which Pearl broke several sculptures when she started a mosh pit.^[2]
• Pearl mentions that the salad in the cafeteria here is all-you-can-eat.^[2]
• Inkblot is said to be one of Off the Hook's sponsors.^[2]
• The early name of this stage was "Silversea Art Academy".^[3]
• The painting in the center of the stage that depicts a jellyfish appears to be a reference to Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.
• Inkblot Art Academy and Sturgeon Shipyard are the only stages to have been available at launch in multiple games.

Etymology

Inkblot is a reference to Rorschach tests, a psychological test that involves showing the subject an inkblot and recording their perceptions.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	海女美術大学 ama bijutsu daigaku	Ama Art University. It is a parody of Tama Art University.
Dutch	Koraalcampus	Coral campus
French (NOA)	Institut Calm'arts	From calmar (squid) and art, institute
French (NOE)	Institut Calam'arts	From calamar (squid) and art, institute
German	Perlmutt-Akademie	Nacre Academy
Italian	Campus Hippocampus	Hippocampus is the scientific name for Seahorses (it plays on the fact that "Hippocampus" contains "campus" in it)
Russian	Академия «Лепота» Akademiya «Lepota»	«Beauty» academy[note 1]
Spanish	Instituto Coralino	Coral Institute
Chinese (Simplified)	海女美术大学 hǎinǚ měishù dàxué (Mandarin)	Orthographic borrowing from Japanese name; literally Sea Women's Art University
Chinese (Traditional)	海女美術大學 hǎinǚ měishù dàxué (Mandarin)	Orthographic borrowing from Japanese name; literally Sea Women's Art University
Korean	해녀 미술 대학 haenyeo misul daehak	Orthographic borrowing from Japanese name; literally Sea Women's Art University
Portuguese	Inkblot Art Academy	Same as English
Internal	Upland[4]

Translation notes

References

Locations in Splatoon 2

Places Inkopolis (Inkopolis Square) • Deca Tower (Lobby) • Grizzco Industries • The Shoal • Galleria • Test range • Octo Canyon (Octarian domes) • Deepsea Metro (Central Station) Stages The Reef • Musselforge Fitness • Starfish Mainstage • Humpback Pump Track • Inkblot Art Academy • Sturgeon Shipyard • Moray Towers • Port Mackerel • Manta Maria • Kelp Dome • Snapper Canal • Blackbelly Skatepark • MakoMart • Walleye Warehouse • Shellendorf Institute • Arowana Mall • Goby Arena • Piranha Pit • Camp Triggerfish • Wahoo World • New Albacore Hotel • Ancho-V Games • Skipper Pavilion • Shifty Station Shifty Stations Wayslide Cool • The Secret of S.P.L.A.T. • Goosponge • Windmill House on the Pearlie • Fancy Spew • Zone of Glass • Cannon Fire Pearl • The Bunker Games • Grapplink Girl • Zappy Longshocking • A Swiftly Tilting Balance • Sweet Valley Tentacles • The Switches • The Bouncey Twins • Railway Chillin' • Gusher Towns • The Maze Dasher • Flooders in the Attic • The Splat in our Zones • The Ink is Spreading • Bridge to Tentaswitchia • The Chronicles of Rolonium • Furler in the Ashes • MC.Princess Diaries Salmon Run stages Spawning Grounds • Marooner's Bay • Lost Outpost • Salmonid Smokeyard • Ruins of Ark Polaris Octo Canyon Tentakeel Outpost • Suction-Cup Lookout • Beaker's Depot • Slimeskin Garrison • Cephalon HQ Shops Ammo Knights • Headspace • Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe • Shella Fresh • Crust Bucket Other Inkopolis Café • Inkopolis News Studio • Calamari County • Mount Nantai • Inkopolis Tower

Locations in Splatoon 3

Places The Splatlands (Splatsville) • Inkopolis (Inkopolis Plaza • Inkopolis Square) • Lobby tower / Inkopolis Tower / Deca Tower (Lobby • Test range • Locker room) • Grizzco Industries • The Shoal • Tableturf Battle Dojo • Train station • Booyah Base • Galleria • The Crater • Alterna • Memverse (Order Sector • Spire of Order) • Grand Festival Grounds Stages Scorch Gorge • Eeltail Alley • Hagglefish Market • Undertow Spillway • Mincemeat Metalworks • Hammerhead Bridge • Museum d'Alfonsino • Mahi-Mahi Resort • Inkblot Art Academy • Sturgeon Shipyard • MakoMart • Wahoo World • Brinewater Springs • Flounder Heights • Um'ami Ruins • Manta Maria • Barnacle & Dime • Humpback Pump Track • Crableg Capital • Shipshape Cargo Co. • Robo ROM-en • Bluefin Depot • Marlin Airport • Lemuria Hub • Grand Splatlands Bowl Salmon Run stages Spawning Grounds • Sockeye Station • Gone Fission Hydroplant • Marooner's Bay • Jammin' Salmon Junction • Salmonid Smokeyard • Bonerattle Arena Alterna Future Utopia Island • Cozy & Safe Factory • Cryogenic Hopetown • Landfill Dreamland • Eco-Forest Treehills • Happiness Research Lab • Alterna Space Center (The Spirit Lifter) Shops Ammo Knights • Naut Couture • Cooler Heads • Headspace • Man-o'-Wardrobe • Jelly Fresh • Ye Olde Cloth Shoppe • Crush Station • Shrimp Kicks • Shella Fresh • Hotlantis • Crab-N-Go Other Inkadia (Deepsea Metro • Mount Nantai • Octo Valley • Octo Canyon • Calamari County)