[Ellen Joe cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero Shark Maid's Special Drink Moment at Zhuhai anime convention

For the first day of shooting at the Zhuhai anime convention, I chose this monochrome maid dress look. The layering of the costume was crafted with great care; beyond the standard ruffled mini-skirt and hair accessories, the leather straps and metal buckles at the waist were faithfully recreated. For the lower body, I paired it with a black Stocking outfit and glossy black chunky-heeled platform shoes; although they are great for adding height, walking around the vast venue put quite a bit of pressure on the balls of my feet.

For props, I used the heavy mechanical greatsword with built-in illumination effects. The actual center of gravity is concentrated in the middle of the blade. For the low-gravity sliding tackle pose in Photo 2, my legs were spread quite wide; keeping the sword tip steady without letting the blade drag on the ground was a real test of core and arm strength. Thanks to on-site photographer Xiao Qi's swift coordination, the action was captured decisively.

The hairstyle used a black short bob wig with custom highlights, carefully trimming the bangs with textured layers to give the hair a naturally disheveled combat aesthetic. For makeup, I slightly thickened the brow and eye lines and elongated the outer eye corners, aiming to give the gaze a touch of aloofness and cold detachment.

The shoot was mainly conducted near the venue corridors and glass railings, utilizing existing ambient light supplemented with a bit of flash. These indoor shots clearly highlight the subtle sheen of the Stocking outfit and the silhouette of the platform shoes. The sword's glowing effect was achieved via built-in LED tubes on the prop, shining brilliantly in the dimmer hall lighting.

Another detail to manage was carrying the prop. Navigating through the crowded Zhuhai anime convention with such a massive sword was certainly exhausting, but I insisted on bringing it for the completeness of the look. The standing pose in Photo 3 was primarily designed to showcase the direct frontal perspective of the gear, where the proportion between weapon and costume looks nicely balanced on camera.

Originally, we considered taking the greatsword outdoors to shoot in a snowy setting similar to Photo 1's atmosphere. However, due to the tight schedule at the Zhuhai anime convention and the manpower needed for extensive outdoor gear, we decided after weighing options to focus mainly on indoor shooting. Fortunately, the indoor lighting and pillar lines carried a strong cyber-urban feel, pairing well with the character's agile and crisp combat style.

What needed the most adjustment during the entire shoot was maintaining a clean composition while expressing dynamic tension. Especially for poses like Photo 2 that dramatically extend the leg lines, careless framing could easily overfill the frame or make the stance look unbalanced.

Bringing a beloved character to life through Anime convention cosplay is an immensely rewarding experience. While every single costume detail took effort to wear and adjust, seeing the final photos express the character's presence so accurately made all the hard work worthwhile. At every event, I meet so many fellow fans who love Zenless Zone Zero, and casual conversations always make the atmosphere delightful. I am very pleased with how the indoor shots turned out—if everyone can directly feel the faithful details of the gear in this Ellen Joe cosplay, then the mission of this shoot was accomplished.