Today, I shot this Estelle outdoor photoshoot just outside the CD convention grounds. Having just cleared the remake, I resolved immediately that I had to cosplay Estelle. As a newcomer to Nihon Falcom who fell down the rabbit hole through the remake, I dropped straight into the massive Trails series fandom. Estelle is not merely the bright 'Little Sun' of Liberl, but a female protagonist of immense inner strength; her directness, courage, and buoyant energy completely enchanted me. Preparing this cosplay took roughly an entire month from start to finish. Once the garments arrived, fitting and adjustments took priority—especially the green shoulder armor, which required secure, snug fastening so it wouldn't shift around during movement. The waist cincher and utility belts took a bit of getting used to, worn extra tight to sculpt clean lines on camera. The wig was the true soul: finding an orange-red tone that flattered fair skin, hand-shaping the signature cowlick (ahoge) on top with hair wax and spray, and iteratively tuning the twintail anchors to ensure a full silhouette from every perspective. The most challenging element was her bo-staff prop: while looking deceptively simple in the original art, crafting it proved tedious. The shaft is crimson, wrapped in white canvas bindings around the grip, crowned with cast metallic fixtures painted in a matte silver finish, calibrated to be neither too light nor too heavy for fluid posing. Though the attire appears simple, bodily movement was somewhat restricted—especially when bending over—yet these were minor hurdles in bringing the character to life.
On the day of the CD convention, crowds were absolutely massive. We scouted a relatively open perimeter spot; because the sunlight was dazzling and contrast was intense, framing angles had to be chosen carefully. For the first shot, I took a standing posture: right hand gripping the staff, left hand planted on the hip. While appearing straightforward, this pose demanded genuine core posture and chest expansion, paired with an unwavering, confident gaze to convey Estelle's fearless spirit. After finishing static takes, the photographer suggested snapping dynamic movement, which led to the second frame. I stood facing away from the lens, spinning around suddenly while thrusting the staff forward with both hands. The photographer positioned a wide-aperture lens right beside the staff's tip, capturing an exhilarating sense of foreshortened perspective. Just then, a sudden breeze caught my twintails and swept them into the air, yielding an astonishingly cinematic candid snapshot. Executing dynamic movement tests stamina and body control; to catch the perfect ribboning arc of the hair, I sprinted and spun several times until I felt dizzy, yet seeing the raw cuts on the monitor made every ounce of effort worthwhile. The photographer was brilliantly professional, guiding my stances and finding backlit angles to make the hair fibers glow with rich texture.
Playing through the remake, watching Estelle evolve from an impulsive novice bracer into an accomplished heroine capable of holding her own was deeply moving. The magic of cosplay is that the moment you slip into the attire and grasp the weapon, your spine naturally straightens and your voice rings with authentic conviction. Such is the power of a great character. Presenting this series was my way of paying tribute to this legendary classic. Passersby at the con recognized me and asked if I was cosplaying Liberl's Little Sun, which brought pure joy and made all the groundwork feel richly rewarded. As a fresh recruit to the Trails series, there is still room for improvement in these Convention photos, but I hope to produce more story-driven imagery in the future and connect with fellow fans to share our passion for Nihon Falcom games.