[Takakura Himari Cosplay] Mawaru Penguindrum, The Intertwining of Fate between the Apple and the 10th Anniversary

This shoot for the Mawaru Penguindrum 10th Anniversary commemorative theme condensed a lot of care from costume preparation to final delivery. To restore the iconic penguin hat on the costume, I spent a long time finding the right plush material and color scheme. The eyes, orange beak, and gold-trimmed crown ornament on top all needed to be precision-stitched after individual cutting to ensure it wouldn't collapse when worn on the head. The bright pink wide satin ribbon bow tie at the collar forms a very strong visual contrast with the black waist-cinching top, while the ruffled large skirt hem with a black base and white trim utilized multiple layers of stiff mesh tulle for support so it could achieve this fluffy and natural curvature when spread out or sat upon as shown in the photos. The addition of glossy black leather gloves and knee-high black high-heeled boots adds a touch of elegant, sharp crispness to this outfit originally filled with fairy tale elements.

The wig was specially custom-ordered as long, straight orange-red hair. To match the volume and luster of the original setting, I spent some time combing and prepping it before the shoot. The makeup utilized a light pale purple eyeshadow and contact lenses from the same color family, paired with pinkish blush and lip color, hoping to present that exquisite temperament detached from reality. The shoot used a high-saturation pure background from magenta to purple. This monochrome backdrop highly tests the uniformity of lighting. When setting up the lights, we placed the main light source quite high, which not only made the facial contours three-dimensional but also happened to cast a distinct reflective texture on the hair strands.

Because this is 10th Anniversary commemorative content, some final photos retain the relevant typography design of 'PENGUINDRUM 10th ANNIV.', serving as a natural embellishment for the atmosphere. As the core prop of this shoot, the apple is both a visual highlight that brightens the frame and carries a special symbolic meaning within the plot. When directing the lens, I tried several ways of interacting with the apple, including a close-up lying down near my face and a fixed frame holding the apple after sitting down. During the shooting process, it was necessary to constantly rearrange the skirt hem, because with even a slight movement, the direction of the petticoat would change. Every time I changed postures, time had to be spent adjusting it, and the photographer would also double-check the smoothness of the clothing and the reflection points on the boots under the lights multiple times before pressing the shutter.

The imagery of 'Survival strategy' was also considered in the posture and expression control this time. Instead of deliberately showing an intense smile, I tried my best to maintain a calm, gentle yet slightly scrutinizing expression, hoping to capture that cool yet narrative-filled temperament. This entire shoot took about three hours from start to finish. Although there was fatigue from repeatedly adjusting postures, I felt very satisfied seeing the final effect of this set of frames. Being able to commemorate this work and my inner love with such a complete and dedicated look is in itself a very ceremonial thing.