[Arataki Itto Cosplay] The Bold and Unrestrained Lord Demon King in Genshin Impact

Arataki Itto's personality in Genshin Impact is distinctly bold and hearty. On his birthday, he naturally ought to present his most confident and wild side. To shoot this birthday-oriented cosplay, I put a lot of thought and effort into everything from early preparations to the official photoshoot.

The wig is one of the main souls of this look. Itto has white hair with very noticeable red highlights on his bangs and sideburns. I used high-temperature fiber for the wig and styled it with hair wax to achieve a slightly messy yet layered effect. The two red horns on top of the head are made of foam with rigid inner supports; securing them carefully was crucial to making them look natural, as they determine the initial visual impression of the character.

Regarding makeup, to pursue his heroic and rebellious vibe, I intentionally drew the eyebrows thick and slanting upward. I used red-brown tones for eyeshadow to match the red patterns under his eyes, paired with light-colored contact lenses to make his gaze look even more spirited. The lips couldn't be too red, keeping a natural flesh tone, which best complements his signature habitual grin.

The garment tailoring really tests fit. The black studded choker is an eye-catching accessory in the overall look; the metal ring is not just decorative—its placement perfectly guides the gaze toward the neckline. Below the choker are a purple pieced collar and golden pendants. The metallic texture of these pendants and choker aligns seamlessly with the character's combat style.

The red tattoo on the body is another highlight. To achieve an effect consistent with the original character, I used dedicated body paint pigment. When painting, I needed to pay attention to smooth lines and line-weight transitions, especially on the abdomen and chest. To present the power of muscles interacting with tattoos on camera, I did a few sets of movements beforehand to determine the flow of the tattoos.

The equipment pieces on the arms are quite numerous. Massive red-and-black armor plates, white hollow pattern designs, and leather paneling were secured with Velcro during wearing. The thick blue-and-white woven hemp rope tied around the right arm is also an iconic element; when adjusting the rope tension, I had to balance arm-raising comfort so it wouldn't hinder movement during the shoot.

During shooting, to capture his bold yet genuine side, I tried various angles. In photo 3, the single-hand crook gesture paired with a slightly upturned lip best expresses that provocative confidence. Photo 4 features a more approachable smile, which I plan to use as the main cover photo—after all, I want to convey a joyful atmosphere on his birthday.

Since this was entirely a self-shoot, finding lighting became a major challenge. To highlight the red body paint and black leather reflections, I placed a softbox directly in front, allowing soft, even illumination across my face and limbs so skin texture would look great without appearing oily.

The entire styling process took me nearly two and a half hours. Painting the body paint alone took almost forty minutes, considering skin smoothness and pigment drying time. Styling the wig also took a lot of thought.

Though the process was grueling, seeing the final photos after recreating a beloved character is always immensely satisfying. Although Itto seems like a carefree character on the surface, his loyalty to his companions and love for Hanamizaka make him extremely popular among players. Today is his birthday, and celebrating it through this cosplay feels deeply meaningful. I hope these photos convey his joy and wild freedom.

While self-shooting, I noticed that placing the camera slightly lower made the character look taller and more confident, so I used a selfie stick for low-angle shots. The resulting effect carried that imposing aura a Lord Demon King in Genshin Impact should have. Although the choker and armor pieces worn this time were somewhat heavy, for me wanting to recreate the character perfectly, these details were key to building visual layering. Celebrating this character's birthday in this way feels deeply fulfilling.