Ten years ago, when I finished watching Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, my obsession with Kanna was deeply etched into my mind. I was young back then; although I found her irresistibly cute, I was insecure and shy. I browsed the costume online over and over, but never dared to hit the purchase button. Ten years later today, having gained independence along with a more mature mindset and preparation for cosplaying characters, it felt only natural to finally fulfill this long-cherished wish.
The focus of this shoot was to recreate her chubby, youthful, and sweet cuteness. For the costume, I chose a white cape with purple geometric patterns, paired with a pink puff-sleeved dress and a tiered white skirt with pom-poms. Red Mary Jane shoes paired with white over-the-knee White stockings elongated the leg proportions while making the overall color palette more vivid. The wig was light purple; I trimmed the bangs myself, braided the side plaits, and attached the white horns and black bows.
When prepping the makeup, I specifically studied the eye technique, using pinkish blush and light-colored contacts to enhance that soft, squishy demeanor. The shooting location was set at an Amusement Park. During the day, the lighting leaned cool and muted; blurring the silver spheres in the background while standing face-forward with slightly outstretched arms showcased the overall silhouette of the outfit wonderfully. The shot sitting on the steps had very even lighting, with legs extended forward amidst bright orange cube boxes and large pink balls—creating a vibrant color bounce and an effortless vibe of strolling in a park on the weekend.
My favorite shot remains the night scene. Once the carousel started, warm yellow lights formed circles of halos in the background; turning my body slightly to look back over my shoulder, the White stockings and red shoes exhibited fantastic texture under the lights, focusing the visual attention sharply on the foreground. With the railing framing the foreground, the image gained crisp depth and maximum atmospheric charm.
The entire photoshoot went smoother than expected. Ten years ago, I hid behind a screen envying others who did cosplay; ten years later, wearing this outfit and standing before the camera, I truly experienced the charm of roleplaying—it isn't merely piling on looks and garments, but an externalized expression of a character's personality and soul. This Kanna cosplay shooting experience serves as a heartfelt tribute to my childhood.