The event photos from the Hypergryph Carnival are finally here! This time I cosplayed a character from Arknights, taking advantage of this offline carnival event to organize and share my previous backlogged photos.
For the overall styling, to match the unique temperament of Lemuen and the subsequent Exusiai variant, I chose striking red hair as the visual focal point. This hairstyle presents a wonderful luster under the indoor lighting of the convention, with the curvature of the hair ends and the bangs adjusted several times. For makeup, the eye makeup focused on bringing out a sharp yet composed gaze, paired with a bold red lip color that brightened my complexion and added energy. Since the character design leans towards a combat style, I avoided soft or sweet outfits and chose a sleek black high-neck T-shirt combined with a jacket featuring tactical strap elements. The silver chain and cross pendant on my neck serve as the soul of the outfit, neutralizing the monotony of plain black while echoing the subtle pattern details on the gloves. Many fellow fans at the venue praised the accuracy of the accessories.
My cosplay partner in the photos was also super fun—he wore a massive red plush mascot head with a round shape and sticking-out tongue that looked adorably goofy. Combined with a tactical vest and a small camera hanging off him, it gave a real 'Arknights unofficial security department' vibe. Standing together created a massive gap-moe contrast; next to that gigantic headpiece, I looked quite small! The backdrop was Hypergryph Carnival's signature industrial trusses and stage lighting, with interwoven blue, white, and yellow lights shining from above, adding a high-tech halo to the photos. This ambient lighting complemented the character styling perfectly.
Beyond striving for character accuracy, attending conventions as an anime convention cosplayer is mostly about enjoying the atmosphere with everyone. While wandering around the booths, I frequently spotted iconic Arknights elements and Operator cosplays. Gathering together to share gaming experiences or queuing for photo ops in front of specific sets offered a deeply healing sense of instant connection among fans. To capture great photos, I cooperated with several different shooting angles. Though standing in boots for half a day left my feet a bit sore, all that hardship vanished once I saw the final results. I prepared this outfit with a lot of care, though I feel I can upgrade it further next time—such as bringing weapon props to give scenes even more dynamic tension.
Thanks to all the friends I met today, and thanks to Hypergryph Carnival for providing such a wonderful offline gathering platform. Turning our love for the game and characters into physical costumes and makeup, and leaving images in a real exhibition hall, serves as a sense of ritual for players and fans. These backlogged photos are not only my own record, but also my participation in this cultural community. Being able to showcase the best side of a character on such a platform and environment brings me immense satisfaction.