[Rei Ayanami Cosplay] I Don't Know What Expression to Make, Neon Genesis Evangelion

The theme of this shoot perfectly aligns with that classic quote: "I'm sorry, I don't know what expression to make at a time like this." Before starting, my team and I discussed how to convey the character's unique sense of detachment within such a seemingly plain setting. For the overall scene, we chose the most classic classroom studio, with a white background wall and a movable green blackboard, complemented by desks and textbooks, all set up to create a casual cosplay school vibe. Such a clean and simple environment also allows the focus to remain on the subject.

First, let's talk about the overall makeup and hair styling. A big thank you to makeup artist Hun An, who patiently trimmed this light blue short wig for me. A straight-bang short haircut like this really tests the layers and texture of the wig; if not cut properly, it can easily look top-heavy. Fortunately, she handled it very naturally, even giving the tips of the hair a lightweight feel. For the outfit, we chose the school uniform closest to the original design—a white sailor collar shirt paired with a blue overall dress, with the dark red bowtie at the collar serving as a nice visual highlight. The bottom consists of black thigh-high socks and black leather shoes; this light-on-top, dark-on-bottom color combination visually elongates the body proportions while fitting the character's daily look.

The shooting process was directed by photographer Nan Duan, who was also responsible for the post-editing. The lighting on set was not overly harsh; instead, a soft diffuse light source was used, which not only highlighted the skin texture well but also left natural contour shadows on the white wall behind, adding three-dimensionality to the image. To simulate a realistic school state, we prepared quite a few props, such as a sketchbook on the desk, black markers, and a thick textbook with a colorful cover. In terms of posing, we had to make repeated adjustments. For example, flipping a book page couldn't look too forced; the wrist pressure and finger placement had to look like actual reading.

When portraying a character with typical emotionless ("kuudere") traits or low emotional fluctuations, the hardest part isn't making expressions, but keeping the eyes focused in an "expressionless" state. The gaze shouldn't be too sharp, nor should it be hollow or scattered, so I tried adjusting my breathing rhythm, imagining a peaceful and somewhat closed-off state of being alone. I remember when taking the first chin-resting photo, I kept trying to look like I was dazed or contemplating something; in reality, my whole body was in a contradictory state of being slightly tense while pretending to be relaxed. The desk height was just right, allowing me to rest my chin casually or lean over to write.

Besides sitting in the seat, we also tried standing compositions. While shooting the final standing pose, a yellow-and-blue volleyball on the floor unexpectedly became a balance point in the frame, adding a touch of lively color to the originally cool-toned composition. For a shoot with high restoration requirements, every step—from sourcing props early on to hair/makeup styling, and lighting adjustments on set—requires close cooperation among team members. What impressed me deeply was that to make the dress pleats look natural in both sitting and standing positions, Nan Duan helped me fine-tune the outfit position many times between shutter clicks.

Overall, this shoot was a very special experience for me. Expressing the character's "emotionless" or even slightly cool nature is actually harder to master than displaying intense emotions. The moment I put on the wig, changed into clothes, and sat at the desk, there was indeed an illusion of time standing still. Thank you so much to every staff member on the team—whether for the brilliant makeup/styling or the precise shot capturing, both contributed to a fantastic presentation for this attempt. This school uniform version look is just the beginning of this character series, and I hope to have the chance to unlock more states in different scenes in the future.