[Chasca cosplay] The Wind of Natlan in Genshin Impact Finally Blows to LA AX

I decided to personally bring the wind of Natlan to LA AX Day 3 this time. Choosing to cosplay Chasca was entirely because of those exotic scenes in the Natlan PV; that free-spirited and unrestrained design really struck a chord with me, so I decided to recreate this character at this Los Angeles Anime Convention. This is actually my first time doing a serious cosplay, so preparing the outfit and props was a bit overwhelming at first, since I used to just admire everyone's work from behind a screen.

Looking at the character's traits, Chasca has many iconic features—from the red hair gradient to that pair of elf ears, these are all elements instantly recognizable at first glance. Her hair color is very deep, like magenta with a hint of purple; to recreate this shade, I spent a lot of effort dyeing and trimming the wig, hoping to wear it with a light yet sharp texture. The elf ears are props, requiring the edges to be hidden well when worn, and while they might need minor retouching later, in real life they carry that exotic character flavor quite well.

The costume was another major challenge. Chasca's styling has rich layers: black high-waisted shorts paired with leather straps on the thighs, plus a red neck scarf at the collar and an asymmetrical off-the-shoulder design, maintaining both battle readiness and a casual aesthetic. The fit of this outfit needs to be quite structured, especially the metallic-textured decorations on the chest and waist; although they give a substantial feel in photos, I still had to move carefully. Holding the huge brown leather prop in my left hand got heavy after a while, but it's truly the soul of this look, and its reflective texture under outdoor sunlight was spot-on.

California weather was exceptionally nice on the day of the shoot, with the clear blue sky providing ample natural light. We found a spot with red-tile-roof houses and tall trees, where the direct sunlight created sharp light-and-shadow effects that fit Chasca's temperament remarkably well. Frankly, cosplaying for the first time made me somewhat stiff in front of the camera—I wasn't sure how to pose or what angles worked best—but thinking about all the other cosplayers at LA AX Day 3 and fellow fans who might stop by to take photos together made me want to cherish this fresh experience.

For my LA AX Day 3 convention plan, I currently intend to head right in wearing this outfit. As a first-time convention attendee, I haven't experienced taking photos with everyone face-to-face offline, so if I happen to meet veteran cosplayers I admire in the venue, I'll deeply treasure the opportunity. Chasca in the Natlan storyline is a character with a strong sense of story, and her feel of exploring forward on an unknown journey curiously parallels my beginner mindset on this cosplay path. Although some OOC moments are inevitable due to personal interpretations differing slightly from public impressions, that's precisely what beginners need to figure out over time.

After this outdoor shoot, I gained a deeper understanding of the outfit's structure and details, discovering many spots that need further optimization upon returning home—such as reinforcing props and fixing minor frizz on the wig, though this slow polishing process is part of the fun. Once wearing this gear, it truly creates an illusion of stepping right into Teyvat, especially under this authentic sunshine, as if I've really become a traveler hailing from Natlan. Scheduling this Los Angeles trip for Day 3, I hope to have a great experience and give my first attempt a satisfying finish.

Before starting preparations, I was actually very anxious because as a first-timer, many crafting techniques had to be learned from scratch. For instance, the gloves feature segmented designs, so I attached many small pieces to recreate this detail; though they look like tiny parts, making them flat and symmetrical took quite some time. The gold buckle and straps at the waist were also crucial—the straps sit right on the legs, so they needed to stay secure while walking while maintaining anime proportions close to the character. During adjustments, I even specifically simulated walking dynamics for convention floor movement.

In the photos, you can actually notice some outfit details. Although people might first be drawn to the red hair and elf ears, I want to highlight the large bag prop—it's a crucial part of Chasca's gear. Made from a mix of leather and hard materials, it features unique curves and stands out significantly. I initially thought carrying it would be cumbersome, but during the photoshoot, it actually provided a great balance point for dynamic poses. The light-and-shadow contrast under the California sun made the metallic highlights on the prop surface look stunning, boosting my confidence for lighting at the anime convention.

My own understanding of Chasca is that she possesses a composure as she wanders through the wilderness, so during the outdoor shoot, I tried my best to relax my facial expressions rather than forcing overly cool poses. I also want to give special thanks to my friend who took the photos, as they continuously guided me on adapting to the camera and using dense high tree leaves and building outlines to enrich frame composition.

As for LA AX, I'm not only looking forward to meeting fellow fans, but also eager to see other Natlan characters cosplayed by people, or even Travelers and characters from other nations. This offline collision of energy is vastly different from scrolling through photos on social media. Choosing a relatively unfamiliar environment like Los Angeles for my first cosplay event will likely leave deep, lasting memories.

Though preparation was somewhat hectic, the last-minute results turned out fairly acceptable to me. I wonder if I'll struggle to walk at AX because the armor and props are too heavy, but that's probably a sweet trouble unique to cosplay. With my appearance scheduled for Day 3, I've already marked several booths I want to visit, hoping my energy stays up without burning out too early. After all, the adventurous spirit of Natlan is only complete when experienced in person.