[Leizi the Thunderbringer Cosplay] On-Site Record from Arknights Hypergryph Carnival

Today I headed straight to the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, where the atmosphere at Hypergryph Carnival was even more passionate than imagined. Cosplaying Leizi the Thunderbringer from Arknights this time, and considering her character design, today's hair and makeup focus was centered on faithfully capturing her distinct, imposing aura.

First, about the hair styling: trimming and thinning this bright yellow wig took nearly two hours prior to the shoot. To make that stubborn ahoge at the top stand firm, I not only used hair wax but also embedded thin wire inside for structural support. The accompanying elf ears are custom-made; I painted a flesh-tone gradient inside the ear canal, then secured them directly to the base of my ears using double-sided tape plus spirit gum, ensuring they wouldn't drop even after walking around inside and outside the convention hall all day.

The biggest challenge was actually the deer antler headpiece atop my head and those two red roses. The antlers were molded from soft material, making them heavier than expected; without support brackets and internal wig hooks, the entire headpiece would easily tilt forward. I placed multiple hidden fasteners on the internal wig structure to ensure visual balance between antlers and withered branch ornaments. The black withered branches on both sides were crafted using hot glue, faux moss, and twisted wire painted with black lacquer, taking considerable effort to achieve that dry, thorny, rugged effect. Combining red roses with the headpiece beautifully softened the overall sternness, adding a splash of gorgeous color.

As for makeup, I deliberately avoided heavy colors, using earth-toned eyeshadow as a base, elongating the eye corners, and emphasizing drawn-out eyeliner alongside subtle faux lower lashes. Paired with contact lenses, this kept the gaze sharp and focused without looking overly dramatic. Since this was live at an anime convention, I specifically used setting spray alongside loose powder to combat humid, hot weather and prevent sweat from mottling my makeup.

Today's experience at Hypergryph Carnival was incredibly unique. Venue decorations strongly reflected Arknights' signature aesthetic; many players approached for photos upon seeing the outfit, and some even recognized Leizi the Thunderbringer's iconic color scheme and hair ornaments immediately. Because the costume features a high collar paired with a white knotted neckerchief, the overall posture appears poised and erect.

Walking around the booths, I played several official interactive mini-games and collected quite a few limited-edition merch items. Meeting fellow fans at conventions and discussing character lore and interpretations creates a rare, heartwarming resonance—a delightful element of Casual cosplay logs. Although wearing long-sleeved red outfit under high temperatures along with that headpiece was intensely hot—even causing sweat to make makeup slightly shiny—the moment I faced camera lenses and saw surrounding players' smiles, all that fatigue melted away.

As an annual grand offline gathering, Hypergryph Carnival genuinely allows one to feel the rich humanistic atmosphere and creative imagination behind the game IP. Today wasn't merely a process of cosplaying a character, but a festive celebration shared with countless players. I also snapped photos of many fellow cosplayers on site—each splendid in their own right, all passionate creators devoted to this franchise. In such an atmosphere, you feel as though you aren't just portraying a character, but traveling alongside them in this vast world called "Arknights."

Lastly, let's talk about styling the Anime convention outfit's neckerchief. The white and red combination is classic; to maintain the neckerchief's drape, the internal fabric was specially thickened. Although the high collar covers the neck, it conveys a poised, cool elegance around the neckline. Contouring focus for this makeup was placed heavily along the jawline—since lenses tend to round facial features, deepening jawline shadows makes facial contours sharper and prevents them from appearing flat under overhead lighting.

Here's a quick photography tip: because indoor ambient lighting at the venue was complex today, overhead lights struck directly on the wig to create harsh highlights. Therefore, adjusting camera angles to slightly high-angle or eye-level perspectives avoided harsh facial shadows. The first front-facing photo and the second slightly three-quarters angled photo captured completely distinct personas—one cooler and calm, the other dynamic and lively. So happy to share this work with everyone from Hypergryph Carnival today! Time to remove the deer antlers and wig—exhausted, yet deeply satisfied and fulfilled.