[Amiya Cosplay] Arknights CEO's Birthday Special and Annual Wrap-up

Making it just in time for the July 1st milestone, I am sorting out the photos taken for this character this year. Along this path, I did a total of 12 Amiya cosplays this year, including 5 convention hall shoots and 7 full Cosplay photoshoots. Every shoot felt like a re-understanding of this character, and releasing this birthday special can be seen as a proper milestone for all the sweat and effort poured in during this time.

The pace of convention hall photos is usually extremely fast. In a noisy and crowded anime convention environment, we often can only capture the most vivid moments of the character in the shortest amount of time. Among those 5 convention shoots, there were a few times I tried some casual, playful looks, like walking along the roadside or interacting with small props. Although time was tight, that randomness also brought many unexpected surprises. In contrast, those 7 full Cosplay photoshoots gave me immense room to express myself. A full shoot requires advanced location scouting, careful conceptualization of costume coordination, makeup details, and prop placement, making the entire process feel more ritualistic.

In this nine-grid puzzle, I experimented with multiple completely distinct styles. There is a cozy home style where I closed my eyes to make a wish over a cake and hot pot in a restaurant; it has a very lively warmth of daily living, with my hands adorned in fluffy ruffled cuffs, matching the furry rabbit-ear headpiece, filling the entire screen with warm colors. There is also a moment of walking across a crosswalk in a classic maid outfit, holding a tray and looking back with a smile, which was a highly energetic street snap attempt.

Another look on the beach completely switched into vacation mode, wearing a straw hat and carrying a small bucket while facing the sun; that atmospheric feel of a summer sea breeze blowing is something I have always yearned for. Meanwhile, in a spacious indoor setting with massive white columns and a mirrored floor, I chose an extremely gorgeous white long gown, standing with my back to the camera while holding a staff. In that cool-toned, low-key lighting environment, the floor reflection and the vast space created a powerful visual tension and a premium feel.

To express the character's multifaceted nature, I also carried out a special styled studio shoot. That distressed white tulle dress, paired with the posture of sitting barefoot on a Roman column and a dark thorn-styled headpiece, presented a more melancholic and classical aesthetic side, forming a stark contrast with her daily lively and cute image. There are also night views of taking photos on the street with Christmas trees and red lanterns; that winter lighting atmosphere interweaving warm yellow and cool white was also a part I really loved during post-processing.

Looking back over the year, through various outdoor location scouting from the beach to the roadside, from abandoned buildings to formal studios, every single time the photographer carried heavy equipment to adjust angles made me realize that a good Cosplay photoshoot is truly hard-won. Whether it's the fabric texture or the flow of the wig in the wind, every detail must be considered. These 12 attempts throughout the year have taught me how to better express myself in front of the lens, and made me realize that as a cosplayer, love for the character is the true motivation that sustains every sprint to Rhodes Island. Whether on a freezing winter night or a scorching summer day, the moment I put on the gear, I feel as if I can merge into that world. I hope to continue maintaining this passion in the future and produce more fine works that stay close to the character's soul.