[Misaki cosplay] Shanhaijing Shines in the New Year: Playing a Melody to Celebrate the Spring Festival

This set of Blue Archive Kisaki (New Year) cosplay photography was completed during the Firefly ACG Expo. Since the official Kisaki (New Year) look naturally fits the festive atmosphere of the New Year, the Qipao cosplay design with a white base and red trim preserves the character's sharpness while adding a touch of holiday radiance. We specially prepared two different props this time to present different temperaments: a traditional plucked string instrument combining wooden textures with a white panel, and a gold-and-red "Happy New Year" scroll.

In terms of outfit preparation, the tailoring of the qipao required repeated adjustments to fit the character's body shape properly. The white fabric needed to be crisp enough to support the crisscrossed red line decorations on the collar and chest, while accommodating the ruffle design along the hem to ensure movement wouldn't look too stiff. To pair with this white garment, I chose black spliced stockings and glossy white high heels. This contrast of black and white, light and heavy, aligns nicely with Kisaki's sense of commanding authority in Blue Archive's Shanhaijing. Choosing pure white high heels not only offered better stability standing on the fluffy carpet, but visually formed a unified black, white, and red color system with the dress.

The hairstyle also demanded meticulous styling. Kisaki's iconic long black hair, combined with the silver-white crescent moon horn ornament, red ribbons, and dangling red tassels, formed the absolute core of the entire look. During the shoot, a slight turn of the head set the tassels swaying, adding dynamic vitality to the photos. Considering the New Year setting, we intentionally selected warm lighting paired with a mahogany door and window backdrop. On the platform, we laid a cream-white plush rug over a layer of light blue organza fabric underneath, bringing out tactile textures and visual layers so the pure white dress wouldn't drown directly into the background.

This photo needed to convey a relaxed yet confident presence. Since playing a stringed instrument served as a fantastic entry point for posing, pairing it with the scroll wove a wonderful story. When shooting the second photo holding the scroll, I specifically sat on a Chinese mahogany chair, leaning slightly to present a composed New Year greeting posture. Because every movement in the photos was carefully planned, the resulting set feels quite natural. Anime-style photography at conventions differs from ordinary portrait shoots; it requires us to find character personality anchors beneath the exterior cosplay shell—such as eye contact and hand placement—all matching her calm and effortless sense of control at the academy.

Schedule demands at Firefly ACG Expo were packed, and the studio shooting area was quite noisy around us, but fortunately the photographer was extremely skilled at directing the scene. We placed pink-and-white silk flowers and red artificial berry branches around the set to enhance the Spring Festival charm. Sitting crouched on the rug in white high heels placed relatively high demands on leg muscle control; to keep leg lines looking natural and balanced across burst shots, I lowered my center of gravity slightly so that long leg lines extended smoothly along the lens towards my toes—one of the visual highlights I felt most satisfied with in this shoot. Fan-made costumes featuring traditional Chinese style elements are wonderfully suited for display in festive atmospheres. Every unique character portrayal allows me to gain fresh insights into facial expressions and performance.

For the final composition, a slightly elevated camera angle was selected, making it possible to capture the complete outfit while still catching emotional nuances in my eyes from a near eye-level perspective. The moment of holding the strings—though not actually playing—conveyed through physical performance made it feel as though the lingering echoes of music could truly be heard. This set of Kisaki (New Year) visuals framed by mahogany and floral decorations represents my heartfelt attempt to freeze-frame this character and the Spring Festival mood. Since playing a tune is a soulful wish, this set of photos serves as a quiet holiday greeting to everyone.