[Vivian cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero's Purple Phantom — Dedicated Character Fidelity Amid Convention Heat

The Convention photos are finally ready, and paired with my earlier complaint about the physical environment, they truly reflect the reality of that day. The character I cosplayed this time is Vivian from Zenless Zone Zero. From settling on the concept to receiving the wig and costume, preparation took about a month. The details on this outfit are incredibly rich—just the layering of the white shirt and black vest on the upper body consists of multiple tiers, along with the choker, blue ribbon bow, and sleeve covers. In the sweltering heat of the convention venue, it was genuinely a massive test of endurance.

Many passersby asked, "Aren't you hot wearing so much?" Honestly, yes, it was scorching hot. With the wig pressed against my head, it felt like steam was rising from my scalp. But as I joked in my previous post, altering the costume design just to adapt to the physical environment defeats the original purpose of doing cosplay. In this hobby of Anime cosplay, what we cherish most is bringing 2D characters into the real world exactly as they are designed, even if only for a few hours.

I'd like to extend special thanks to photographer @YY for making these wonderful photos possible. To find the ideal shooting angles, they carried heavy equipment back and forth through the crowded halls, waiting patiently while I adjusted my wig and clothing. The foot traffic was immense that day, so to avoid background passersby, we scoped out several areas with distinct lighting setups. The linear overhead spotlights illuminated the wig, creating a textured sheen that perfectly highlighted the purple gradient hair color.

Of course, props presented another major challenge. To recreate Vivian's signature black umbrella from Zenless Zone Zero, I specifically commissioned a custom prop maker. The frame was much heavier than anticipated; holding it one-handed while maintaining a steady pose was quite a workout for the arms, leaving my wrist sore after a single set. However, the prop blended seamlessly with the character in the final shots, adding rich atmospheric depth. Wearing heavy styling and makeup for five to six hours meant that by the time I took off the wig back at the hotel, my hair was completely soaked in sweat during this Anime convention daily life.

While convention venues are bustling and exciting, they are filled with hidden challenges. Many might think intricate, multi-layered outfits are purely glamorous on camera, but in reality, they are stuffy and heavy, sometimes even making breathing feel constrained. I remember sitting in a corner during a break feeling almost faint from exhaustion. Yet the moment the lens pointed at me, I immediately switched back into character—this is our personal dedication and seriousness toward cosplay.

Although the process was grueling, seeing the finished shots brought a sense of accomplishment that completely outweighed the physical fatigue. Pushing through harsh physical conditions for the sake of character fidelity is an experience only fellow enthusiasts who share this passion can truly understand. Being able to freeze that beautiful moment in these Vivian cosplay Convention photos is more than enough.