[Castorice Cosplay] Lying in Light and Shadow to Recreate the Fragile Aura of Honkai: Star Rail PV

When I received the comment "Laoshi, why does our Castorice look a bit... dead?", I was also amused by the banter. Indeed, the first scene of this shoot was that pose lying flat on the ground, bringing out the slightly fragile and weak atmosphere to the absolute max, which is also one of the core elements of trying to recreate the famous scene from Honkai: Star Rail's Chrysos Heirs PV.

In front of the white cyclorama wall at "Hualiuliu Studio," perfectly replicating that scene was no easy task. What looks like a zero-gravity posture actually required the coordinated support of my core, back, and arms. The photographer, Weiyan-laoshi, kept using low-angle shots to help adjust the composition, while Shuanghua-laoshi was in charge of lighting control. To recreate that cold and aesthetic quality of light and shadow from the PV, we adjusted the reflection angles of the softboxes over and over on set. Just for that flat-lying pose, we shot repeatedly, striving to make every angle of the bent limbs fit the mood of the original work.

The overall layered look of this cosplay outfit is very rich, with a color-blocking design mainly in white and purple. The chest and waist are adorned with purple ribbon bows, and the skirt hem is made of layered tulle resembling petals, printed with white butterfly patterns. A lot of effort also went into the accuracy of the headpiece; the pointed long ears on both sides are made of custom special materials to keep them straight and upright, and the purple flowers and horn ornaments on the top blend naturally with the hair strands. The combination of thigh-high socks and cross-strap boots on the legs makes the overall proportions look very elongated, and the effect presented in the camera is more three-dimensional.

Before the official shoot, my team and I repeatedly discussed the shooting script, hoping to present not just a static photo, but a frame filled with storytelling. Besides the lying-flat shots, we also took many close-ups of standing poses. For instance, the reflection in the mirror showing me holding my phone was actually casually recorded during a break in the studio adjustments. It also serves to show everyone the condition of this outfit under natural light; the waist cutouts and skirt details react very naturally to the light.

The choice of wig also underwent a lot of consideration, opting for a smooth, light gray-white material with a subtle touch of violet tint, making it look both draped and true to the character design. Because of the large volume of hair, it took over an hour just to handle the bangs and wisps around the temples. Shuanghua-laoshi was incredibly patient, meticulously adjusting every single stray hair strand. After being busy in the studio for so long, the physical exertion was definitely substantial, but seeing those close-ups replayed on the camera screen—the weakness of the slightly parted lips and the out-of-focus look in the eyes—really captured the spirit. For the on-site light setup and the direction of post-color grading, we tried our best to align with the original atmosphere, emphasizing the butterfly's glow and the reflections from the hair accessories in the dark environment as key highlights. Although the process was exhausting, being able to highly recreate the character's temperament made all the time and cooperation truly worth it.