[Ciel cosplay] Tsukihime Agent's Original Design Look & Shooting Log

The theme of this photoshoot is the Agent Ciel from Tsukihime, specifically featuring her early original design by Takashi Takeuchi—that iconic image with short blue hair and a cool, sharp aura. As a long-time "Senpai fan" who followed this character early on, I admit feeling a bit conflicted about the new redesign implemented in the game, but that doesn't hinder my love for her original design. So I decided to recreate what I consider the coolest Agent with my own hands as a female cosplayer.

In this look, the costume design is actually very refined. Long hair was styled into her signature short hair, with hair color specially tuned to a deep lake blue. This cool tone not only brightens skin tone but also fits the character's detached, stern aura. The main dress is a black long dress, where details lie in white contrast panels at the collar and cuffs—especially the red cross pattern at the cuffs, which serves as a core visual element in the styling. To emphasize fabric drape and a tactical atmosphere, I specifically chose spacious, hard-edged architectural environments during the shoot, such as night-time fair-faced concrete steps and corridors with industrial piping. Free from chaotic ambient light sources, these spots naturally carry a sense of claustrophobia and austere tension.

As for props, her iconic triple-blade claws were a must-craft item. They couldn't be made as soft or flimsy props; they required authentic metallic texture and weight, giving that unique composure and oppressive aura of an Agent when held in hand. During dynamic movement in shooting, I also needed to maintain prop balance and ensure blade tips pointed consistently, which required substantial physical control. Several poses called for wielding claws open with both hands to form a visually striking symmetrical composition. I was worried the wig might get disheveled from large movements, but fortunately everything went smoothly.

I really liked the lighting scheme chosen by the photographer this time, using deep blue cool light as the main tone to highlight the rough grainy texture of the walls. When light fell diagonally from above, the long shadow cast behind helped build a quiet yet dangerous atmosphere in the frame—precisely the environment where this Agent belongs in my mind. Since the costume consists of a long dress paired with thick-soled boots, it maintains a slender silhouette while ensuring stability when standing on steps. Free of excessive ornate decorations, it relies purely on character demeanor, sharp blades, and the interaction of light and shadow to recreate her independent and distant charm.

To be honest, before creating this work, the charm of her early manga version and original design drawings by Takashi Takeuchi flashed through my mind many times; that calm indifference between her eyebrows is truly difficult to replicate. Although adjusting expressions and standing postures during shooting took time, seeing the final result brought a deep sense of satisfaction. Doing it yourself to make up for regret in your heart is indeed the most direct way.