Kirin – Monster Hunter – Sweet Angel Cosplay

KIRIN FROM MONSTER HUNTER

Character: Kirin Armor
Series/Game: Monster Hunter
Costume and props: Handmade by me
When: 2009/2010
Techniques used: wig styling, hand-painting, pattern making, sewing
Awards: Best prop (Cartoomics 2011), Italian finalist for Yamato Cup in Cartoomics (2011), Best group (Lucca Comics 2012)

The character and the costume

The Kirin is not a character but a legendary unicorn-like monster from the Monster Hunter series. By hunting it, players can craft the iconic Kirin Armor, known for its striking look and strong elemental defense.
This was one of my first cosplays, created back in 2010, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I’ve always loved how Monster Hunter lets you customize your character’s appearance, so I sometimes switch between blue, violet, red, or yellow contact lenses to give it a fresh look!

Kirin Cosplay photos

Photography by Marco Galeano (2015)

PH: Wenbin He (2014), Christian Scott (2014), Simone Petenzi (2014), Sandman (2012), Noriyuki

Photography by – Luca Tonet (2010)

Monster Hunter Cosplay Groups

Over the years, I’ve organized several Monster Hunter cosplay groups, both for competitions and private photoshoots, as well as meetups that gathered many participants. With some friends I even created the first Italian Monster Hunter cosplay community, bringing together passionate hunters from all over the country.

PH: Alessandro Guidi (2011), Stefano Marasso (2012), ScottArt (2014)

Kirin cosplay Tutorial

When I first worked on this costume back in 2010, official references for the Kirin Armor were quite limited in quality, since the original Monster Hunter game was released for the PSP. This made interpreting the materials and details a creative challenge.

For the fabric selection, I combined faux fur, eco-leather, and Alcantara to best reproduce the look of natural animal textures. While the Nargakuga dual blades, created in collaboration with Antonio Style, were handcrafted from wood.

Want to see the process? Many work-in-progress photos and videos are available in my Instagram and Facebook!