#Hello from the light side pro

Pink hard shell backpack (I found one on Amazon with construction very similar to the one used in the show).

Feel free to swap any of the parts in this list with compatible parts as needed for price and sourcing considerations. I made a wishlist on with most of the parts I used for this build (excluding soldering tools).

~3-4 ft of stranded hookup wire ( ribbon cable works great for this).

Insulated reed switch the plastic casing is more durable.

Micro USB cable (if not included with the power bank).

USB power bank, I used this slim 5Ah lithium ion battery pack.

Electrolytic capacitor - 1000uF/25V (optional, but helps with performance).

~2.25 meters of NeoPixel LED strips, I used these (you can sub a single color/non-addressable strand to save money or if you don't care about the blue hue matching the show exactly).

#Hello from the light side pro

SparkFun Pro Micro 5V or equivalent microcontroller with micro USB connector.

Skills Needed: You'll need some basic soldering, painting, and sewing skills to complete the project and basic experience uploading code and installing libraries in Arduino. The trigger mechanism is a small magnet and reed switch placed on either side of to center of the backpack that connect to an Arduino microcontroller. The interior is lined with addressable LEDs set to a blueish hue (matching the show) that turn on when the backpack is open and turn off when it is closed again. I even found a Takeshi Kovacs cosplayer to model it for me! I also use it when I teach workshops on costume tech as an example of incorporating electronics into cosplay prop builds.Дon't know what the Hello Unicorn backpack is? Check out this reference: a video with lots of Hello Unicorn moments from the official Altered Carbon Facebook page.

Ever since I first watched the show I've been obsessed with this backpack, so I built one to bring to Denver Comic Con. Create your own screen accurate Hello Unicorn backpack from Altered Carbon that automatically lights up when you unzip and open it.