Behind the Lines: My Dress Up Darling

With my review complete in “My Dress Up Darling”, I decided to look deeper into the lines and to analyse the show and series as a whole.

As earning the reputation of becoming one of the famous anime to be aired during the Winter 2022 anime season. My Dress Up Darling has graced us not only as the contender of  the best girl of 2022. But also has graced us with a wholesome romance plot of which we have come to enjoy. And it earns a special place in my heart as a heartwarming, wholesome, and overall a fun anime to enjoy and watch.

Two people, a hina doll maker and an aspiring cosplayer had made a friendship that will last, and a duo that matched. Like highlighter and a pencil. But the two will soon later discover the environment of cosplaying and the true nature of it. Where a doll maker is tasked to make clothes for the cosplayer so that she can be one step closer to her dream, which is to be a famous cosplayer. Who are these people, and what is so relatable about them? 

Wakana Gojo, is the main male protagonist of the anime, he is a highschooler who loves making hina dolls and considers it as his hobby, he learned making hina dolls from his grandfather and the two made a hina doll shop beforehand. He still hasn’t perfected his craft, since he only focuses on the accessories of the hina dolls, such as clothes and eyelashes. Although he keeps it a secret, since he was once bullied and ridiculed by a friend of his when he was young. Until he meets a girl who loves to cosplay and is an aspiring cosplayer, he vows to help her make her clothes for her cosplay, since he also has prior knowledge by making clothes for hina dolls. Gojo is described as meek, he does everything for a person, he gives it his utter best and strives for perfection in every single thing he does. He sacrifices everything to make someone happy, and makes it his happiness in the end. He is also humble and gentle.

Marin Kitagawa, is the main female protagonist of the anime, just like Gojo, she is a highschooler and his classmate. Being popular in her class, Marin is confident, with a bubbly personality, although a dreadful cook, just like a gyaru. And is overall down to earth respectful. She has an interest in cosplay, but doesn’t know how to make clothes. When she met Gojo, she found out that he can make clothes for hina dolls, and asks Gojo to make clothes for her cosplay, of which she agrees. Marin is a stark contrast to Gojo’s character and personality since unlike Gojo, she is lively, woke, and overall a person who is just enjoying her highschool life. But both are very down to earth and gentle to one another. 

Sajuna Inui, is one of the side characters for the anime, she is often mistaken as a middle or a primary schooler because of her figure. She is famous among the cosplaying community, but also has a desire for someone to make clothes for her. She cosplays mostly young, highschool characters just like her type and posts them online with photos taken by her younger sister. After finding Marin’s cosplay pictures and knowing that Gojo makes her clothes, she decides she wants Gojo to make clothes for her during their collaboration with Marin. Sajuna really wanted to explore more from her cosplays, like she wanted to have the feeling of someone else making clothes for her, she has desires that she wants to experience things that someone else has to do for her, since she tends to do things all by herself.

Shinju Inui, is one of the side characters of the anime, she is also Sajuna’s younger sister. Unlike Sajuna, she is often mistaken as a highschooler or a college student because of her figure. She doesn’t cosplay, rather she is the one handling all of Sajuna’s cosplaying needs such as cameras and takes the role of an editor. Like Gojo, Shinju is meek and quiet, but holds a secret, that is that she really wanted to experience the joys of cosplay, become a cosplayer herself. And so, she also decided for Gojo to make clothes for herself as well. Shinju as a character is a shy one, she doesn’t show anything whatsoever, a timid but a kind-hearted girl who really wants to experience cosplay. Although we also have a secret like her that we don’t tend to release until we see the full picture. 

Influential characters of My Dress Up Darling

Main

Supporting

Now, breaking down the characters' personalities, I have come to the conclusion that opposites do work. Gojo is quiet and meek, but Marin is energetic and charismatic. Sajuna is blunt, on the other hand, Shinju is timid. But with all of these, their personalities really work and match for one another, even when they’re opposites. And it really works like magic. 

Now what is so relatable about them even though we aren’t cosplayers? That is their character. Take a look at Gojo and Shinju for example, they hide a secret that they don’t want to reveal since they will be ridiculed and embarrassed for it. We tend to hide something that people find weird and downright disgusting or unnormal. We aren’t cosplayers, but we know that we work damn hard so that we can achieve our dream, and the dream of others, for Gojo, it’s for Marin’s cosplay dream. But for us, it is for others. 

Overall, My Dress Up Darling is a take on how the cosplaying industry can be and gives a wholesome, heartwarming feeling for the anime. I would recommend it, but since the fanservice elements are too much, some people may find it disgusting. And I can understand that. But I really recommend it, if you love your wholesome slice of life shows, then this is right up your alley. 

Score: 8.5/10