By: Beata Garrett  | @zhongxia246​

My Dress-Up Darling has a lot of things going for it. What has drawn me to the series is its message of respecting people’s hobbies, its depiction of the work and dedication involved in cosplaying, and the sweet burgeoning romance between Wakana and Marin. It’s also undoubtedly fanservice-y, with close-ups that linger on Marin’s exposed body–sometimes it’s minimal, but other times it can take up a full episode like Episode 2.

I advise viewers to weigh these two things against one another if they decide to watch the anime. It’s a delight to watch Wakana and Marin share their interests in hina dolls and cosplay respectively, and see them develop feelings for one another as they become physically and emotionally close. While the fanservice can be off-putting, the physical touching is always consensual.

The two also share a bond that’s built on respect, admiration, and loneliness from having no one else to talk to about their respective passions. Both Wakana and Marin keep their hobbies a secret due to social pressure from their peers and the fear of rejection.

For Wakana, he’s unable to share his love for hina dolls because of an incident in his childhood where a girl called him creepy. Marin, meanwhile, is popular but doesn’t have any friends that take her hobbies seriously. People are surprised that she’s interested in anime, manga, and video games, and don’t take her seriously. When she meets Wakana, she’s overjoyed to find someone that’s willing to talk to her about the things she loves.

I really enjoy the passion that radiates from the two leads as they bond over cosplay, and begin working together. Marin’s desire to cosplay is only hindered by her inability to sew but is clearly shown in the way she rants about her favorite games and anime. Her reasoning behind cosplay will probably strike a chord with cosplayers that watch the show when she says lines like this:

Another aspect of the show that may appeal to cosplayers and regular people is the show’s depiction of creating a cosplay outfit. My Dress-Up Darling takes viewers from the beginning stages of a concept to scouting the materials and then actually sewing them:

For their first joint effort, Marin and Wakana go fabric shopping and the two discuss how much detail goes into even choosing the fabric. Cosplay is not just looking at a picture and trying to replicate it shallowly but considers the context for the character’s costuming too.

Even shopping for the materials takes up money and time as one store doesn’t carry everything a cosplayer may need. They may have to find the right fabric at one place then buy wigs at a different store (and maybe cut the wigs to suit the character) and even consider what kind of lingerie to use with the outfit. Cosplayers may consider the eye shapes of their chosen characters too, as we see in Episode 4 (image below). The amount of detail that goes into a cosplay is astounding and My Dress-Up Darling lovingly depicts this well.

The show also doesn’t look away from how exhausting it can be. In Episode 4, Wakana is overwhelmed as the deadline for the outfit approaches amidst issues like his grandfather’s hospitalization, exams, and tours of his family’s shop. He and Marin are still students, and it’s very realistic to see how the desire to accomplish multiple things can lead to burnout and self-doubt.

In the midst of a breakdown, Wakana remembers why he started loving hina dolls and wanted to help Marin by remembering what his grandfather said to him as a kid:

This memory motivates Wakana to continue working and he meets all his deadlines, which includes completing Marin’s outfit. When Marin comes over to check it, the two grow closer as Wakana realizes he should’ve been more open with her about the struggle he was going through as a partner. It’s an important moment for the two as friends and collaborators, and a nice reminder for creatives to not push themselves past their limit and for partner transparency.

After their honest talk, they move onto makeup and Marin actually puts the outfit on, marking it their first official cosplay. It’s gorgeous, and knowing all the hard work the two put in and seeing how excited they are is very endearing.

I’ve also read the manga and look forward to the anime approaching aspects like photographing cosplay and the subversive gender norms that can exist in the community.

They touched upon it a bit more in Episode 5, wherein the duo goes to a cosplay convention.

Episode 5 is also an important step in introducing the two to a whole world of people that enjoy cosplay as much as them. There is a genuine sense of community and respect in the event, and it’s delightful to see people’s admiration of Wakana’s work and Marin’s modeling skills.

After the event, the romance really hits the show like a freight train. It’s a little jarring because Marin is suddenly attracted to Wakana, but she’s so shy and funny about it I can overlook this.

Something that is difficult to overlook, however, is how the fanservice takes a more disgusting turn. In Episode 6, we’re introduced to Sajuna, a famous cosplayer Marin looks up to. Wakana’s grandfather sees her outside the house, assumes she’s a friend of his who came to see him, and lets the girl take a shower because it’s raining. Cue Wakana stumbling across her naked after her shower. She slips on the wet floor and it’s incredibly uncomfortable—not only because she is a minor like Marin but also because she’s known for cosplaying younger girls because of her petite physique, so it feels somehow even grosser that she was used for fanservice.

The scene is made worse when Wakana compares her to a hina doll because she’s “completely smooth.” It really puts me off for the rest of the season because I know Sajuna will continue to be sexualized and put on display, especially when she’s cosplaying middle school characters.

I’ve also noticed that My Dress-Up Darling ironically undercuts its positive message that cosplay is for everyone by focusing on certain body types and beauty standards. In Episode 6, Marin explains why she won’t cosplay a certain character: “I do think ignoring that and cosplaying characters you love anyway is valid, too…but in my case, I love her so much that I don’t want to destroy her image” (Episode 6, My Dress-Up Darling).

The diversity of cosplayers is incredible, and it shouldn’t be limited to body types or those that perfectly fit a character’s image. However, My Dress-Up Darling wants to preach this message–like in Episode 5–without practicing it. None of the girls we’ve seen or will see in the show are unattractive and they all fit the ideal cosplay standard they’re set to.

The show seems to say that cosplay is for everyone but some are just better at it than others because of how they look. It’s unfortunate considering how welcoming the show has been before by inviting anyone to cosplay, and it puts a dent in my enthusiasm for My Dress-Up Darling.

Overall, it’s an anime with a cute opening and ending that has enough romantic subplot and detailed insight into the world of cosplaying to keep a wide variety of viewers interested. However, it also comes with the sexualization of minors and the opening hints at a future cosplay that will involve skin-darkening. It’s a shame because I would otherwise love this anime.

Copyedited by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow