In the realm of romance anime, few have made it far in this era but My Dress-Up Darling is a standout for its fun and vibrant plot. It’s a typical slice of life where you don’t have to think too much about the actions of each character. Moreover, Marin Kitagawa has become a very popular character for her cute looks but unfortunately oversexualized portrayal. Still, her dynamic with Wakana Gojo is very sweet. My Dress-Up Darling also takes the hobby of cosplaying very seriously and shows how much work goes into it.
The mangaka of My Dress-Up Darling, Shinichi Fukuda, had no expectations for the manga to ever turn into an anime adaptation but maybe dreams do come true. Fukuda’s initial reaction to its release is entirely too cute but also shows how hard she worked. Animated by CloverWorks, My Dress-Up Darling will also have a second season and fans will continue to follow the cute romance between Wakana and Marin.
Fukuda’s Reaction to the Anime Adaptation of My Dress-Up Darling
Despite being incredibly popular as a manga, Fukuda did not believe that My Dress-Up Darling would get picked up as an anime adaptation. It’s a hit or miss within the anime community as some fans might get sick of the fan service and end up feeling too weirded out by the entire ordeal. However, the fun environment and their character development together make up for it very often. The romance between Wakana and Marin seems natural and their chemistry is palpable. There’s no wonder viewers would discuss and rave about the anime with how heated it can sometimes get.
Shinichi Fukuda was filled with tears of joy after knowing it would get an adaptation and even pre-ordered the Blu-Ray version. In an interview with Comic Natalie, she comments:
I received the first and second episodes of the complete packet of the anime and watched them. Everything was so good that I cried with emotion… I watched it over and over again for a total of 13 hours, so happy and joyful that I have never been happier in my life as a manga artist.
The mangaka felt that the experience was so unreal that she even watched just the first two episodes for 13 hours straight. That’s worse than the average anime fan who would binge arcs of Naruto in one day. But knowing this is her life’s work, it makes sense she would want to replay it to make it feel more real and process the joy she felt.
For Non-Romance Fans: Is My Dress-Up Darling Worth Watching?
My Dress-Up Darling is a good mix of what it’s like to be a teenager and wholesome. While teenagehood and high school are messy and full of emotions, My Dress-Up Darling shows that hobbies shouldn’t immediately be brushed off just because they don’t conform to gender norms. Wakana’s development from being reserved to being proud of his craft is amazing.
Marin is also a highlight with her bubbly personality and unapologetically enthusiastic. It’s nice to see the lead couple uplift each other. The only complaints would be the sexualization of her character and the awkwardness of seeing the two high schoolers yearn for each other like that. Still, it’s a good romance that is pure fluff.
My Dress-Up Darling is available on Crunchyroll.
