An Ode To Cosplay: My Dress-Up Darling!

Just wrapped up one of the cutest anime shows out there this week: Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru, also known by its more popular title, MY DRESS-UP DARLING! A story of a shy and sheltered boy obsessed with Hina Dolls and making outfits for them who gets drafted by the most popular and pretty girl in school into making costumes for her cosplay ventures, this one grabbed me at first minute and held on all the way to the end!

Gojo Wakana is a shy and reserved guy who keeps to himself and shows no interest or knowledge in the popular things that others are into, whether they be games, movies, etc. In contrast, Marin Kitagawa is a bright, outspoken and extremely popular girl who everyone looks up to. Out of everyone in class, she is the only one who seems to notice Gojo or even remember his name!

But there is only one passion in Gojo’s life, and that’s becoming a master crafter of Hina Dolls. Ever since he was a young boy, his every moment has been spent honing his craft, creating outfits for the figures as he works towards creating his own heads and faces in the future. But teasing and cruel comments by his peers as a child about being into something ‘girly”  has made him embarrassed by his hobby, and he tells no one.

By chance one day his sewing machine breaks down, and he is forced to use the machines at the school. Happily finishing up one of his kimono creations, he hears a gasp from behind and finds he has been caught by Marin herself!

He expects Marin to react with disgust at the sight of him holding the hina doll and making clothes for it, but she only has admiration for what he's doing. This is a real shock for Gojo!

Striking up a conversation with Gojo, Marin is stunned and thrilled to find out this guy can actually sew- and not just any sewing, complete outfits! Taking a gamble, she shows him something she has been working on herself- a costume to cosplay as her favorite game character!

Gojo knows nothing about the game of character, but cannot help but nitpick Marin’s crude efforts at making a real representation of the cartoon girl’s intricate outfit. At first relentless with his critique, he backs down when he sees how hurt she is. She admits that her outfit is rough, but with her lack of skill, it's the best she can do. 

“If only I knew someone who could sew!” she sighs with a twinkle in her eye!

"GOJO! Would YOU help me make my costume?"

!!!!

And so it is that the two make a deal of sorts- For Marin’s promise not to tell anyone about his Hina doll infatuation, Gojo will agree to help her make her cosplay costume. And from there, a new and exciting  partnership is born!

Each episode deals with new aspects of cosplaying, whether it be making the outfits, finding where to get materials, how to photograph the costumes, going to conventions, etc. And as they delve deeper, so does their relationship!

Before I'd watched the show, I'd already heard of My Dress Up Darling for its well known FAN SERVICE scenes, and while there certainly were some of those moments, in my opinion they kept it to a minimum and somehow still kept it charming!

"Will you PLEASE stop teasing me!!" Gojo begs, much to Marin's delight!

Yeah, I know, an anime based on the aspects and culture of Cosplaying sounds like a fairly mundane subject to watch but it ended up being SO interesting, and besides, for me the real heart of the show is the friendship between Gojo and Marin, one which grew and grew with each episode and rewarded you with the sweetest wrap up ever!

A REAL "feel good" show!

And speaking of feeling good, My Dress Up Darling also features a VERY cute theme song, "Koi No Yukue" by Akari Akase: a sweet and bubbly confection to close each episode and keep you wanting for more!!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com