Summary

Animation by CloverWorks is visually stunning, with impressive character designs and attention to detail.
Ecchi in My Dress-Up Darling avoids feeling forced or contrived, adding to its appeal.
My Dress-Up Darling explores niche society themes seamlessly intertwined with romance, providing depth to the storyline.

My Dress-Up Darling is a romance anime series that made its debut in 2022 and was an immediate smash hit, garnering praise from everywhere and even snagging some awards, including Best Character Design and Best Ending Sequence at the Crunchyroll Awards. The second season has been hotly anticipated, and fans are hoping that it will be even better than the first.

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By Sarah Prado

My Dress-Up Darling has also been praised for how it handles its story, characters, and for many, is a shining example of how a romance anime should look and feel. Truly, My Dress-Up Darling shines in its details, and this care for it as a storytelling medium is one of the reasons for its success.

1 The Animation

My Dress-Up Darling Looks Beautiful

My Dress-Up Darling is fortunate to have been animated by CloverWorks who are not only one of the most prominent studios, but have also animated some of the most impressive romance anime of the last ten years including Horimiya, Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl, and the more recent The Fragrant Flowers Bloom With Dignity.

With My Dress-Up Darling, CloverWorks pulled out all the stops, imprinting beauty and fluidity in every scene, and the level of detail in the character designs made for some impressive work. There’s a reason it won an award for character design.

2 Its Handling Of Ecchi

Tastefully Done

Ecchi is a subgenre of anime that can be a little divisive, as its handling of risque content tends not to be enjoyed by everyone. However, My Dress-Up Darling finds a way to walk the line in such a way that many have tagged it as "wholesome ecchi."

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By Emedo Destiny

How it achieves this is that the fan service, while implemented in copious amounts, never feels too forced and contrived. Considering Marin is a cosplayer, it almost feels natural that viewers will see her skin a fair bit. The way the characters also handle the more immodest situations feels cute rather than repugnant.

3 Research On Topics

Shinichi Fukuda Did An Amazing Job

MDUD is a show that is about romance, but it also dives headfirst into otaku culture, cosplay, and even the exotic craft of Hina Doll making. All these aspects of the characters are well showcased, and the research done for them was immense. In several volumes of the manga, the mangaka spoke about how much research she had to do.

The result is that MDUD feels rich and doesn’t seem to have only a passing interest in the communities it explores. This is a refreshing take for a romantic anime that doesn’t always feel as deep.

4 Depth Of Characters

Gojo And Marin Feel Real

One of the drawbacks of romantic anime is that character development and realism are sometimes sacrificed for the sake of the romance. This can make for an interesting story, but it ends up being too idealistic. MDUD treats its main characters with great care.

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By Sarah Prado

Marin and Gojo both develop, and they carry the audience on a journey in which they both start out needing a lot of work, but not hopeless. Gojo might have really low self-esteem, but it is clear he is strong in some other aspects of personality. The same can be said about Marin, and watching them both develop to be better characters is quite rewarding.

5 Its Treatment Of Secondary Themes

Exploration Of Niche Society Is Impeccably Interwoven With Romance

Romance anime are hardly ever about simply romance. There are usually secondary themes, but what happens is that the romance is so prominent that the other themes seem tacked on, rather than feel like a part of the story being told.

In MDUD, there is a lot of exploration on the themes of acceptance, authenticity, and an examination of traditional gender norms. However, they don’t feel tacked on and rather seamlessly blend with the story, making it flow much better.

6 Style

Marin Is Something Of A Style Icon

A lot of romance anime tend to take place in high schools, with MDUD being one of those. What this means is that characters tend to almost always be in uniform, with the exception being the "mandatory" beach episode.

But with MDUD, since its interest in cosplay has something to do with fashion, its characters, especially Marin, look exquisite. There is a lot of attention given to Marin’s outfits, and she shines in every scene she’s in. Her fellow cosplayers and friends also appear stylish in their outfits.

7 Wakana Gojo

A Male Romance Lead To Cheer For

Wakana Gojo is generic in some ways as he fills the role of a shy, lonely, and introverted male romance lead perfectly. However, this does not mean that Gojo is without personality or passion. He is able to portray a level of masculinity that, while even-tempered, is still strong, hardworking, and willing to learn and grow.

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By Oluwafemi Famutimi

Gojo is likeable, which cannot always be said for a lot of romance leads. Marin is assertive and more outgoing, but Gojo never seems bullied or unable to do or reach for the things he wants. He also acts like a teenager while not being crass or edgy, which is refreshing.

8 Strong Female Lead

Marin Is Iconic

Marin Kitagawa is cool. Female romance leads are either too passive and become like doormats or so assertive that they are borderline violent. However, Marin walks the line impressively as she is assertive enough to do what she wants, yet respectful enough that she never seems to belittle or bully Gojo.

Marin is inspirational in how she is able to love the things she loves unapologetically and never backs down from a confrontation. She obviously has a softer side, and she feels well-rounded as a character. She isn’t perfect by any means, but that’s okay.

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