My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 Review – But Why?

My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 is a romantic comedy anime produced by CloverWorks. Gojo spends all of his free time practicing the art of making Hina dolls for his grandfather’s shop. He loves what he does and finds joy and satisfaction in pursuing his craft. One day, however, he has a chance meeting with Marin. She is a girl at her school and the two discover that her work with costumes and makeup for the Hina dolls intersects beautifully with her desire to be a cosplayer.

The main focus of the series follows the duo as their shared exploration of cosplay, both from a social and craft standpoint, brings the two together in an ever-closer bond. While they are initially two people you would never expect to work well together, they are soon thriving and it becomes hard to imagine one existing without the other.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 it delivers its two main leads in a way that gives each the same amount of importance and validity. This is not the story of an isolated Gojo rescued by fun-loving, outgoing Marin. Rather, both characters enhance each other. As Marin helps Gojo discover elements of the world around him that he would never have experienced hidden in her room, Gojo also introduces new things to Marin. She learns from her seriousness and focus.

But while the show treats both of them as true equals, its biggest accomplishment is how it develops Gojo. Not once does the show make Gojo look back on how he spent his pre-Marin days and regret it. There are no regretful days wasted working hard at his trade when he could have had adventures. He still loves the dolls he puts so much effort into and has no regrets. It was a chapter of Gojo’s life that continues. He now only hangs out with Marin and cosplays.

What My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 brings the duo closer together, they embark on a series of realistic and realistic adventures. As the duo learn the ins and outs of cosplay together, the pair manage to deliver an endless stream of heart-warming, bone-tickling fun moments. The duo grow together in a way that is nothing short of beautiful. As their feelings begin to surface, the show manages to handle the budding romance with a wonderful pace that allows the viewer to savor the growth of the couple, without leaving them frustrated by how far the story takes them this season.

The images throughout this series convey the fun energy of the story surprisingly well. All the fun and enthusiasm of the characters are supported so the viewer can’t help but get excited when a cosplayer joins or another step is taken in Marin and Gojo’s budding relationship. This is especially true for Marin. As the show’s central comedic element, Marin’s over-the-top love of cosplay and the anime/video games she draws inspiration from come to life in a way that is nothing short of contagious. I can’t imagine getting through all twelve episodes without even thinking about trying at least one casual cosplay.

The only element of My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 what may turn off some viewers is the fan service. The camera is not shy about highlighting Marin’s most notable physical assets. While these moments are largely inconsequential, there are one or two where I felt like the show went too far. Especially given the fact that Marin is underage. Thankfully though, she never does anything bad enough to cause me more than a momentary eye roll before she can move on. However, if you are a viewer whose enjoyment is hampered by the very presence of such elements, this program may be problematic for you.

When all is said and done, My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 delivered an amazing romantic comedy experience that left me smiling after every episode. Marin and Gojo are two of the most lovable characters I have discovered in a long time and I hope they get only the best in the coming seasons.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Charles is a lifelong geek who enjoys comics, video games, movies, reading, and board games. During the past year, he has become more actively interested in artistic activities, including digital painting, and now in writing.