Just a heads-up before you dive into My Dress-Up Darling! This manga is packed with fan service. If that’s not your thing, you might want to skip this one.
The story follows two high schoolers, Wakana Gojou and Marin Kitagawa, and their adventures in cosplay and creativity. Wakana lost his parents young and lives with his grandfather, a master craftsman who makes the heads of Hina Ningyo (traditional dolls). Wakana is super passionate about these dolls and dreams of becoming a Kashira-shi (a craftsman specializing in making doll heads) like his grandpa. He’s been honing his skills in drawing Hina dolls’ faces and making doll costumes. However, a bad experience with a childhood friend who mocked his hobby led him to hide his interests, convinced he couldn’t connect with others.
Wanaka’s world begins to transform when Marin Kitagawa, his vibrant “Gyaru” classmate, steps into his life. She’s confident, popular, and works part-time as a fashion model. Despite being in the same class, Wakana sees her as living in a completely different world. That changes when Marin discovers Wakana’s sewing skills and begs for his help with her cosplay costumes. It turns out that Marin is an otaku who loves manga, anime, and games, even the adult-themed ones, and she’s passionate about cosplay but can’t sew at all. Unlike Wakana, Marin proudly embraces her geeky interests and gets defensive when others mock them. As Wakana helps her, he gets drawn into the world of manga, anime, games, and cosplay, meeting new people and expanding his circle of friends.
Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi o Suru, Episode 1. The reactions of Wakana and Marin when Marin found out Wakana can sew.
By the way, if you’re thinking about learning Japanese through this manga or its anime adaptation, think again! Marin’s “Gyaru” slang can be tricky, even for native speakers like me.
Wakana’s introspective, earnest nature makes it easy to root for him. He may not talk much, but his thoughts and sincerity shine through. Marin, on the other hand, is an upbeat, energetic, and incredibly cute character. She’s easily one of the best female characters I’ve come across in manga recently. I could probably write an entire article just about her. In fact, all the characters in this manga are genuinely kind and likable, so you won’t find yourself dealing with mean-spirited characters that might dampen your enjoyment (at least in the volumes I’ve read so far). Without giving too much away, another favorite character of mine is Juju-sama, whom I hesitate to describe in detail to avoid spoilers. Additionally, I find Nowa, Marin’s classmate, intriguing. While she hasn’t had much storyline development yet, I hope the author will explore her character further in future volumes.
The art in this manga is stunning, and the anime adaptation is just as beautifully done, staying true to the original story. I read that the manga author was moved to tears seeing her characters come to life in the anime, so you know it’s author-approved. 😊 However, I think that the anime doesn’t quite capture the manga’s detailed exploration of cosplay and costume-making. One of the reasons I love this manga is its meticulous portrayal of cosplay. I’ve always thought cosplayers were cool, but this manga shows how much effort goes into it. From choosing the right undergarments and makeup to making props and selecting photoshoot backgrounds, the details are fascinating. The manga also describes unique and niche cosplay shops in Japan, showcasing the author’s dedication to research.
I can’t wait to read Volume 14 and watch the second season of the anime!
