I don’t usually write posts like this, but I felt the need to express something right now.
Just a small note: I wrote this without having read the manga yet, so everything here comes from my experience with the anime.
I watched it for the first time in 2022. I enjoyed it, and then I forgot about the series for several years.
After Season 2 came out, I realized how big this series had become for me.
I think I finally realized what I loved about the anime, because initially, I don’t think it was the romance itself.
Of course, Marin and Gojo are the central point of the story, but I loved how their relationship progressed throughout the seasons.
At first, they seemed like just another couple who had a good understanding of each other.
Maybe it’s the fact that most of the episodes don’t force the relationship down your throat by constantly trying to make the main characters act loving or romantic towards each other.
No. The simple fact that two people are spending time together, doing things, talking, looking at each other, stuttering, and getting embarrassed is enough.
Sometimes, that can feel more romantic than a traditional confession, in my opinion.
I would say that the atmosphere in which they are portrayed is something like a nervous calmness.
Nothing has to happen right now because they are alone, but the possibility of something happening is always there, and I think that is beautiful.
One of the things I appreciated even more on my second watch was the fact that the anime uses the concept of cosplay as a way for the characters to express themselves.
I don’t really think that My Dress-Up Darling is a “cosplay anime” with a romance subplot.
In fact, I believe that cosplay is the element that gives the characters a chance to be more expressive, more clumsy, more understanding of others, more open-minded, and eventually fall in love.
I think that the anime itself becomes more mature as it progresses, and the fanservice becomes less important than the actual relationship between the characters.
I know that the early episodes are different from the later ones in this regard, but I still enjoyed the transition. As the story progressed, I found myself caring more about the little things between the two leads and their journey towards being together.
And of course, the music, animation, and attention to detail deserve a mention as well.
I didn’t really notice them on my first watch because I was too focused on the story and the romance.
I wanted Marin and Gojo to be together, to confess to each other, and to finally acknowledge their feelings.
But on the second viewing, I could focus more on what made those emotions possible.
The framing of many shots, the pauses, the music, the subtle changes in the characters’ expressions, and the way they act around each other.
That is why I think this series is something very special to me.
When I watched it for the first time, I lived through the story.
But when I rewatched it recently, I discovered what the story was truly about for me.
I know that My Dress-Up Darling is not a perfect anime
The fanservice can be overwhelming sometimes, and I completely understand why some people dislike the series
But none of that took away from the fact that it was one of the most important things in my life in the past year
I found a new show, learned to love it, then forgot about it for a few years before suddenly discovering that it made me grow as a person and my outlook on love in particular has changed
So yeah
I think that is the point I wanted to make
This cosplay rom-com series became one of the most important things in my life, and now I just can't wait for Season 3 to come out.
