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| So glad this is back! I bursted out laughing on the karaoke scene at the end. It was all serious when Gojo was self reflecting and realising that people can actually accept his hobby and what he is doing but then Nowa just splurged out and ask if he and Marin are dating. |
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| really awsome return |
| Signature removed. Please follow the signature rules, as defined in the Site & Forum Guidelines. |
| The pacing was almost manic; aside from the Pokky scene, there was little time to let the scene cook before going to the next one. It looked great though, and they had plenty of Nowa, to boot! Love her! |
| "Genki is Life, Genki is Love" |
| Loved the final scene at the karaoke with a character singing Shinsei Kamattechan's song during all the dialogue. Between that and the animation being incredible it's clear they really care about this. |
| And this is what I keep addressing … MAL Rating: 8.55 Completed: 76 Dropped: 74 This anime only aired 1 episode… - people are claiming that they completed the series - people are claiming to drop the anime - people are claiming to rate all 12 episodes, based only on 1 episode Who knows if they watched the first season to understand the context Right away, I can consider all of these as completely irrelevant. This continued behavior messes up the MAL Rating System and should be addressed. |
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating. |
| Amazing ep We return 3 years later for a s2 and man was it exciting. The animation continues to be so damn expressive especially in the character acting, that it’s hard to see that cloverworks is producing back to back to back heat on saturdays. Seeing Gojo and Marin again was great, and their dynamic doesn’t miss especially when creating and learning more about their passions in life. Fanservice never misses as usual🤣 Love the fact that Gojo is understanding more of himself and the fact that not everyone sees him as inferior or as a creep bc of his interests. While the adaptation is adapting in a slight confusing order, I trust the staff will go back to chapters that they missed for better continuity in the story chapters. 10/10 |
 "Hard work is worthless for those that don’t believe in themselves" - Naruto Uzumaki |
| I really forgot how much i loved their dynamic and i also am just a big fan of the eye to detail. But yes the friends are really cool and Marin is so sweet |
Oh yea we are so back   Jokes aside great episode. Back to cosplaying and more gojo marin whoesome dynamic shenanigans. Speaking of dynamics marin getting flustered over getting invited by gojo over to the house something which changed during the course of the series as she gets more aware of her feelings. But still just nonchalantly half naked infront of him confidently half of the time xD All this is just so enjoyable. Also loving more of gojo as we explore more of him and his personality, his talent & background. Also loved the referencing of how a man can also handle beauty & feminine stuff like makeup & dressing up again, and its not looked down upon. Gojo not feeling left out or called creepy in relation to his ptsd from the past. Hes getting accepted and appreciated just makes it so heartwarming. :') Also that last "are you dating" question out of nowhere. LMAO I am hyped again like for the last season. More episodes yes please |
Kipo0007Jul 6, 4:29 AM
Reply to DeadEndDoc
@DOJAS
This "review" reads more like a rant from someone with a short attention span than any actual critique.
Calling it “too much blah blah blah” just exposes a shallow understanding of narrative structure. My Dress-Up Darling is, and has always been, a character-driven story. The dialogue isn’t filler — it’s the core vehicle for emotional growth, psychological nuance, and relationship development. If you're here expecting explosive plot twists or shounen-style action every five minutes, you're watching the wrong genre.
“Too fast”? No. The pacing is deliberate — it mirrors the awkwardness and vulnerability of two people slowly opening up to each other. If you can’t engage with anything that isn’t spoon-fed with flashy spectacle, that’s on you, not the show.
And blaming the subtitles? Classic lazy excuse. If the subtitles were even halfway competent — and most are — the problem lies in your failure to grasp subtext, tone, and emotional beats, not in the translation.
You even admit the visuals and animation have improved, yet you dismiss the season because "nothing happens." That just confirms you’re watching with the attention span of a TikTok scroll addict. Not every story is meant to slap you in the face with plot — some, like this one, aim to breathe, to linger, and to let characters evolve in real time.
So maybe the show didn’t fall off — maybe your ability to engage with nuanced, emotionally intelligent storytelling was never there to begin with.
This "review" reads more like a rant from someone with a short attention span than any actual critique.
Calling it “too much blah blah blah” just exposes a shallow understanding of narrative structure. My Dress-Up Darling is, and has always been, a character-driven story. The dialogue isn’t filler — it’s the core vehicle for emotional growth, psychological nuance, and relationship development. If you're here expecting explosive plot twists or shounen-style action every five minutes, you're watching the wrong genre.
“Too fast”? No. The pacing is deliberate — it mirrors the awkwardness and vulnerability of two people slowly opening up to each other. If you can’t engage with anything that isn’t spoon-fed with flashy spectacle, that’s on you, not the show.
And blaming the subtitles? Classic lazy excuse. If the subtitles were even halfway competent — and most are — the problem lies in your failure to grasp subtext, tone, and emotional beats, not in the translation.
You even admit the visuals and animation have improved, yet you dismiss the season because "nothing happens." That just confirms you’re watching with the attention span of a TikTok scroll addict. Not every story is meant to slap you in the face with plot — some, like this one, aim to breathe, to linger, and to let characters evolve in real time.
So maybe the show didn’t fall off — maybe your ability to engage with nuanced, emotionally intelligent storytelling was never there to begin with.
| @DeadEndDoc I would be more concerned with that this guy gives 8/10 to an anime that he is on the verge of dropping :D |
 |
Reply to DeadEndDoc
@Ishitateso
Before you try to throw shade, at least learn to read properly.
I gave an 8/10 to the first episode of Season 2 — because it was genuinely great. I liked it, I wasn’t disappointed at all. Season 2 has just started, and I haven’t rated the full season yet — because unlike you, I don’t throw out random numbers before the story has even had a chance to develop.
And no — I’m not “on the verge of dropping” anything. I defended the episode against a lazy, shallow take full of surface-level complaints. That doesn’t mean I’m quitting the show, it means I care enough to respond when people throw around clueless criticism.
So maybe instead of trying to be clever with your sarcasm, take a second to actually understand the context. Because right now, the only thing that’s falling apart isn’t my rating — it’s your ability to follow the conversation.
Before you try to throw shade, at least learn to read properly.
I gave an 8/10 to the first episode of Season 2 — because it was genuinely great. I liked it, I wasn’t disappointed at all. Season 2 has just started, and I haven’t rated the full season yet — because unlike you, I don’t throw out random numbers before the story has even had a chance to develop.
And no — I’m not “on the verge of dropping” anything. I defended the episode against a lazy, shallow take full of surface-level complaints. That doesn’t mean I’m quitting the show, it means I care enough to respond when people throw around clueless criticism.
So maybe instead of trying to be clever with your sarcasm, take a second to actually understand the context. Because right now, the only thing that’s falling apart isn’t my rating — it’s your ability to follow the conversation.
| @DeadEndDoc Man, maybe you should learn to read properly. I was not talking about you, but about the guy you had aimed your tirade at. That is about DOJAS. |
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Reply to DeadEndDoc
@Ishitateso Oh boy, but you mentioned me :D
| @DeadEndDoc Yep, I said to you, you should be more concerned with that the guy (DOJAS) you was talking to gives out an 8/10 to an anime he clearly hates. I don't get how somebody can dislike something and give so high a rating to it at the same time. |
IshitatesoJul 6, 6:00 AM
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| omg that first ep was so good HAHA had a bit of everything |
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Reply to Fairtale
@_Kaorinite I think you are right and, dont get me wrong, I really liked the first season. But maybe because of how, at least in the west, bunny suits are associated with Playboy, this realy rubeed me the wrong way and felt like a really cheap shot. Like that other anime "Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai", which gave me the same feeling. I really like anime that makes me feel like it was done by an author that loves something himself, and not anime that feels like it is the result of a "carefully currated list of likes/dislikes prepared for a target audience". I can't put my finger on exactly what is bothering me, but it just feels like this checklist of "teenage ideal girl":
- oh she likes cosplay
- oh and she is blonde
- oh and she is sexy
- oh and she is popular
- oh and she likes anime and watches them all day long
- oh but at the same time she goes to every cosplay convention
- oh but she also has time to be sociable with all her friend
- oh and she likes the guy who in a whole season still acts suuuuuper shy and "everybody hates me"
- oh and, eys she loves dressing in bunny suits because she's your perfect playboy model to have sex with
I believe every person has strengths and weaknesses. A person that spends 4 hours a day watching anime will learn a lot about that, but pass on learning other things from spending time on other hobbies, and she just seems like 'too perfect' in an almost plastic way. Does that make any sense?
I'm most probably inserting some of my own shit into this but somehow this bugs me a bit. I wish she would show a bit more of her own struggles like a real relateable person, because for me it has started to feel like a checklist of "let's see what young boys wish for in a girl on google search" 😅
But again, I really enjoyed season 1, especially because of how sweet and caring she is, and the shy side she sometimes shows. The anime is great, just this first EP rubbed me the wrong way, probably because of Playboy and the "too much nakedness" or smth. I'm not sure myself to be honest xD
- oh she likes cosplay
- oh and she is blonde
- oh and she is sexy
- oh and she is popular
- oh and she likes anime and watches them all day long
- oh but at the same time she goes to every cosplay convention
- oh but she also has time to be sociable with all her friend
- oh and she likes the guy who in a whole season still acts suuuuuper shy and "everybody hates me"
- oh and, eys she loves dressing in bunny suits because she's your perfect playboy model to have sex with
I believe every person has strengths and weaknesses. A person that spends 4 hours a day watching anime will learn a lot about that, but pass on learning other things from spending time on other hobbies, and she just seems like 'too perfect' in an almost plastic way. Does that make any sense?
I'm most probably inserting some of my own shit into this but somehow this bugs me a bit. I wish she would show a bit more of her own struggles like a real relateable person, because for me it has started to feel like a checklist of "let's see what young boys wish for in a girl on google search" 😅
But again, I really enjoyed season 1, especially because of how sweet and caring she is, and the shy side she sometimes shows. The anime is great, just this first EP rubbed me the wrong way, probably because of Playboy and the "too much nakedness" or smth. I'm not sure myself to be honest xD
| @Fairtale Before I respond, I'd recommend you to not watch 2.5 Dimensional Seduction which is also about cosplaying like My Dress Up Darling is here, the difference between the two is while one (Darling) has some ecchi to it, it's mostly handled better here (mind you both series have uncomfortable moments but I digress) than 2.5 handles it's content and moments. I think a lot of people are right to compare 2.5 to Darling and frown upon the choices made in 2.5 that can be scummy at times and nonsensical at others (E.g. some ecchi cliches are in 2.5 where as they aren't in Darling). But having said that, a LOT of people also feel Darling is scummy and that Marin is as you said which brings me to replying to your reply. I cannot deny there likely is some lv of a checklist the author used when creating Marin. But if you stop and look at most anime, you'll see there's usually a checklist of things in any genre/theme/characters and such. Should we then hate on all anime and characters and be reviled by them for having those check lists? No. Look at Isekai as a GREAT example of this, its the kind of anime that Harem anime once was, over produced, to the point you have so many same things happening it gets old, fast and stale. And I love Isekai I should add but even I say it's time to move on from them. Harem, suffered the same, having it's own check list and same result, so many male leads who never settled on a single girl and usually bland, dull, boring, self insert character and then have 2-5, sometimes more girls fawning all over him, often for some of the most dumbest reasons imaginable. And ofc, theres the other check lists for them am not even going to mention because I'm getting off topic. Back on topic, the point am trying to get at is, in the case of oh this girl is covering a lot of check lists and there's a male lead (rarely a female lead but they exist both for female love interest and male love interest, Otome in the latter's case) she is or may be into, there's usually a check list for this. Heck, most anime girls especially these days, are designed to be Bishoujo (aka beautiful/pretty girls) because, sad reality is, beauty sells, if something isn't pretty/attractive it can turn people off from it which is why most shows (not all I will add) and more so these days than in the past feature girls and guys to a lesser extent, being pretty/handsome. As a perfect example of this, I legit cannot take an anime girl seriously when she says she wishes she was pretty... like, girl, you're already pretty enough! Anyway, check lists for everything almost exist, it is how stories are created in any media, I can get why some would take issue with Marin (and more so her + the series' name even if I think it's a great and cleaver name) but I'm just saying, ost anime have that checklist for girls in them, in most shows, maybe not exactly like Marin, but it's still there to some extent. I choose however to focus on the positive sides of Darling and Gojou and Marin and co. It's LEAGUES better than 2,5 is which handles the topic of cosplaying in such a way that it straight up IS what you said Marin and Darling is. Where as Darling here tries to be respectful to the material, that is, cosplaying despite some of the checks on the list you mentioned. In fact, if you were to watch even the 1st episode or 3 of 2.5 I think you'd have a better appreciation for Darling and Marin than you do now. Please note am not saying you should watch 2.5. (Iirc I dropped 2.5 late into the show) As to the last thing you mentioned, I do believe part of it is your perception of bunny girls and what you said, not all of it sure, but still you have a negative outlook towards bunny girls because of playboy. I can't really help you there but I can tell you if you google anime bunny girl, you'd likely find tons of anime with bunny girls in it or figures of them even if they didn't wear the outfit. I personally see nothing wrong with the outfit and my best advice is, to try not to let it bother you and separate the two. As for her being "too perfect in an almost plastic way", well, keep in mind the story is still being told (and I don't read manga almost ever and haven't for this series) so maybe some faults will be shown later (or maybe they already were and I don't recall them because it's apparently been 3.5 years since S1 aired...) but even if not, I can understand where you're coming from but this isn't an issue I feel with this series much less with Marin. I'm a big Otaku and proud of it. I see myself a lot in Marin. Though she and I are very different girls. As for her showing too much nakedness. I do know you aren't recall the outfits she's worn from S1 and likely have forgotten she cosplays as Eroge characters, some of her outfits are just that, revealing and I personally don't see anything wrong with that but I get her not wanting to show too much skin such as with this bunny girl outfit, her solution was basically skin suit XD she can be a bit quirky at times but I love that side of her, dunno if it'd be a fault but adds to her charm and can be a bit weird at times where she draws and doesn't draw the line but nothing wrong with that. Anyway, point is, you shouldn't let the amount of skin shown bother you. I think this ep bothering you isn't just a you thing though, in my case it bothered me but for different reasons being, I ain't comparing the art style but I don't recall it being this low quality that it's noticeable worse and the art style changes which I commented on were both taking me out of the experience and ep itself. Sure the animation is better I believe, but that's not always a good thing if the art style has to suffer for it. It was a largely good ep, with soem faults, such as what I mentioned but also the pacing was bad such as the jump to that party... hopefully future eps will resolve any issues ep 1 had. |
Marins passion and excitement shines through every frame she's in. She is absolutely on of a kind. |
| I am so glad this animes back feels like forever. Now that I'm a bit older though I can't believe Gojo and Marin are supposed to be 15. But hey, its anime. Solid episode. |
| Finally the GOAT of romcoms returns and man... what a great episode. I laughed so much watching this, Marin and Gojo are still so damn cute together. And Marin's friends are also really chill, so nice to see them accepting Gojo like that. 10/10 episode |
| We finally got both Marin and Wakana back with a brand-new rap! Marin, of course, is as bold as always, while Wakana is as adorable as ever. I loved Marin’s bunny girl cosplay and can’t wait to see all their upcoming cosplay plans in the upcoming episodes! |
| It's hard to believe it's been over 3 years since Season 1 came out. Because for me it felt like it had been longer. Why did they take so long to release Season 2? Well I guess I should be happy they made it instead of leaving people hanging. What's really crazy is that CloverWorks isn't releasing 1, not 2, but 3 anime in the same season and on the SAME DAY! Wtf. Did they actually plan this out intentionally? If not, that just seems like crazy unnecessary pressure. Gotta say, they nailed the animation. But there were some scenes where Marin was CGI? Wtf was up with that. It's when she was wearing glasses and then the bunny cosplay. It's kinda hard to tell. Production quality seems way higher than Season 1. I hope it's not just a first episode thing. And I hope they won't keep using CGI, especially on the actual cosplays. The OP was great. But I don't get why they did the scrolling text thing at the bottom. It just looks distracting. The first episode was very good. I can't wait for more. I've waited so long for this. |
| Marin being PEAK as expected |
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Reply to Drago2947
they did my boy himeno amane dirty😭
| @Drago2947 Based on the title of Ep2, they may have just switched the order of when he's introduced |
| LETS GOO WE'RE SO BACK THIS IS AMAZING! |
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