Pandering, on the other hand, is exactly what it sounds like—it is a product created to be successful as possible within whatever demographics it is targeted at. The shape of its existence is less pure artistic expression and more commercial viability. In other words, it is the way it is because the chief concerns of those who are pandering are to be popular and make money.
Now, you might think I'm gearing up to be super negative here, and your suspicions do you credit, because I'm a pretty critical guy and it's not beneath me to drop a metaphorical deuce on something insanely popular.
The thing is… I don't hate My Dress Up Darling. The show does things right in almost every department, and more importantly, if you showed me a picture of Marin with a smile on her face my serotonin levels would instantly shoot through the roof without my consent; the show makes me happy. Marin's bubbly energy is more infectious than a blood disease in a mosquito-infested jungle, and the animation quality is downright outrageous at times. It's obvious the animators were possessed of a frightening determination to over-animate the crap out of Marin at every opportunity, and it works in the anime's favor—outside of some slightly funky rotoscoped shots, all those little detailed movements and delightfully varied facial expressions make her feel incredibly real.
This anime is deserving of praise, and I enjoyed the heck out of it, but I'd be a liar if I said it wasn't pandering, and pandering hard, not just to cosplayers, but the dedicated anime community in general. A rather passive protagonist with an odd passion that makes him feel alienated from his peers? A heroine who fully accepts the parts of his personality that cause him to feel shame, giving him a chance to feel useful and wanted? It's patently obvious that Gojo's level of compatibility as a self-insert for every male viewer is absolutely off the charts.
I'm not saying that a relatable protagonist is a bad thing. But a lot of people are going to live vicariously through Gojo and be hypnotized by Marin, who is basically the ultimate otaku girlfriend; she's kind and accepting of everyone while still having her own style, proactive and flirty without being promiscuous, and just incompetent enough to allow room for the deeply-rooted masculine desire to serve and protect. It's scary how effectively she caters to an audience. In spite of my cynicism, I personally really like her, and I have zero doubt in my mind that I like her largely because I am most definitely within that target audience.
Is My Dress Up Darling a high-quality production? Yes. Is it funny and raunchy and cute and comfy? Yes, all of the above. Will you enjoy it? If you are male, and you like anime in general, there's a 99% chance the answer is yes. Do I recommend it? Absolutely. Watch it and enjoy it. Just remember that this anime is in fact trying to seduce you. And yeah, being seduced can be a fun time, but when you look back years later, with a clear mind and sobered thoughts, the only thing you'll have retained from the experience is a vague sense of longing… and possibly a subconscious attraction to blondes with ear-piercings.
