In a genre awash with, self insert male protagonists, female "characters" that exist only to satisfy the wish-fulfilment of the male audience the series attract, Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru stands out.
Wakana Gojo is a shy, deeply passionate, and and skilled craftsman. He is not a self insert or a blank slate for the lonely dudes to project onto. He is a young man struggling to perfect his craft, and form meaningful connections with his peers. As someone who has also grappled with artistic aspirations, I understand his harshness on his own work. I can't ever get the faces right on my figures either. Granted, I'm painting warhammer mini's not Hina dolls but there is a kinship between us.
Marin Kitagawa is a beacon of light. She's kind, works incredibly hard, and is equally as passionate about the things she cares about. She isn't just a pair of 2D breasts to ogle. She grows and develops beyond being just a "Oh man I wish she was *My* Girlfriend."
When My Dress Up Darling was first airing I remember looking at it and thinking that this was going to be another Rent a Girlfriend, Uzaki Chan, Girlfriend Girlfriend, or Nagatoro. This genre I have taken to call "Bait for lonely dudes who pull no bitches and stack no paper."
I cannot stress this enough but Dress Up Darling is so much more than that.
It has some of the same pitfalls mind you, the fanservice, some instances of ridiculous circumstance (looking at you episode 11.) But the character animation, art direction, scripting, and characters themselves rise above the ill repute of some of this series peers.
Give her a try. If you like seeing deeply passionate people come together to accomplish something that they couldn't do on their own.
