My Dress Up Darling
“Season 2”
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Cosplaying was a hobby for a particular crowd. I had no idea that cosplaying transcended simply dressing up as your favorite characters. It involves craftsmanship, performance skills, social etiquette, endurance, and so much more, depending on how you look at it. It is by no means simple to stay in character for extended periods and please all the fans, but cosplayers do it anyway, and I have the utmost respect for them. You can't do it alone; you'll need your friends' and family's help to keep going.
“My Dress-Up Darling Season 2,” also known as “Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru Season 2” or simply “KiseKoi Season 2,” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 6th of July until the 21st of September in Summer 2025. It was produced by Aniplex, Square Enix, Movic, Studio Mausu, Tokyo MX, and BS11, and brought to life by Studio CloverWorks. The main staff behind it includes Oowada Tomoyuki, Fukushima Yuuichi, Matsumoto Miho, and Nagamine Rieko as producers. It features the Romance genre alongside themes of Otaku Culture and School, targeting the Seinen demographic. Each episode runs 23 minutes and is rated PG-13 for teenagers 13 years or older.
The anime is based on the manga of the same title, "Sono Kisekae Ningyou wa Koi wo Suru," which ran for 15 volumes from January 19, 2018, to March 21, 2025. Fukuda Shinichi, the author and artist, created it and serialized it in Young Gangan. The series ranked 16th in the 2020 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! It ranked 16th in the Male Readers division and has been published in English by Square Enix since April 14, 2020. It was also published digitally in English by the publisher, Manga UP! This anime season is the sequel to the “My Dress-Up Darling” series that aired for 12 episodes in Winter 2022 by the same Studio.
The story returns to the protagonists, Wakana Gojou and Marin Kitagawa, the latter of whom has introduced the former to the colorful world of cosplay. Since then, the budding seamster has set out on a journey to craft stunning outfits for the doll-like cosplayer, almost like it’s second nature to him. Being able to create such gorgeous costumes with ease is no simple feat, but even he has much to learn on this path, and every new lesson learned fortifies his love for the art of sewing and the hina dolls his grandfather taught him to make. Meanwhile, Marin is not having smooth sailing either, as it is becoming increasingly complex for her to conceal her feelings for Gojou with each passing day. Both friends and strangers constantly mistake the duo for a couple, exacerbating the situation and causing Gojou embarrassment. Such behavior stems from his perception of the two of them as worlds apart, which makes a romance between them seem unrealistic. As time passes, Gojou has much to learn alongside Marin about society as well, even realizing that his passions are not something others should ridicule. Each experience draws the two closer until the possibility of a romantic connection no longer seems so far-fetched….
This time, the Story department has excelled, undoubtedly an improvement over the prequel. A few minor tweaks in execution have done wonders for the storytelling, and thus, the whole show feels more alive and happening. This time, the pace is faster, enhancing the overall "romantic comedy" vibe and creating a more relaxed narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. The comedy itself is more relatable and entertaining. There are occasional misses, mainly because the pacing doesn’t allow everything to breathe, but the next jab will likely make up for it.
The romantic elements aren’t hyper-focused solely on the leading duo, and it feels much less forced now because we are shown their feelings through their thought processes and interactions with side characters as well. What I really loved seeing, as a cosplayer myself, the intricacies of cosplay with a lot of attention to detail. There aren’t many shows that dive in so boldly into the art, showcasing everything from the costume construction and set-up and make-up to suit every scenario, the temporary alteration of body shape to ensure accuracy, and the hardcore drive that pushes cosplayers to go through all these steps to pull off the perfect cosplay. It honestly hyped me up for my next cosplay alongside the characters, whose success I genuinely rooted for. As I said before, friends and family play a key role in a cosplayer’s success and happiness, but this show goes the extra mile to show just that.
Moving on to the Character department, this would be the section I’d have some gripes with, despite it being a net positive. The creators seem to have learned from past mistakes, as the previous season was overly focused on a bland, embarrassing protagonist and a "perfect" blonde girl. These aspects aren't entirely gone this season, but they're heavily toned down, to my relief. But I will warn you about Episode 7 here and now, because it’s about a creepy fetish scenario alluding to body-shaming, which felt very out of place and flat-out wrong in a series about cosplay. And no, it does not get a meaningful resolution either, because in the end, we are treated to a photography sequence that tries to push the audience into a waifu fantasy. The only other gripe is the final episode, where the show really builds up a lot of tension, pointing towards a confession to end the season beautifully, but they simply don’t deliver. The only supporting character worth mentioning is Ogata Akira, who had a good five episodes of buildup only for her issue to be softly resolved by the finale.
My favorite this season has to be the Art and Animation department. The show immediately grabs attention with an entirely new animation style and alters its storytelling. From the very first episode, there is a moment that showcases an "anime within an anime," which is quite fitting for a series about cosplay, as it uses a different art style. They use these moments to introduce all the cosplayers, even going the extra mile to explain each character through the respective media’s visual style. We are no longer seeing random characters being cosplayed; instead, we are witnessing "characters" with background and substance being brought to life. Marin is no longer cosplaying for maximum fanservice, as those characters now feel important. I genuinely believe that the team thoroughly enjoyed creating those frames, which are imbued with creativity and passion. The animations have significantly improved from the prequel, with everything appearing more fluid and natural, which has enhanced my connection to the cast. Backgrounds are far more detailed and complex now, best serving to highlight the character's emotions and interactions, alongside subtle changes to the story’s pacing. Honestly, this season is a treat for the eyes, and it goes far beyond cheap fan service.
The Sounds and Music also performs exceptionally well. The Opening theme is "Ao to Kirameki" by Spira Spica, and the Ending theme is "Kawaii Kaiwai" by PiKi, both of which are playlist material. They both have colorful, lovely visuals that really get you into and out of the show, respectively, with the Ending getting special credit for its unique concept and stylish execution. The OSTs are quite memorable this time around, too, each amplifying the beautiful moments and making sure the emotions hit hard when it counts. While the voice acting is excellent overall, it is not particularly noteworthy.
Overall, “My Dress Up Darling Season 2” is leagues better than its prequel. If you watched Season 1 and dismissed it as “softcore porn, I recommend you give this sequel a try to really add some substance to the one-dimensional characters and fan service-driven story. The characters are explored well beyond their tropes and finally receive some development, giving you something to like or care about. The narrative also starts to head somewhere outside of Marin, cosplaying one erotic character after the next, with some genuine development to the central romance, but don’t expect a neat ending because more Seasons are to come. The best thing to come out of this season is the art-driven narrative style that brings the characters in this show to life, where the team’s love for anime really shines. The fanservice isn’t gone either; it’s just toned down to more acceptable amounts. While I won’t recommend Season 1 to most, I recommend Season 2 to anyone who's already experienced the series in any format.
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A loner boy and a flashy girl find common ground via cosplay in this sweet and spicy rom-com!
Traumatized by a childhood incident with a friend who took exception to his love of traditional dolls, doll-artisan hopeful Wakana Gojo passes his days as a loner, finding solace in a home ec room at his high school. To Wakana, beautiful Marin Kitagawa, a trendy girl always surrounded by friends, feels like an alien from another world. But when cheerful Marin—never one to be shy—spots Wakana sewing away one day after school, she barges in and ultimately ropes her quiet classmate into her hobby: cosplay! Will Wakana’s wounded heart be able to handle the invasion from this sexy alien?!
Start with volume one of the manga by clicking here.
Want the whole shebang!! My Dress-Up Darling Series 14-Book Ultimate Collection Set (Vol. 1-14) brings the full story of the heartwarming and comedic romance between the talented Wakana Gojo and the lively cosplay enthusiast Marin Kitagawa. From their first collaboration on creating stunning costumes to their deepening bond, this series perfectly blends cosplay culture with charming romance. With beautiful illustrations and unforgettable characters, it’s a must-have for manga lovers, especially those who enjoy stories full of humor and heartfelt moments.
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