REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Delivers Charm and Meaningful Storytelling

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 sees star duo Marin (Hina Suguta, Unicorn Overlord) and Gojo (Shoya Ishige, Blue Protocol) return to craft more cosplays as they pursue their artistic dreams. Along the way, they make new friends, overcome unexpected challenges, and discover how varied the cosplay community can be, all while inching ever closer to falling in love. 

All conversations concerning this series must begin with its stars. Exhibiting some of the best chemistry in anime, Marin and Gojo shine this season just as brightly as they did in the series premiere. Marin’s playfulness continues to mix with Gojo’s naivete wonderfully, creating a back-and-forth that never fails to deliver joy. 

Beyond their playfulness, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 also does a great job of allowing its stars to grow throughout this season. As they move through the narrative’s 12 episodes, they discover a lot about the world of cosplaying beyond just how to recreate their favorite characters.

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 covers a broader expanse of cosplaying. 

Through new friends like Himeno (Ayumu Murase, Ragna Crimson), they discover the varied motivations and tastes of others. The series continues to subtly drive home the message that cosplaying is for everyone. 

It is this exploration of the hobby itself that is the biggest element that sets this season apart from its predecessor. Since those stories still had to establish Gojo and Marin, it didn’t have as much time to dive into the larger world of cosplay, beyond a couple of characters like Marin’s idol, Sajuna (Atsumi Tanezaki, Arknights: Rise from Ember). By expanding its lens to explore the reasons for others’ interest in the hobby, the series grows its scope, without ever losing focus on its stars. 

A more comedic element that My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 expands on is its exploration of the inspirations for Marin’s cosplays. Sizable sequences play out that take place wholly within the anime/games that inspire the cosplays in the show. 

CloverWorks continues to showcase a dynamic visual palette. 

These moments are well-utilized visually, as the animation by CloverWorks does a great job of capturing the design styles of the genres that inspire the fictitious content. However, while visually well-implemented, they aren’t always as entertaining as one would like. One particular sequence drags on for much too long, losing itself in a storytelling style that feels too at odds with the rest of the series to land well. 

From these made-up sources, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 delivers a cavalcade of eye-popping cosplays for fans’ edification. From dashing club hosts and serial killer nuns to bunny girls, every transformation the series brings sees Marin and her fellow cosplayers become something wholly new, making it easy to understand how people could find such joy in the hobby. 

Along with the myriad of cosplay designs, fittings, and styles comes a sizable amount of fan service. However, much like the previous season, these episodes manage to generally keep this element of the series in the realm of good taste. Typically used as a device to emphasize the effects Marin has on Gojo, the camera work rarely feels pervy or crude. This helps alleviate much of the discomfort that can come from this side of anime. 

Don’t expect too much forward momentum in terms of romance.

Where My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 struggles the most at times is in its handling of the love story. Little progress is made here, which is likely to frustrate some fans. After the full twelve episodes, the only headway that comes is that Marin has decided she’ll tell Gojo her feelings. Eventually. 

It’s unlikely many would expect the two to get together this season, but it would be fair to expect something to happen. A first quasi-date, an accidental kiss, or perhaps one of Marin’s friends having a talk with her about her blatantly obvious feelings. Just something to give a sense of some measurable forward momentum.

Despite the love story stagnating a bit, one thing that doesn’t lag in any way is the animation. Whether it’s a stunning cosplay, a humorous exchange between friends, or a tender moment of understanding, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 always comes through in spades. The colors are gorgeous and bright, often creatively implemented, which helps make more of the series visually memorable. 

Marin remains the undeniable heart of the series. 

Most helped by the great animation efforts of CloverWorks is Marin herself. The excitable cosplayer is brought to life perfectly to deliver all of her hyperactive antics. Her joy, frequent embarrassment, and lovable charm all shine whenever she has the spotlight. 

To balance the often zany energy of Marin is a growing cast of largely more low-key characters. While many of these characters can bring their own bursts of excitement to a scene, none ever come close to Marin’s levels of enthusiasm. This makes them feel tame in comparison, even if they would come across as high-strung in other settings. 

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 delivers an altogether enjoyable time. The humor and charm resonate through each episode, making it a joy, even when it occasionally stumbles. Despite a frustrating lack of progress on the romance side of the equation, spending time with Gojo, Marin, and their growing circle of cosplay enthusiast friends is as fun as it’s ever been. And that’s saying a lot. 

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.