There are a lot of methods to point out your appreciation for artwork, cinema, literature and media immediately, whether or not it’s by way of fan artwork, fiction, or fanzines. Some diehard followers take this appreciation a step additional, remodeling themselves into the characters by way of cosplay. Whereas anime and manga have lengthy been on the coronary heart of cosplay tradition, it’s a refreshing twist to see a manga that turns the highlight onto cosplay itself. My Gown-Up Darling (Sono Bisuku Dōru wa Koi o Suru) follows Marin Kitagawa and Wakana Gojo’s foray into the world of cosplaying by way of a slice-of-life slow-burn romance.
Wakana nurses a secret ambition to change into a craftsman who makes hina dolls. In the meantime, his common classmate Marin, a part-time mannequin and full-time gyaru (a Japanese vogue subculture that goes in opposition to typical magnificence requirements, typically characterised by their bleached hair and colourful personalities), is set to carry her favourite characters to life by way of cosplay. Marin’s downside? She lacks the mandatory expertise to carry her cosplay concepts to life.
However an opportunity encounter leads her to enlist the assistance of Wakana, who occurs to be a doll-making professional. His expertise discover a new function: creating costumes and doing make-up for a life-size doll—Marin (therefore the title).
The 2 are polar opposites in each sense of the time period. Wakana is quiet, timid, and intensely underconfident. Marin, alternatively, is exuberant, outgoing, and confident. In some way, what at first looks as if an unlikely romance turns into a really plausible, healthful comedy of errors. Each of them like one another, however do not know the sensation is mutual. Wakana spends his time having mini-panic assaults that he has made some type of social fake pas, whereas Marin’s quite a few makes an attempt at flirting go utterly over his head. It’s a meet-cute that blossoms into one thing extra. With Wakana capable of hyperlink his love of doll-making to Marin’s love for cosplaying, they discover frequent floor.
Season 2 picks up the place Season 1 left off, with the pair’s ongoing journey. There’s lots occurring: new costumes to make, new characters to cosplay, new conventions to attend. Evidently, the animation has improved from Season 1, the place nearly all of the price range went into animating solely Marin.
There are plenty of in-universe anime, manga and video games which Marin consumes voraciously, loosely primarily based on real-life counterparts. It’s good to see the eye to element given to distinguishing between these artwork types and the primary aesthetic of the anime. There’s a good quantity of lore dropped by way of these fictional media, particularly by Marin, whose room is that of a typical fanatic, stuffed to the brim with numerous figures, posters, plushies, and even physique pillows. Regardless of the stigma and negativity connected to the semi-degenerate way of life, Marin is unapologetically and unabashedly pleased with her pursuits, in true gyaru vogue.
In fact, there’s loads of inescapable fan service within the present, with Marin’s seemingly questionable style and Wakana tasked with making these costumes. However to not fear, Wakana himself is simply as uncomfortable—if no more—than the typical viewer, with the conditions that come up due to Marin’s shenanigans.
Other than the budding romance, nearly all of the story is devoted to the intricacies of cosplaying. The anime provides a stunning wealth of data for cosplayers or these simply stepping into the passion who don’t know the place to begin. My Gown-Up Darling gives viewers nice ideas and methods for real-world purposes of the cosplays you see on display screen, from wigs to make-up to the outfits themselves.
There’s an in depth breakdown of every cosplay that Wakana makes. From determining what materials to make use of to translating what a 2D anime lady wears onto Marin’s precise determine, Wakana goes by way of nice lengths for sheer accuracy of what he sees on display screen, all whereas remaining throughout the price range. For Wakana, there’s no simple means out. He’s going to go the entire 9 yards, even when he’s making a bunny swimsuit—that silhouette must be as display screen correct and flattering as attainable.
Marin and Wakana meet loads of different fascinating cosplayers, who all have a vastly totally different strategy. There’s lots lined within the present, due to the number of cosplayers—from the way to deal with bodily attributes to cross-playing (dressing up as a personality of the alternative intercourse).
The present paints an correct image of the interior workings of cosplay tradition in Japan. When procuring in downtown Tokyo and anime hotspots like Ikebukuro, combing by way of wigs, material, and peripherals isn’t any joke. And matching the picture to the right shade of hair fibre is tougher than it sounds.
Other than the fundamentals of cosplaying, the present additionally tackles cosplay images, which is often executed in picture studios devoted to cosplayers. Most of those studios—just like the one Marin and Wakana lease out—are sometimes positioned above shops that promote cosplay items (like Hacos Stadium above Acos in Ikebukuro) and are sometimes accessible to lease for very affordable costs. They function a number of backdrops and props that swimsuit most, if not all, cosplays. As a lot as trying just like the character is vital, the place the character is standing is one thing to bear in mind. If Marin’s cosplay is of a personality that’s in a on line casino, she desires a on line casino backdrop, not a rest room mirror and a hoop mild. One other factor that’s executed nicely is Wakana’s use of a cellular digital camera to do all of the cosplay images. You don’t want a DSLR, only a actually good eye for composition.
Not like different elements of the globe, Japan is strict about cosplay etiquette. One can’t freely cosplay in public areas with out permission, so cosplayers solely get two events: a conference or a photograph studio. This additionally means one can not commute in full costume on public transportation. The sight of Marin and Wakana lugging a large suitcase with the wig, costume, and make-up round is a well-known one, frequent particularly in the event you’ve disembarked at stations like Akihabara or Ikebukuro.
One of many conventions featured within the anime is Acosta, a well-liked month-to-month cosplay conference held in Sunshine Metropolis, Ikebukuro. Not like a conventional comedian conference, there isn’t a lot to see or do right here. It’s simply a chance to be out and about as your favourite character in public. The anime captures the spirit of Acosta nicely. Marin and Wakana exploring the aquarium above and roaming the halls of the mall is just about precisely what the itinerary of any cosplayer there seems to be like. It’s immersive and nostalgic on the identical time. One can virtually really feel the chilly air blowing by way of the big, broad white corridor, which is the designated frequent altering space the place cosplayers collect to prepare.
Cosplay tradition immediately isn’t what it was 10 years in the past. Within the age of social media, most new cosplayers solely appear to care in regards to the numbers and take a look at it extra as a profession than a ardour. Pattern-chasing implies that they cosplay characters not as a result of they like them, however as a result of they’re common—one thing that turns into evident whenever you attend a conference. It has changed into a cutthroat recognition contest. Mockingly, Marin herself turns into what she isn’t—only a cute lady cosplay executed for the only function of rising on social media.
The actual Marin, nevertheless, is a refreshing breath of recent air. She doesn’t thoughts if her favourite character isn’t the preferred. She simply desires to cosplay as her. She serves as a reminder that, on the finish of the day, cosplay needs to be one thing you wish to do for your self. One thing you wish to do since you like to do it. It’s about falling in love with the character and feeling such ardour that you simply wish to embody them. It’s one thing so easy but so simply neglected in the true world. And that’s My Gown-Up Darling’s greatest takeaway.
My Gown-Up Darling Season 2 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.