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My Dress-up Darling hit its first season out of the park, with CloverWorks delivering animation that compares favorably to just about any other show currently on the air. While the premise of an outcast being “saved” from their loneliness by a popular love interest is cliche, My Dress-up Darling does the trope well by actively establishing a common interest between Wakana Gojou and Marin Kitagawa. Fans should check out these other romance anime like My Dress-up Darling.
Updated April 19, 2022 by Mark Sammut: My Dress-up Darling has ended, and while fans wait with bated breath for the hopeful announcement of a follow-up season, they can always turn to other shows to get their fill of romance. CloverWorks’ series contains many similarities with other anime, but there are not all that many stories that strike the same chord as Marin and Gojou’s cosplay-themed journey. The Spring 2022 season has its share of anime with romance, including the returning Kaguya-sama: Love is War, so people looking for love have a few things to sink their teeth into. Most of these currently-airing series are not all that comparable to My Dress-Up Darling, but there is one anime worth recommending.
9 Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie
Part of the Spring 2022 anime season, Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie received quite a bit of hype prior to its debut, inciting murmurs that it could be the show that fills in the void left by My Dress-Up Darling. First things first, do not approach Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san expecting it to be exactly like Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru as they are quite different types of shows.
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While the latter focuses on the build towards a relationship, the former starts with its main couple already together. They both have slice of life elements, but Shikimori is far more slow-paced since its early chapters (and episodes so far) are devoted to just following around the central characters, with little in the way of growth or development.
Still, people who enjoyed the adorable dynamic between Marin and Gojou in My Dress-Up Darling might appreciate Shikimori and Izumi’s sweet relationship in the Spring 2022 series. Doga Kobo’s animation is also vibrant and pretty, matching the somewhat carefree tone of the story.
8 Wagnaria!!
My Dress-up Darling is not just a romance anime, as it is also a slice of life. Working!! delivers a similar mix, just with the focus being on a family restaurant rather than the cosplay scene. Split into multiple seasons, the romance aspect grows more pronounced as the anime progresses, with a number of relationships being explored.
Mahiru Inami and Souta Takanashi’s dynamic is the most similar to Wakana and Marin’s in My Dress-up Darling, at least in the sense that it involves an outgoing character helping a more reserved person to come out of their shell.
Wagnaria!! is unfortunately not available on any streaming service, however, its spin-off, WWW.Wagnaria!!, is on Crunchyroll and VRV. Although this series does not feature much romance, its humor is similar to the main show.
7 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU strikes a distinct tone to My Dress-up Darling since it takes a more philosophical approach to its characters, particularly in its final season. However, the two shows share a few things in common. Hachiman and Wakana’s loner statuses stem from negative past experiences and are largely self-imposed, although the years of isolation have shaped the characters quite differently.
Both anime revolve around students coming together over a common cause, be it cosplay in My Dress-up Darling or the Volunteer Service Club in My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. More importantly, these anime take generic romance tropes and make them feel fresh, albeit in quite different ways. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU’s later seasons dive deep into their characters’ personalities, delivering introspective analysis of their anxieties, fears, and dreams.
6 Paradise Kiss
Ai Yazawa’s popular Paradise Kiss was adapted into a too-short anime by Madhouse, and while the show does not capture the brilliance of the Josei manga, it is still a solid watch. Paradise Kiss revolves around the fashion industry and follows Yukari Hayasaka, a frustrated student overwhelmed by her mother’s expectations, as she is dragged into the modeling world after being discovered on the street.
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Yukari quickly falls for George Koizumi, a fashion designer who moves at the beat of his own drum. Their relationship is not quite as wholesome as Marin and Wakana’s dynamic, but Yukari and George are still riveting together.
5 ReLIFE
ReLIFE revolves around an experiment that de-ages people so they can get a second chance at high school. The project’s goal is to rehabilitate people who have become outcasts, to provide them with a chance to grow so they can eventually contribute to society as adults.
ReLIFE is initially a slice of life that explores Arata Kaizaki’s struggles to reintegrate into school, both academically and socially. While romance is not a significant factor, the anime does explore this avenue in its final few episodes and the ReLIFE: Kanketsu-hen special series.
4 Horimiya
One of the more famous shows of 2021, Horimiya is all about love. The popular Kyouko Hori and the reserved Izumi Miyamura seem to be polar opposites, but they share a thing in common: their school personas do not reflect who they are outside of it.
Horimiya was also developed by CloverWorks, and the show’s art and animation are fantastic throughout. Like My Dress-up Darling, Horimiya stresses the importance of not judging a book by its cover.
3 Say “I Love You”
A history of bullying has forced Mei Tachibana to close off from the world as a form of self-protection, a decision that led her to have no friends. After a “meet cute” with the school’s resident heartthrob, Yamato, Mei’s life begins to change. Say “I Love You” has a considerably weaker start than My Dress-up Darling as it does not justify Yamato’s interest in Mei; however, once the characters get together, the anime improves considerably.
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Mei and Yamato are incredibly likable, and they deal with grounded relationship challenges driven by communication issues.
2 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
A shared interest serves as the basis of many relationships, and Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku explores that concept to a certain extent. While they have known each other for a long time and are both interested in otaku culture, the outgoing Narumi Momose never saw herself dating the socially awkward Hirotaka Nifuji; however, that changes when Hirotaka randomly asks out Narumi.
Although revolving exclusively around couples, Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is more of a comedy than a pure romance. That said, the anime has its share of heart-pounding scenes that should satisfy romantics. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku also handles its romance realistically, as while Narumi and Hirotaka gradually grow closer, their relationship is naturally slow-moving.
1 Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You
A timid girl who unfortunately looks like the ghost from Ringu, Sawako Kuronuma has led a high school life defined by loneliness and anxiety. On the other hand, Shouta Kazehaya is the guy every girl wants to be with; naturally, the two start to get close, a camaraderie that inspires Sawako to open up.
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You is arguably the standard-bearer for anime about an outcast and popular student falling in love, especially when it comes to shoujo. While the show does resist making Sawako and Shouta an official couple for far too long, their friendship is still heartwarming.
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