Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru, a.k.a. My Dress Up Darling is a manga series written and illustrated by Shinichi Fukuda. A slice of life romance anime series adaptation by CloverWorks premiered in January 2022.
It follows Wakana Gojou, a high school student who spends his days practicing the art of manufacturing Hina dolls in the hopes of one day surpassing his grandfather’s level of skill. While his peers are preoccupied with pop ure, Gojou finds fulfillment in sewing clothes for his dolls. But, he goes to considerable pains to keep his unusual pastime hidden, believing that if it were revealed, he would be mocked.
Marin Kitagawa, a stunningly beautiful girl whose confidence and poise contrast sharply with Gojou’s meekness, comes into the equation. It would contradict logic for the friendless Gojou to associate with Kitagawa, who is usually surrounded by her classmates. However, the unthinkable occurs when Kitagawa finds Gojou’s sewing skills and openly reveals to him her own pleasure: cosplay. She chooses to request his assistance because her sewing abilities are pitiful.
As Gojou and Kitagawa collaborate on one cosplay outfit after another, they can’t help but become close—despite the fact that their lives are worlds apart.
This is one of the most relatable anime out there. Although it’s a bit slow-paced for some otakus taste, it deals some heavy-hitting dialogue and a lot of funny misunderstandings that most otakus have been through. And if you want more of that, here’s our list of 23 anime like My Dress Up Darling that shoves our imperfections right at our faces.
Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai (Oreimo: My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute)
Kirino Kousaka exemplifies the ideal student, and he has a similarly enticing appearance. Her grades are near faultless, and she works as a professional model with her best friend Ayase Aragaki, who despises liars and all things otaku. But Ayase is unaware that Kirino is harboring a deep, entrenched secret that will soon be revealed.
One day at home, Kyousuke, Kirino’s absolutely normal brother, discovers an erotic game belonging to none other than his seemingly beautiful younger sister. With her reputation on the line, Kirino imposes a gag order on her brother while also introducing him to the worlds of eroge and anime. Kyousuke meets the gothic lolita Ruri Gokou and the nerdy otaku Saori Makishima through Kirino, kicking off an altogether new way of life. But as he becomes more involved in his younger sister’s secret life, it becomes increasingly diffi to keep hidden.
Hajimete no Gal (My First Girlfriend is a Gal)
Junichi Hashiba invites a girl out after a prank perpetrated by his twisted pals in an attempt to fix the premise that he’s miserable. Junichi’s groveling disgusts Yukana Yame, the girl in question. However, after a series of taunting remarks, she gradually finds herself connecting with him and, to his surprise, accepting Junichi’s confession.
Hajimete no Gal follows Junichi as he tackles his lack of self-confidence and controls his desires while being pushed into a new school life full of vivacious girls and unpredictable mayhem.
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My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Hachiman Hikigaya is a narcissistic and semi-nihilistic high school student. He is sure that joyous youth is a hoax and that anyone who claims otherwise is deceiving themselves.
In a unique punishment for publishing an article criticizing modern social connections, Hachiman’s teacher forced him to join the Volunteer Service Organization, a club that assists any student in reaching their goals. With only the gorgeous ice queen Yukino Yukinoshita as a club member, Hachiman finds himself on the front lines of other people’s problems. Will Hachiman’s skewed perception of society prove to be a burden or a weapon he can use to his advantage when he and Yukino utilize their wits to solve many of the students’ problems?
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Paradise Kiss
Yukari Hayasaka is walking home from school when she is accosted by a strange-looking guy who begins staring at her body intensely. He has spiky blond hair, a spiked choker, and piercings on his ears and face. She doesn’t want anything to do with him and flees, only to be met by a tall and attractive purple-haired woman with a floral pattern around her eye. Yukari passes out from shock and awakens in a strange place called the Atelier. These people turn out to be fashion designers from the most prominent art school in the area, Yazawa Art Academy, and their group wants Yukari to model for their brand in Yazawa Academy’s upcoming display.
Yukari declines their offer and flees the Atelier, but she unintentionally leaves her school ID behind. Later, the head designer, George Koizumi, sees it and immediately realizes she would be the perfect model for them. He will not stop until he gets what he wants—and he wants her. Yukari had never considered modeling before, but might life among these strange designers possibly be enjoyable? Or will Yukari become engrossed in the realm of art and passion?
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Horimiya
It would seem unlikely that Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura would ever get together. While Hori appears to be a combination of intelligence and beauty, Miyamura appears humble and aloof. But a fateful encounter between them reveals both of their hidden sides. Hori is popular at school, but she is busy with her chores, so she does not have time to socialize with friends. While Miyamura, on the other hand, lives under the radar, his body is covered in tattoos and piercings, giving the impression that he is a gentle delinquent.
Despite their opposing personalities, the two became friends immediately and spent a lot of time together. Both of them reveal a side of themselves that is hidden from the outside world as they break out of their shells.
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ReLIFE
After being dismissed as a hopeless loser by people around him, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki bounces around from one job to the next after leaving his first. His humdrum existence changes dramatically when he meets Ryou Yoake, a member of the ReLife Research Institute, who gives Arata the chance to transform his life for the better by taking a strange pill. Arata accepts it without hesitation and awakens the next day to see that his look has reverted to that of a 17-year-old.
Arata quickly discovers that he is now the subject of a one-of-a-kind experiment and must attend high school as a transfer student for one year. Though he originally feels it will be a breeze owing to his superior life experience, Arata is proven severely incorrect on his first day: he fails all of his tests, is completely out of shape, and is unable to keep up with the new school policies that have emerged in the last ten years. Furthermore, Ryou has been assigned to keep an eye on him, much to Arata’s chagrin. ReLIFE chronicles Arata’s attempt to adjust to his frenetic new lifestyle and avoid making the same mistakes he made in the past, all while learning more about his classmates.
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Say “I Love You”
Friends will only let you down—that is the tragic fact Mei Tachibana has lived with since her so-called friends mistakenly accused her of the of a class pet in grade school. She has avoided people since then in order to avoid getting wounded again. Mei’s life, however, begins to alter dramatically when a mistake in high school leads her to meet popular student Yamato Kurosawa.
Despite Mei’s objections, Yamato is intrigued by her and insists on being her buddy. However, when a perilous circumstance culminates with Yamato kissing Mei to shield her from the unwanted attention of a follower, Mei develops feelings for him. Following her discovery that their feelings are mutual, they begin dating, and she gets not only a boyfriend but also friends. On the other hand, Mei finds it diffi to adjust to this new way of life, especially when it comes to revealing her genuine feelings for Yamato.
Despite their new relationship’s misunderstandings, each other’s attentions, and the attentions of other girls, Mei and Yamato gradually grow closer and learn the true meaning of those three small words: “I love you.”
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
The lively Narumi Momose is running late for her first day of employment at a new office after sleeping through all four of her alarms. As she rushes to catch her train, she vows to herself that none of her colleagues will discover her dark secret: she is an otaku and a fujoshi. Her plan, however, is thwarted when she runs across Hirotaka Nifuji, an old middle school acquaintance. Although she attempts to preserve her secret by asking him out for drinks after work, her cover is blown when he nonchalantly inquires about her upcoming summer Comiket attendance. Fortunately for her, the sole witnesses—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are also otaku.
Later that night, the two went out for drinks to catch up after all these years apart. Hirotaka advises dating a fellow otaku, namely himself, after Narumi complains about her previous lover breaking up with her because he refused to date a fujoshi. He makes a serious pledge to always be there for her, encourage her, and assist her in her quest for rare Monster Hunter drops. Narumi, taken aback by the proposition, agrees immediately. As a result, the two otakus begin dating, and their adorably awkward relationship begins.
Wagnaria!! (Working!!)
Souta Takanashi can’t say no to young Popura Taneshima when she hires him to work at Wagnaria, a family restaurant in Hokkaido. Takanashi takes particular pleasure in adoring the older Popura, which only adds to her self-consciousness about how youthful she appears. He also quickly learns that he must remain alert once he meets the rest of his co-workers, such as the katana-wielding floor chief Yachiyo Todoroki, the aggressive head chef Jun Satou, the frighteningly well-informed and discreetly psychopathic sous chef Hiroomi Souma, the obstinately lazy manager Kyouko Shirafuji, and the waitress Mahiru Inami, who has a “painful” fear of Men.
Working!! is a unique workplace comedy that chronicles the never-dull occurrences inside the walls of Wagnaria as Takanashi and his co-workers’ distinctive personalities mix to generate non-stop antics, shenanigans, and hilarity.
Kimi Ni Todoke (From Me To You)
Sawako Kuronuma is known for her resemblance to the Sadako character from The Ring series, and she is misconstrued to be fearsome and evil like her fictional counterpart while having a timid and kind personality. Sawako is automatically drawn to the cheery and sociable Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular boy in her class, as she longs to make friends and live a regular life. Sawako has admired Kazehaya’s ability to be the focus of attention since their first meeting and desires to be like him.
When Kazehaya organizes a bravery test for the entire class and encourages Sawako to participate, she sees it as an opportunity to bond with her classmates, beginning with Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida. Sawako believes that meeting Kazehaya has transformed her for the better with each new contact and feeling she encounters. Sawako has no idea how her presence has affected Kazehaya.
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Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san (Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro)
Every day, Naoto Hachiouji is persistently mistreated by Hayase Nagatoro, a first-year student he met at the library one day while concentrating on his manga. After hearing his story and observing his uneasy manner, she chooses to play with him from then on, even calling him “Senpai” instead of his true name.
Nagatoro’s constant antics annoy him at first and make him feel ashamed because he is compelled to respond to her demands. However, as they spend more time together, a peculiar kind of friendship forms between them, and Naoto discovers that life with Nagatoro may even be enjoyable. But one thing is certain: his days will never be boring again.
Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid (The Duke of and His Maid)
Sadly, the young duke is reminded of the horrible authority bestowed upon him as the exquisite, delicate flower petals wither into no longer living ashes. He is sent out to live in near seclusion after being scorned by his family. Fortunately, he is not completely alone, as the manor’s staff—his obedient butler Rob and the flirty maid Alice—keep him company and make his life more bearable.
As the duke’s romantic affections for Alice become stronger, so does his anger with the limitations imposed by his unfortunate ability. As a result, he determines to remove the curse that was placed on him all those years ago, not just for his own sake but also for Alice’s, for he is painfully aware of how hard it is to escape the touch of a loved one.
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Jaku-chara Tomozaki-Kun (Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki)
Fumiya Tomozaki is the best player in the online game Attack Families (Tackfam.) Despite having such a high position, his lack of social skills and approachability causes him to fall short in his daily high school life. He’s blaming the confusing mechanics and harsh laws of life for his lack of friends, so he quit up and declares himself a bottom-tier character.
Fumiya is shocked to find out Aoi Hinami is another top-tier Tackfam player after a chance meeting-she’s a popular, gregarious, and well-educated classmate who is completely opposite to him. Aoi, amazed at Fumiya’s weak performance in everything except Tackfam, decides to help him excel at the greatest game of them all. With the grueling experiences of social interactions and relationships, Fumieya starts to climb the ladder in the wonderful game of life.
3D Kanojo: Real Girl
Life in the two-dimensional realm is much easier for Hikari Tsutsui. He is socially inept and shy, so he spends his time playing video games and watching anime, only to be mocked and outcasted by his classmates. Yuuto Itou, his sole friend who sports cat ears and is equally enamored with the world of gaming, shares his plight.
Tsutsui meets Iroha Igarashi after being ordered to clean the pool as punishment for arriving late, but he tries to avoid her because her fame precedes her. Igarashi, brazenly blunt, despised by female peers, and infamous for playing with boys, Tsutsui believes that getting connected with her would be disastrous.
3D Kanojo: Real Girl is a narrative of two outcasts: a boy who is experiencing emotions he has never felt before and is unable to express them, and a girl who is trying to break him out of his shell.
Runway de Waratte (Smile Down the Runway)
Chiyuki Fujito, the daughter of a modeling agency owner, wishes to represent her father‘s agency at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week, shining as a runway model. However, despite her good beauty and talent, she lacks a crucial component for being a successful model: height. Her childhood ideal appears out of reach now that she is stuck at 158 cm even after starting high school.
Meanwhile, Ikuto Tsumura is a high school student with a talent for clothing design; unfortunately, without the financial means to complete the requisite schooling, his aspiration of becoming a fashion designer remains a pipe dream. But when fate brings Chiyuki and Ikuto together, the fading dreams in their hearts are rekindled. Together, the two resolve to defy convention and forge their own paths in the fashion industry.
Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (Love Me, Love Me Not)
Yuna and Akari are high school girls with extremely different perspectives on love: Yuna fantasizes about romance through rose-colored glasses, whilst Akari is practical and down-to-earth. Meanwhile, high school lads Kazuomi and Rio have opposing perspectives on love: Kazuomi is an airhead who doesn’t understand the concept of love, whereas Rio sees each confession as an opportunity—as long as the lady looks cute. Will these four classmates have a teenage relationship that lives up to their expectations?
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Haruka Nogizaka’s Secret)
Due to her unrivaled beauty, talent, and influence, Haruka Nogizaka is the most popular student at the elite Hakujo Academy. Unbeknownst to her classmates, she maintains an embarrassing secret of being an otaku—something that could jeopardize her lovely reputation.
Unfortunately for Haruka, a chance meeting with the shy Yuuto Ayase in the school library means the end of her carefully guarded secret. However, the two come to an arrangement, with Yuuto agreeing to protect Haruka’s secret, resulting in an unexpected friendship between them. Nonetheless, Haruka’s prominence as the school star and her friendly friendship with Yuuto ensure that both of them will be the center of talk everywhere they go!
Teasing Master Takagi-san
Having a friend who knows you inside and out should be beneficial, but in Nishikata’s situation, the opposite is true.
Takagi, his classmate, teases him on a daily basis and uses her deep understanding of his behavior to predict exactly how he would react to her mocking, making it nearly hard for Nishikata to ever launch a good return. Regardless, Nishikata pledges to one day give Takagi a taste of her own medicine by making her blush from humiliation as a result of his mocking.
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Tonikaku KAWAII (TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You)
Nasa Yuzaki wants to leave his mark on history. He’s sure he has everything planned out since he got first in the national mock exam and aspired to attend a prestigious high school. But fate has a way of playing tricks on you. As Nasa walks home in the snow one night, he spots a matchless beauty across the street. Bewitched, Nasa tries to approach her, only to be hit by a truck.
Because of the girl’s quick thinking, his life is saved. He’s bleeding by an ambulance when the girl walks away in the moonlight, eerily similar to Princess Kaguya. Despite his crippled body, he pushes himself to chase her down and ask her out. Astonished by his audacity and resolve, the girl agrees to his proposition but on one condition: he has to marry her.
Recovery of an MMO Junkie.
The 30-year-old Moriko Morioka is unemployed for the first time since she graduated from high school. Moriko has been employed for over 11 years, so she turns to online games to pass the time, taking on the role of the dashing male hero Hayashi in the MMO Fruits de Mer. With all the societal obligations of the real world out of the way, she delved into the world of the game, where she met Lily, a compassionate and adorable healer. Soon after becoming friends, they become inseparable, just as Moriko becomes increasingly involved in her new “life” as Hayashi. In the end, Moriko adopts the secluded lifestyle, only leaving her apartment when absolutely necessary.
Moriko doesn’t realize that a shy 28-year-old corporate worker called Yuuta Sakurai logged onto Fruits de Mer from across town. One night, they meet at the convenience store and dismiss it as nothing more than another unpleasant encounter. But fate has a lot more in store for them than they ever expected.
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Maid Sama
It’s tough to be the first female student council president, especially when your school just converted to a co-ed high school. Miyuki Ayuzawa, nicknamed “Demon President” by the guys for her strict disciplinary methods, isn’t afraid to use her Aikido skills to pass judgment on the hordes of delinquent boys and protect the girls at Seika High School.
Ayuzawa is flawless, but she’s got a shameful secret: she works at a maid café to help her family pay the rent. She kept her employment from her classmates and kept her pristine image as a top student. However, Takumi Usui, the most popular kid at school, came to the maid café. He can ruin her reputation with her secret, or he can twirl the president around his little finger and use it to get closer to her.
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Love, Chuunibyou, And Other Delusions
There was a time in everyone’s life when they believed they were different and special. Maybe they believe they possess mystical powers or are descended from a mythical land. This “sickness” is called “chuunibyou,” and it’s what gets people into trouble.
Yuuta Togashi still has scars from his Chuunibyou. Dark Flame Master looks back with immense embarrassment on his middle school years. Therefore, he’s planning to switch to a high school far away where no one will recognize him. He just wants to leave his horrible past behind and live a normal high school life.
However, he still hasn’t gotten over his past. Enter Rikka Takanashi, Yuuta’s new classmate and self-proclaimed vessel of the “Wicked Eye.” Once this mysterious young woman enters Yuuta’s life, his goal of a normal existence is shattered. These old delusions are far from extinct in this funny and sweet story about a kid who just wants to forget his past.
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Gamers
Keita Amano is an ordinary high school gamer going through a typical student’s life motions. However, one day, he has a chance encounter with the cutest girl in school, which makes him want to vanish without a trace!
Karen Tendou is an exceptional student who has been dubbed “the school’s idol.” She realizes that Amano is a gamer, and this newfound knowledge fuels her ambition to get him into the game club. When Amano visits the club, he is made aware of a side of gaming that is much different from the one he adores.
Tendou’s interest in Amano starts to shake up what was once a normal, routinary life, infusing it with spontaneity, awkwardness, and a dash of mayhem. As a result, every day is a humorous battle for Amano’s sanity as he attempts to adapt to these dramatic, unexpected changes.
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And there they are, anime fans, 23 anime similar to My Dress Up Darling. Did we miss your favorite anime dedicated rom-com or your favorite otaku-finds-romance story? Let us know in the comments so we can watch it, too.
