Best Romance Anime Like My Dress-up Darling

My Dress-Up Darling was nothing short of a huge hit when the anime adaptation debuted in Winter 2022. Based on Shinichi Fukuda’s beloved manga, Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is a romance that also dives wholeheartedly into cosplay, a topic that precious few anime have explored beyond introducing it as a side character’s passion.

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 cliché, My Dress-Up Darling does the trope well by actively establishing a common interest between Wakana Gojo and Marin Kitagawa. Fans should check out a few romance anime like My Dress-Up Darling​​​​​ while they wait for that show’s sequel to debut at some point in the future.

Updated September 15, 2025 by Mark Sammut: My Dress-Up Darling season 2 is almost done, with only a single episode left to go. After its predecessor’s massive success, the sequel needed to knock things out of the park to live up to the hype, and CloverWorks more than managed to maintain the show’s momentum. Marin and Gojo are still as great as ever, and the latter has been particularly great throughout season 2.

As the sequel comes to a close, you might find yourself craving a few anime similar to My Dress-Up Darling. So, here are a whole host of romances that can fill that void.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

Maybe 2025’s Best Romance Romance

My Dress-Up Darling is the biggest romance anime of Summer 2025, but The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is arguably the best. If you are into the genre, I probably do not need to sell you on this show’s brilliance, as it has garnered almost nothing but praise. That said, if you are mostly just a My Dress-Up Darling fan, then you might not automatically seek out Fragrant, especially since it is a Netflix exclusive (with a weird release schedule). You should change that.

Similar to MDD, Fragrant is relentlessly wholesome. Sure, there is some drama due to the protagonists coming from neighboring schools that hate each other, but that does not influence the way Kaoruko and Rintaro behave toward each other. They are earnest, honest, and just plain old endearing. From their first scene together, their interest in each other is obvious, and they do not take too long to take the next step. Unlike Marin and Gojo, Kaoruko and Rintaro become aware of their feelings far quicker, and Fragrant is pretty much a straight-up romance rather than a slice of life romantic comedy.

Horimiya

Romance, Slice Of Life, & Comedy

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 one 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.

Although definitely romances, both shows emphasize humor and slice of life elements, Horimiya even more so than My Dress-Up Darling. The former’s sequel season is actually an ensemble comedy that focuses on relationships, and it is all-around fantastic.

Pseudo Harem

A Girl With Many Personalities

Marin loves cosplay, and her passion for that hobby brings Gojo into her life. As their relationship blossoms, we get to see them coordinate across a variety of projects, and it is always fun to see them bring to life a fictional character for Marin to embody.

Pseudo Harem is kind of similar, although Rin does not utilize cosplay. As she has a crush on her senpai, Eiji, Rin decides to use her acting skills to actualize his dream of being at the center of a harem. So, she morphs into different characters, while Eiji plays along and pretends they are unique people. Very lighthearted and silly, their banter is cute and even somewhat realistic, as they just come across as two awkward teenagers who are stumbling their way through the early onset of a relationship. They do grow genuinely closer as well, similar to how Gojo and Marin’s relationship develops across the two seasons.

Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro

Bullying Turns Into A Wholesome Friendship

Sometimes, a bad first impression can sink a show; thankfully, Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro managed to survive its rough first episode. The quiet Naoto unwittingly catches the attention of Hayase, a younger girl who finds that she loves to tease her senpai. Initially, her mockery borders on bullying territory, but she quickly realizes she has taken things too far and tones down her antics.

By season 2, Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro has totally left behind its aggressive origins and transitioned into a wholesome romance about two teenagers who are shy about expressing their feelings. It is cute, funny, and sweet.

Say “I Love You”

Endearing & Grounded Romance

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.

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku

Mature Relationships With A Lot Of Comedy

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.

Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

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, and their camaraderie 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 resists making Sawako and Shouta an official couple for far too long, their friendship is still heartwarming throughout the original two seasons. More importantly, the anime made its comeback in 2024, with season 3 finally chronicling the duo’s romantic life. A few other characters are also explored fantastically.

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!

Introverted Male Lead Surrounded By Big Personality Female Characters

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! and My Dress-Up Darling share a few key things in common, even if they are ultimately quite different. Born and raised in Tokyo, Tsubasa is moving to Hokkaido to live with a relative, and he is a bit nervous about starting this new chapter. However, those fears subside when he meets Minami, a gyaru with a warm and welcoming personality. The two become fast friends, with the girl helping the shy guy settle into his new life and school. Similar to Marin, Minami is very outgoing and uninhibited; meanwhile, Gojou and Tsubasa are both introverts who tend to slip into the background.

Now, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! eventually transitions into more of a harem, expanding Tsubasa’s friend group with the introduction of Sayuri and Rena. They are nowhere near as magnetic as Minami and arguably distract from the show’s pretty cute core dynamic. Still, like My Dress-Up Darling, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! keeps its romance as subtext for the most part, at least during the available episodes.

2.5 Dimensional Seduction

A Cosplay Harem Executed Well

My Dress-Up Darling is not only a great romance but also a fun look into cosplay culture. 2.5 Dimensional Seduction does mostly the same thing, diving headfirst into this world while delivering charming characters and plenty of hints of romance. While the 2024 series’ classification as a harem might put off some people who prefer stories that revolve around a core pairing, 2.5 Dimensional Seduction still has a main couple in Masamune and Ririsa. Both shows also have quite a bit of fanservice.

Masamune has turned his back on girls, preferring to dedicate all his energy to 2D waifus in video games. However, things begin to change when Ririsa walks into his school club and reveals her love for cosplay, with a specific interest in dressing up as Masaume’s favorite character. Now deciding to use his photo-editing skills to capture Ririsa’s dress-ups, Masamune gradually opens himself up to even more people. 2.5 Dimensional Seduction emphasizes the cosplay part of its story, so it is not treated as an afterthought or just an excuse to depict the girls in different cute clothes.

Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie

Opposites Attract & Complete Each Other

Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie

Release Date

2022 – 2022

Network

tv asahi, ABC TV, Nagoya TV, HTB, ABEMA, Animazing!!!

Directors

Kim Seong-min, Geisei Morita

Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie received quite a bit of hype prior to its Spring 2022 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 this sweet anime. Doga Kobo’s animation is also vibrant and pretty, matching the somewhat carefree tone of the story.