My Dress-Up Darling (Sono Bisque Doll Wa Koi o Suru)
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Slice-of-Life
Studio: Cloverworks
Hello my friends.
Welcome to another entry of my blog. Firstly, I have some special news for you. As of February 22, this blog already accomplished four years of existence, along with 200 likes
He, he. Thank you very much. I know that perhaps 200 likes is not a big number, especially after four years, but for me, it is a huge reward. And here is a small trivia about my university years.
I did cosplay.
That’s right, It was between the years 2012 and 2014. I did cosplay, first from Near, from Death Note, but the costume wasn’t that good. Sadly. I don’t have any picture of me of that event. However, I found some picture from 2014, in which I attempted to cosplay as Doctor Who, in a weird mixture between David Tennant and Matt Smith.
Here is it.
Please, don’t laugh. That was during a Halloween party.
Why am I pointing this out? Simple. Because I wanted to share a bit of my love for sci-fi, and as a small tribute of today’s anime.
Also known as My Dress-Up Darling. After so much time waiting, I was finally able to watch the first three episodes of this little series everyone is talking about, and me, reading multiple opinions about being fantastic.
I will talk about that later. Don’t worry. I enjoyed the series, but I will be more specific on my reasons.
And before I start, I must ask the usual question:
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am very happy.
Now, let’s start with Sono Bisque Doll wa koi o Suru, or My Dress-Up Darling. Believe, I will be using its Japanese title a lot.
PREMISE
Based on the manga written by Shinichi Fukuda, and published by Square Enix, Sono Bisque Doll Wa Koi O Suru (その着せ替え人形は恋をする) tells the story of Wakana Gojo, a first-year high school student who is very good sewing dresses for Hina dolls, and who lives with his grandfather, who has working in the craft for over forty years. Because of his dedication and passion, he has no friends at all. And on his first day of school, he meets popular girl Marin Kitagawa, who notices Gojo’s expertise with the sewing machine. Inspired by this, Marin reveals that she adores cosplay, but she is not very good at it, yet, she is absolutely passionate about anime, manga and cosplay.
And when she asks Gojo to make a costume of one of her favourite video game characters, he immediately accepts, despite not having any experience with sewing for normal-sized people, commencing an unusual, yet close friendship between two teenagers with very opposite perspectives of live, but united by the love of her passions.
Despite the title in English being My Dress-Up Darling, the literal translation will be The Bisque Doll I fell in Love with. And… I don’t know, the English title doesn’t really convince me. I will try to explain why later.
Anyway, Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi O suru started publishing on January, 2018, and as of February, 2022, it already reached eight volumes, with the anime releasing its first episode on January 9th.
Finally, the studio in charge is Cloverworks (HoriMiya, Wonder Egg Priority, The Promised Neverland)
Before I continue, i want to share another anecdote. When I saw the first episode, and I heard our male protagonist first name, I was like.
WHAT? DID THEY SAY WAKANDA?
But then, I realised it was Wakana. But then, I could thinking about jokes of that, and I was like…
These are horrendous jokes, but I will share you one.
«Knock, knock
Who’s that?»
Wakana
Wakana who?
WAKANA, WAKE UP BECAUSE WE JUST WON A TRIP TO WAKANDA!!»
STORY
Ok. Before I start, I must explain myself. The English title My Dress-Up Darling does not really convince me. Why? Because is too dull, at least from my perspective. I honestly don’t know why I feel like that. I am wondering… Why don’t keep it as The bisque doll I fall in love with. I guess that it could sound too confusing or too sexist. I don’t know, please don’t judge now.
But… Really? My Dress-up Darling? Couldn’t they think in something more generic? It sounds like a romantic comedy from the 80s. I promise you guys that, when I read the title My Dress-Up Darling, I thought it was the story of a mannequin that came to life and wanted to try dresses, because every time I listen the term Dress-Up, it reminds me of a flash game from Newgrounds.
Sorry for digressing, but I wanted to point that out. And I hope I am the only person who thinks like that (Otherwise, I will be a bit cornered)
Now. The story. I enjoyed. Really
Sono Bisque Doll wa koi o Suru is your typical romantic comedy, about two characters, very different, but united by a common quality or desire, that go through many experiences developing their own feelings. Just like HoriMiya, Komi-san and Wotakoi. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting anything big, only an average rom-com story, because this genre is pretty abundant in manga, and all what it needs is to be entertaining enough, and the first episodes are that. Funny, charming and always offering a good time, if you like this kind of stories.
Personally I do.
Like I said, romantic comedies in manga do not need to be innovative. They can be, if they are… fantastic, but is not mandatory, just solid enough. Or, in other words, we want to be convinced that the author put heart and soul on the story and characters, and, for my standards, Sono Bisque Doll really did.
Now, I noticed an element some reviewers complain from this anime…
But I don’t think it didn’t have problem.
Personally, I have nothing against fanservice. In fact… I LOVE FANSERVICE. As long as it is used wisely.
Sono Bisque Doll knows when to use fanservice and how to use, because… by the time we reached that episode, we already know Wakana and Marin enough, and how they behave, so the way fanservice is handled in episode two is funny, perhaps a bit over-the-top, but hilarious. And thankfully, Wakana is not a pervert who starts seeing women as objects, so that’s a plus.
Finally, I think that the way Wakana and Marin develops their friendship was natural, pretty much like Hori-san and Miyamura, so it really kept me amused.
Let’s see how it goes on the other episodes.
CHARACTERS
Since I have only seen the first three episodes, I cannot say too much about the whole cast. But I will say that both Wakana and Marin are acceptable characters; he is the awkward man who is timid, but pretty good on his expertise, and she, far for being the stereotypical gyaru from the manga and anime, has a passion that gets the best of her.
Not the most profound characters, but pretty assuming enough.
Now, if I have to mention a third character, that will Wakana’s grandfather, Kaoru. Indeed he loves his grandson and looks after him, in fact, he is the one who introduced Wakana to his current passion. Despite appearing for short time, he is a likeable character.
And the rest, like I said, I cannot say too much. Let’s hope that they are as good as our main leads.
CONCLUSION
No wonder why Sono Bisque wa Koi O Suru, or My Dress-up Darling has become so popular. It is a very entertaining romantic comedy that will definitely give you a good time, as well as a smile in your face, with decent characters, enjoyable fanservice and good comedy.
Indeed, if you love HoriMiya, you will love this one. Simple as that.
And now… my favourite part of the entry… MORE AWFUL WAKANDA AND MARVEL JOKES.
JOKE ONE – «Why Wakana has not travelled to Wakanda yet?
Because he hasn’t finished the costume for Captain America.»
JOKE TWO – «From where Wakana can start making Marvel costumes for Marin?
From Mary Jane Watson.»
JOKE THREE – «Why soon Marin Kitagawa will be called Black Widow?
Because, right now, she is eating Wakana alive.»
JOKE FOUR – «What did Wakana tells to himself every time he makes a costume for Marin?
With great sewing, comes great responsibility.»
JOKE FIVE – «How would you call Marin’s desire to make cosplay?
Scarlet Wish.»
(sigh) Please… don’t hate me.
Jainituos Presents 