English Dub Review: My Dress-Up Darling: “Someone Who Lives in the Exact Opposite World as Me”

Overview: An alienated high school student, Gojo Wakana (Paul Dateh), gains a deeper understanding of his popular and beautiful classmate in that of Marin Kitagawa (Amanda Lee) as he forms a new friendship with her. 

Our Take: The world that Gojo Wakana lives in is characterized by just how isolating and disheartening it is, as this episode illustrates. It digs into the root of his fear of being ostracized in his past trauma he experienced from being rejected by his childhood friend. Someone who was disgusted at the thought of a  man having a passion for Hina doll making, due to it being considered more feminine by many. It shows the ramifications of how scarring societal fear can be, not to mention highlighting stereotypical and outdated views of what masculinity is and should be that many men still face even today.   

Gojo gets a view inside someone else’s world in that of the most popular girl at his school, Marin. Marin distinguished herself as an incredible character in the series for her strong-willed disposition and plain honesty about her otaku love for anime, manga and light novels. It makes for an understandably tantalizing point of admiration for Gojo in how prouder and self-assured she is of her passions, no matter what others think, than he does. A fact that is reinforced even more so when Gojo is taken advantage of by two of his classmates at school and Marin gives him advice to stand up for himself and be honest about what he wants. 

When Marin learns of Gojo’s sewing skills and how he enjoys making beautiful Hina dolls along with their clothing, she asks for his help in cosplaying her favorite characters from various franchises. One aspect to note is how gorgeous the animation from CloverWorks is that is clear as day when subtle movements are on display like Marin holding Gojo’s doll or her undressing her clothes to show her attempt at making a cosplay outfit. Gojo shows just how socially awkward in his interactions with his peers but also realizing how much he criticized Marin’s shoddy stitching work on her clothing, on account of his loneliness which can be equally embarrassing to watch unfold as it is endearing to see how passionate he is. Marin understanding and fully appreciating Gojo’s interests, free of prejudice, makes his extending of a helping hand toward her an endearing moment for the character in finding and wanting to help a true friend, the one she was towards him, and a great start to their budding relationship and this series.