My Dress Up Darling Fan Becomes Marin Kitagawa in Adorable Cosplay

In the world of cosplay, My Dress-Up Darling's Marin Kitagawa has won the hearts of fans with her boundless passion and endearing personality, making her a beloved character among enthusiasts of cute and creative attire.

Once again, the lovable Marin Kitagawa from Shinichi Fukuda's manga has served as the inspiration for yet another adorable cosplay. Reddit user u/pearythecatapus_ showcased their skill by recreating Kitagawa's school uniform look, beautifully capturing the high schooler's fun and energetic spirit.

[self] Marin Kitagawa from My Dress-up Darling Cosplay
by u/pearythecatapus_ in cosplay

Debuting in Square Enix's Young Gangan in January 2018, My Dress-Up Darling has become a hit series with 11 volumes to its name. The anime adaptation by CloverWorks premiered in January 2022, further cementing the story's popularity. The narrative follows Kitagawa, an ardent fan of video games and anime, as she teams up with her shy classmate, Wakana Gojo, who secretly crafts Hina Dolls, in pursuit of her dream to become a renowned cosplayer.

The manga's global success has seen it selling over nine million copies worldwide, while the anime received widespread acclaim, quickly becoming one of the standout hits of the previous year. It received multiple nominations at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including categories such as Best New Series and Best Character Design. Though Kitagawa was nominated for the Best Main Character award, she faced tough competition from the likes of Attack on Titan's Eren Yeager, ultimately missing out on the top spot. Nevertheless, her impact on fans and cosplayers remains undeniable.

Why My Dress-Up Darling Is Such a Hit

Keisuke Shinohara, the director of the show, shared his insights on why the playful blonde protagonist, Marin Kitagawa, has become a modern icon in the anime/manga landscape. "She exudes self-respect and respect for others, which makes her highly likable. Marin is not afraid to speak her mind, yet when it comes to matters of the heart, she can be shy, making her relatable to anyone who's experienced love," he explained. Since the premiere of My Dress-Up Darling, Kitagawa has been a significant source of inspiration for countless cosplayers, with her signature poses and personality traits being lovingly recreated by enthusiasts like Nymphahri, a talented costume-maker who shared their own take on the high schooler.

Furthermore, the cosplays of Kitagawa and her shy classmate, Wakana Gojo, have also had a strong influence on real-world cosplayers. A noteworthy example is Sakura Kitsune, who joyfully cosplayed as Shizuku-tan, a character from a fictional video game within the world of My Dress-Up Darling. Shizuku-tan is the first cosplay brought to life by the main pair in the story.

Square Enix distributes Fukuda's manga in North America, and fans can stream CloverWorks' My Dress-Up Darling anime on Crunchyroll. Excitingly, a second season of the series has been announced, although an official release date has not been confirmed at the time of writing.