The phenomenon of “Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (My Dress-Up Darling)” has conquered hearts not only for its captivating plot, but also for the unmatched protagonist, Marin Kitagawa. Keisuke Shinohara, director of the acclaimed 2022 series, shared his reflections on the popularity and likability surrounding this unique character. In an interview with Crunchyroll, Shinohara described Marin Kitagawa as a fascinating and unprecedented character.
The story follows Marin Kitagawa, a high school student with a deep love for anime, pop culture, and a burning dream of becoming a famous cosplayer. His collaboration with Wakana Gojo, a classmate with a secret passion for making Hina dolls, gives rise to a unique combination of skills: Gojo’s sewing skills mix with Marin’s passion and motivation to create the best outfits possible.
Shinohara highlights Kitagawa’s broad appeal, emphasizing that “She respects herself and others, which makes her charming. Marin isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but when it comes to romance, she can be shy, which is relatable to anyone who’s ever been in love. The gap between her outward appearance and what’s going on inside makes her lovable. Combined with your ability to dedicate yourself fully to something when you set your mind to it, you have ideal qualities that we look for in a person.“.
Kitagawa’s resonance with manga readers and anime viewers is undeniable. The manga of Shinichi Fukudawhich debuted in the Young Gangan of square enix in January 2018, it has sold more than 10 million copies as of October 2023. When the adaptation of CloverWorks premiered in the season of Winter-2022 (January-March)a multitude of new followers joined the community.
The admirers ofSono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (My Dress-Up Darling)” are not limited to passively enjoying the story; They follow Kitagawa and Gojo’s example by creating impressive cosplays. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of cosplay girls have at least one photo session in one of the many outfits that Marin Kitagawa wears within the series, being another indicator of the immense popularity of the franchise.
In Shinohara’s words, although the plot focuses on cosplay, the theme of passion is not limited only to the making of costumes. «What is at the base of “Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru” is the mentality of expressing what you love and turning the negative into a positive, even if others make fun of you. I hope that message is conveyed through the anime», he explained. Marin Kitagawa stands not only as a fictional character, but as a symbol of authenticity, passion and resilience who has left an indelible mark on the hearts of the series’ fans.
How will popularity increase when details about the series’ announced sequel are finally revealed?
