Greatest Romance Anime Like My Gown-up Darling

My Gown-Up Darling was nothing wanting an enormous hit when the anime adaptation debuted in Winter 2022. Based mostly on Shinichi Fukuda’s beloved manga, Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is a romance that additionally dives wholeheartedly into cosplay, a subject that valuable few anime have explored past introducing it as a aspect character’s ardour.

My Gown-Up Darling hit its first season out of the park, with CloverWorks delivering animation that compares favorably to only about some other present presently on the air. Whereas the premise of an outcast being “saved” from their loneliness by a well-liked love curiosity is cliché, My Gown-Up Darling does the trope properly by actively establishing a typical curiosity between Wakana Gojo and Marin Kitagawa. Followers ought to take a look at a couple of romance anime like My Gown-Up Darling​​​​​ whereas they look ahead to that present’s sequel to debut in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later.

Up to date September 15, 2025 by Mark Sammut: My Gown-Up Darling season 2 is sort of completed, with solely a single episode left to go. After its predecessor’s huge success, the sequel wanted to knock issues out of the park to stay as much as the hype, and CloverWorks greater than managed to keep up the present’s momentum. Marin and Gojo are nonetheless as nice as ever, and the latter has been significantly nice all through season 2.

Because the sequel involves an in depth, you may end up craving a couple of anime much like My Gown-Up Darling. So, listed below are a complete host of romances that may fill that void.

The Aromatic Flower Blooms with Dignity

Possibly 2025’s Greatest Romance Romance

My Gown-Up Darling is the largest romance anime of Summer time 2025, however The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is arguably the best. If you’re into the style, I in all probability don’t must promote you on this present’s brilliance, because it has garnered nearly nothing however reward. That stated, in case you are largely only a My Gown-Up Darling fan, you then won’t mechanically hunt down Aromatic, particularly since it’s a Netflix unique (with a bizarre launch schedule). You need to change that.

Just like MDD, Aromatic is relentlessly healthful. Positive, there’s some drama because of the protagonists coming from neighboring faculties that hate one another, however that doesn’t affect the best way Kaoruko and Rintaro behave towards one another. They’re earnest, sincere, and simply plain outdated endearing. From their first scene collectively, their curiosity in one another is clear, and they don’t take too lengthy to take the subsequent step. In contrast to Marin and Gojo, Kaoruko and Rintaro change into conscious of their emotions far faster, and Aromatic is just about a straight-up romance reasonably than a slice of life romantic comedy.

Horimiya

Romance, Slice Of Life, & Comedy

One of many extra well-known exhibits of 2021, Horimiya is all about love. The favored Kyouko Hori and the reserved Izumi Miyamura appear to be polar opposites, however they share one factor in widespread: their faculty personas don’t replicate who they’re outdoors of it. Horimiya was additionally developed by CloverWorks, and the present’s artwork and animation are implausible all through. Like My Gown-Up Darling, Horimiya stresses the significance of not judging a e-book by its cowl.

Though positively romances, each exhibits emphasize humor and slice of life components, Horimiya much more so than My Gown-Up Darling. The previous’s sequel season is definitely an ensemble comedy that focuses on relationships, and it’s all-around implausible.

Pseudo Harem

A Woman With Many Personalities

Marin loves cosplay, and her ardour for that passion brings Gojo into her life. As their relationship blossoms, we get to see them coordinate throughout a wide range of tasks, and it’s all the time enjoyable to see them convey to life a fictional character for Marin to embody.

Pseudo Harem is form of related, though Rin doesn’t make the most of cosplay. As she has a crush on her senpai, Eiji, Rin decides to make use of her appearing abilities to actualize his dream of being on the heart of a harem. So, she morphs into totally different characters, whereas Eiji performs alongside and pretends they’re distinctive individuals. Very lighthearted and foolish, their banter is cute and even considerably real looking, as they simply come throughout as two awkward youngsters who’re stumbling their means via the early onset of a relationship. They do develop genuinely nearer as properly, much like how Gojo and Marin’s relationship develops throughout the 2 seasons.

Do not Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro

Bullying Turns Into A Healthful Friendship

Typically, a nasty first impression can sink a present; fortunately, Do not Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro managed to outlive its tough first episode. The quiet Naoto unwittingly catches the eye of Hayase, a youthful lady who finds that she likes to tease her senpai. Initially, her mockery borders on bullying territory, however she shortly realizes she has taken issues too far and tones down her antics.

By season 2, Do not Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro has completely left behind its aggressive origins and transitioned right into a healthful romance about two youngsters who’re shy about expressing their emotions. It’s cute, humorous, and candy.

Say “I Love You”

Endearing & Grounded Romance

A historical past of bullying has pressured Mei Tachibana to shut off from the world as a type of self-protection, a call that led her to don’t have any mates. After a “meet cute” with the college’s resident heartthrob, Yamato, Mei’s life begins to vary. Say “I Love You” has a significantly weaker begin than My Gown-Up Darling because it doesn’t justify Yamato’s curiosity in Mei; nevertheless, as soon as the characters get collectively, the anime improves significantly.

Mei and Yamato are extremely likable, they usually take care of grounded relationship challenges pushed by communication points.

Wotakoi: Love Is Arduous For Otaku

Mature Relationships With A Lot Of Comedy

A shared curiosity serves as the premise of many relationships, and Wotakoi: Love is Arduous for Otaku explores that idea to a sure extent. Whereas they’ve recognized one another for a very long time and are each inquisitive about otaku culture, the outgoing Narumi Momose by no means noticed herself courting the socially awkward Hirotaka Nifuji; nevertheless, that adjustments when Hirotaka randomly asks out Narumi.

Though revolving completely round {couples}, Wotakoi: Love is Arduous for Otaku is extra of a comedy than a pure romance. That stated, the anime has its share of heart-pounding scenes that ought to fulfill romantics. Wotakoi: Love is Arduous for Otaku additionally handles its romance realistically, as whereas Narumi and Hirotaka step by step develop nearer, their relationship is of course slow-moving.

Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You

Do not Choose A Guide By Its Cowl

A timid lady who sadly seems just like the ghost from Ringu, Sawako Kuronuma has led a highschool life outlined by loneliness and anxiousness. Then again, Shouta Kazehaya is the man each lady needs to be with; naturally, the 2 begin to get shut, and their camaraderie conjures up Sawako to open up.

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You is arguably the standard-bearer for anime about an outcast and in style pupil falling in love, particularly in the case of shoujo. Whereas the present resists making Sawako and Shouta an official couple for much too lengthy, their friendship remains to be heartwarming all through the unique two seasons. Extra importantly, the anime made its comeback in 2024, with season 3 lastly chronicling the duo’s romantic life. Just a few different characters are additionally explored fantastically.

Hokkaido Gals Are Tremendous Lovely!

Introverted Male Lead Surrounded By Large Character Feminine Characters

Hokkaido Gals Are Tremendous Lovely! and My Gown-Up Darling share a couple of key issues in widespread, even when they’re in the end fairly totally different. Born and raised in Tokyo, Tsubasa is transferring to Hokkaido to stay with a relative, and he’s a bit nervous about beginning this new chapter. Nevertheless, these fears subside when he meets Minami, a gyaru with a heat and welcoming persona. The 2 change into quick mates, with the lady serving to the shy man settle into his new life and faculty. Just like Marin, Minami may be very outgoing and uninhibited; in the meantime, Gojou and Tsubasa are each introverts who have a tendency to slide into the background.

Now, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! finally transitions into extra of a harem, increasing Tsubasa’s pal group with the introduction of Sayuri and Rena. They’re nowhere close to as magnetic as Minami and arguably distract from the present’s fairly cute core dynamic. Nonetheless, like My Gown-Up Darling, Hokkaido Gals Are Tremendous Lovely! retains its romance as subtext for probably the most half, a minimum of through the accessible episodes.

2.5 Dimensional Seduction

A Cosplay Harem Executed Nicely

My Gown-Up Darling will not be solely a terrific romance but additionally a enjoyable look into cosplay tradition. 2.5 Dimensional Seduction does largely the identical factor, diving headfirst into this world whereas delivering charming characters and loads of hints of romance. Whereas the 2024 series’ classification as a harem may postpone some individuals who favor tales that revolve round a core pairing, 2.5 Dimensional Seduction nonetheless has a primary couple in Masamune and Ririsa. Each exhibits even have fairly a little bit of fanservice.

Masamune has turned his again on women, preferring to dedicate all his power to 2D waifus in video video games. Nevertheless, issues start to vary when Ririsa walks into his faculty membership and divulges her love for cosplay, with a selected curiosity in dressing up as Masaume’s favourite character. Now deciding to make use of his photo-editing abilities to seize Ririsa’s dress-ups, Masamune step by step opens himself as much as much more individuals. 2.5 Dimensional Seduction emphasizes the cosplay a part of its story, so it isn’t handled as an afterthought or simply an excuse to depict the ladies in several cute garments.

Shikimori’s Not Simply A Cutie

Opposites Appeal to & Full Every Different

Shikimori’s Not Only a Cutie obtained fairly a little bit of hype previous to its Spring 2022 debut, inciting murmurs that it could possibly be the present that fills within the void left by My Gown-Up Darling. First issues first, don’t strategy Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san anticipating it to be precisely like Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru as they’re fairly various kinds of exhibits.

Whereas the latter focuses on the construct in direction of a relationship, the previous begins with its primary couple already collectively. They each have slice of life components, however Shikimori is way extra slow-paced since its early chapters (and episodes so far) are devoted to only following across the central characters, with little in the best way of progress or growth.

Nonetheless, individuals who loved the cute dynamic between Marin and Gojou in My Gown-Up Darling may recognize Shikimori and Izumi’s candy relationship on this candy anime. Doga Kobo’s animation can be vibrant and fairly, matching the considerably carefree tone of the story.