My Dress-Up Darling vs. Rent-A-Girlfriend: Why fans always compare the two

When My Dress-Up Darling debuted, fans were hooked by the plot. The story revolved around the female character who loves anime and is a cosplayer. Also, the story, a combination of romantic comedy, was a perfect shift from the constant shounen and seinen genres. As it became popular, fans soon started to compare this show with Rent-A-Girlfriend.

I can somehow make sense out of this because these series do have some similarities. For instance, the male lead in both has issues as they are awkward in social situations. And in parallel to them, the series has a largely extroverted female lead.

This dynamic seems designed to balance the characters emotionally and narratively. The main difference in My Dress-Up Darling is that it conveys a completely different meaning and philosophy of storytelling.

One of the biggest reasons these shows are compared is that the male lead constantly feels like he does not deserve to be with the female romantic interest. In My Dress-Up Darling, Wakana Gojo is shy, and whenever Marin asks him for help, he is flustered around her.

Even if he makes great cosplays for her, he maintains a boundary as he is predetermined that someone like her would not be interested in dating him. In Rent-A-Girlfriend, Kazuya Kinoshita is a college student who spirals into emotional chaos after a breakup and ends up renting a girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara.

The story in both develops based on the relationship between the two characters as they work in close proximity. Moreover, as both are slow-burning romances, fans tend to compare them, since this is a classic setup in romantic anime.

Another major point of comparison is the female leads. Marin in My Dress-Up Darling and Chizuru Mizuhara in Rent-A-Girlfriend share similar personalities. They are also written in a way to attract a male audience, so their characters have been designed as ideal female romantic interests.

This is a very specific male fantasy that shows up often in modern anime: the idea that even if you’re awkward, self-loathing, and average, a beautiful girl might still see your hidden potential. It’s relatable for some viewers, but also opens the door to criticism.

Why does the majority of the fandom end up liking My Dress-Up Darling?

While both stories share some similarities, the fandom openly admits they prefer My Dress-Up Darling more than Rent-A-Girlfriend. I feel this is a valid reaction based on how the dynamic between Marin and Gojo is wholesome and pure compared to Kazuya and Chizuru, who have been in a situation of will they, won't they for a really long time.

Moreover, many viewers of Rent-A-Girlfriend find Kazuya’s character immature and unappealing. On the other hand, Wakana Gojo is hardworking and talented, even though he’s nervous around Marin, his respectfulness keeps the tone sincere, not creepy.

Yes, Kazuya grows slightly, and Chizuru starts to warm up to him. However, the story constantly introduces new conflicts and female characters just to delay the resolution. Fans have been feeling like the creator of this show is focused on milking the story as much as possible.

Additionally, a fan theory has been floating around suggesting that the creator of Rent-A-Girlfriend is overly attached to Chizuru, which some believe is why the story drags on without resolution.

What I love most about My Dress-Up Darling is the mutual growth. Wakana becomes more confident because of Marin’s support. Marin becomes more vulnerable because of Wakana’s kindness. Their love story is not forced and is adored by fans because it brings them joy.

Final thoughts

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For a long time, fans have been comparing both of these shows because they share genre, structure, and even character archetypes. So, when people ask me why these two always get compared? I tell them: They may share the same genre, but only one of them respects your time. And for me, My Dress-Up Darling wins that comparison every single time.

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