The pure charm of Wakana Gojo from My Dress-Up Darling

My Dress-Up Darling has introduced Wakana Gojo, and I believe he has a charm that makes this show popular. While most of the time, Marin, the female lead, takes the spotlight with her detailed cosplay and her extroverted personality, Gojo offers a gentle touch to the story.

He is an introverted schoolboy who is passionate about taking over his family business but is afraid to be made fun of. Somewhere is represented most of us tend to hide our passions because we are afraid to be judged.

Moreover, his lack of self-confidence is keeping him from being recognized. Since he was introduced and crossed paths with Marin, Gojo has made some intricate cosplays with no prior knowledge of making such elaborate costumes. Yet he is passionate about delivering a perfect piece and takes it up as a challenge.

Even when he is put in a position to wear a revealing outfit, he does not see it as an opportunity to be an ordinary teenage boy. There is a spark in his eyes that shows us that he is incredibly passionate and would go to any lengths to become good at what he does.

He might be just a high school student, but Wakana Gojo already knows what he wants from his life. Moreover, even though he wants to hide his passion from the world, Gojo never tries to be something he is not, and that is endearing about his character.

In Season 2’s premiere, Gojo is tasked with making a bunny girl costume for Marin, who is as excited as ever. This could have easily been a typical anime fanservice scene played for laughs, but what made it different was Gojo’s reaction.

He’s flustered, yes. Beyond flustered, even. But he still does the job. He focuses on the craftsmanship, pours all his attention into the sewing, and treats the task with the same seriousness and integrity he does with his hina dolls.

Marin and Gojo: A Heartwarming Dynamic in My Dress-Up Darling

The vulnerable side of him in the anime is refreshing because teenage boys in anime usually do not openly show their delicate side. So instead of proudly sharing his craft, Gojo hides. And that makes his eventual connection with Marin Kitagawa all the more special.

I feel that meeting Marin was the turning point of his life. She is the perfect counterbalance to his personality. She has this energy around her that just cannot be ignored. And the complete lack of shame of cosplaying, challenges Gojo to open up about his talents.

Being around Marin opens up his world in a way nothing else has. What I absolutely adore is how Gojo reacts around her. He doesn’t suddenly become cocky or assume her attention is romantic. In fact, he’s completely overwhelmed.

As viewers, we can see him flustered around her. But it is never for any inappropriate reasons. He just does not know how to react when Marin is cosplaying a bold character. And even when Marin asks him for something as wild as making a revealing cosplay outfit, Gojo never looks at her with judgment.

He’s respectful, focused, and professional, despite being so nervous that he can barely look at her in the outfit. While many anime quickly use female characters for fan service and the male gaze, My Dress-Up Darling subverts this by showing everything through Gojo’s respectful lens.

How My Dress-Up Darling has changed the stereotype of male characters

The main reason why I adore Wakana Gojo’s character in My Dress-Up Darling is that he is completely different from what male protagonists are supposed to be like. This shift is noticeable in recent anime as the meaning of masculinity has been drastically shifted.

He likes dolls and is a soft-hearted character. Gojo represents something radically different. His strength comes from his empathy. My Dress-Up Darling shows us that his passions don’t make him weird; they make him brilliant.

Currently, there is an online term to describe characters like him, and it is known as a green flag. And honestly, Gojo is the perfect embodiment of that. His character is proof that you don’t need to be a bad boy to be compelling.

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In conclusion, Wakana Gojo in My Dress-Up Darling might not be your typical anime heartthrob. He doesn’t have superpowers, he doesn’t fight demons, and he doesn’t sweep anyone off their feet with suave one-liners. But what he does have is heart. A huge, soft, careful heart.

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