If you haven’t watched the anime series My Dress-Up Darling yet, it is worth streaming. The series is a cute and fun romantic comedy. It focuses on cosplay, which is a subject close to the heart of the anime fan community. Those of us who aren’t cosplayers probably take cosplay photos at conventions.
As of mid-February 2022, the series is in the middle of a 12-episode first season. If you haven’t figured out where to watch My Dress-Up Darling online yet, this article can show you how.
About My Dress-Up Darling
My Dress-Up Darling started as a manga series in 2018. The original Japanese title is Sono Bisuku Doru wa Koi o Suru, or The Bisque Doll That Fell In Love. “Bisuku doru” (bisque doll) is the Japanese term for a type of porcelain doll.
Wakana Gojo wants to continue the family legacy of traditional doll making. But he’s socially awkward and easily embarrassed.
His life gets turned upside down by Marin Kitagawa, a cute and cheerful otaku girl. Kitagawa wants to cosplay, but she needs help.
The series has fun contrasting the two opposites. It also features misunderstandings and some otaku humor. Because the series gives a behind-the-scenes look at cosplay, it does contain some fan service.
Where to Watch My Dress-Up Darling (Free and Legal Streaming Options)
- Crunchyroll
- Funimation
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime Video
- VRV
5 Places to Watch My Dress-Up Darling
1. Crunchyroll
If you have a paid Crunchyroll account, you can watch the latest episode one hour after it airs in Japan. If you don’t get a subscription, you can still watch everything except simulcast episodes.
U.S.-based Crunchyroll is available internationally, but we haven’t tested every possible region for geo-locking. As this article explains, you may still run into problems in your area. See below for a quick guide to accessing Crunchyroll using a VPN.
Pros:
- Available globally
- Gigantic anime library
- Relatively cheap, with a free streaming option
Cons:
- You may encounter geo-locking in some regions
Price:
- A free account with ads, no simulcast (the ads can be disabled with an ad blocker)
- “Fan” level with no ads, new episodes one hour after Japan broadcast: $7.99/ month
- “Mega Fan” allows four devices, first access to events: $9.99/ month
- “Ultimate Fan” includes offline viewing, swag bag, merch discounts, etc.: $14.99/ month
Language options: Japanese with Arabic, German, English, European Spanish, Latin American Spanish, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian subtitles. English, Spanish, or Portuguese dubbed. (Dubbed episodes lag behind the subtitled version.)
How to Access Crunchyroll from Anywhere in the World via VPN
Crunchyroll doesn’t work in some countries. In Japan, for example, you can download the app, but it won’t have any anime titles on it unless you use a VPN.
This method works on both desktop PCs and mobile phones or tablets.
- Purchase (or start a free trial of) a VPN. NordVPN works for this purpose
- In the settings, choose U.S. as your location
- Fire up the VPN and wait
- Once you’re connected, navigate to Crunchyroll (browser or app)
- Search “My Dress-Up Darling” in the Crunchyroll search bar and you should see My Dress-Up Darling pop up
2. Funimation
Funimation owns Crunchyroll, so it may seem redundant to include both on this list. However, there are differences between the two. For one thing, their anime libraries aren’t the same. Crunchyroll Originals aren’t available on Funimation, while Funimation has titles that Crunchyroll doesn’t have. That could change as a result of the merger.
Crunchyroll is also available in more locations than Funimation. That might also explain why Crunchyroll has more language options than Funimation.
Pros:
- Watch My Dress-Up Darling for free, without even logging in (except for the latest episode)
- Ad-free free-trial subscription
- A large anime library
Cons:
- You can only stream in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand
- Not all shows are free
Price:
- Some shows are free without a subscription
- Free subscription with ads (removable with an ad blocker)
- Premium subscription. Ad-free simulcasts – $5.99/ month
- Premium Plus. Offline viewing, members-only events – $7.99/ month
- Premium Plus Ultra. All of the above plus an annual gift – $99.99/ year
Language options: Japanese with English subtitles, English dubbed
3. Netflix
Netflix Japan in English has My Dress-Up Darling. But as of mid-February 2022, U.S. Netflix does not. It’s hard to say why. It could be another case of “Netflix jail,” where Netflix sits on a series before international release. My Dress-Up Darling is not a Netflix-exclusive series, so there may be other issues.
To watch My Dress-Up Darling in Japanese on Netflix, you will need a VPN (details below).
Pros:
- Large library of both anime and non-anime content
- Available internationally
Cons:
- Geo-locking
- Tries to block VPNs
- Limited language options
Price:
- Basic, 480p video quality: $9.99/ month
- Standard, 1080p: $15.49/ month
- Premium, 4K+HDR: $19.99/ month
Language options: Japanese with Japanese subtitles
How to Watch My Dress-Up Darling on Netflix from Anywhere in the World via VPN
This method works on both desktop PCs and mobile phones or tablets.
- Purchase (or start a free trial of) a VPN. NordVPN works for this purpose
- In the settings, choose Japan as your location
- Fire up the VPN and wait
- Once you’re connected, navigate to Netflix (browser or app)
- Search “My Dress-Up Darling” in the Netflix search bar
Enjoy! Please note that if your Netflix library doesn’t update, you may have to clear the Netflix cache first and try again. Switching web browsers might also help.
4. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon started out as an online bookstore, so naturally you can buy the My Dress-Up Darling manga there. Amazon Prime Video also has the anime series, although it may not be available in all regions.
If you use Amazon Japan, you’ll need to know the Japanese name for the series. In either Japan or the United States, Amazon offers only the Japanese language version with no English subtitles.
In the U.S., you can buy one episode individually, or the whole season with a Season Pass. You can also choose between standard (cheaper) or HD. In Japan, streaming is included with Amazon Prime membership.
Pros:
- You can buy episodes à la carte
- A Season Pass is cheaper than buying individually
Cons:
- Individual purchases will add up in the long run
- Limited language options
Price:
- One episode HD, $2.99
- One episode SD, $1.99
- Season 1 HD, $23.99
- Season 1 SD, $18.99
Language options: Japanese
5. VRV
VRV is owned by Crunchyroll, and it’s only available in the U.S. So you might wonder, what’s the point if you already have Crunchyroll or Funimation?
VRV has an oddball collection of content, divided up into Crunchyroll, Mondo (Happy Tree Friends, etc.), and VRV Select. VRV Select contains a mixture of live-action TV, movies, western animation, anime, and tokusatsu. Select shows require a Premium account (or a linked Crunchyroll Premium account).
Still, you can watch My Dress-Up Darling without a Crunchyroll or VRV account. The free option includes ads, which an ad blocker will stop.
Pros:
- Small but unique library, plus Crunchyroll
- Watch some stuff for free
- Potentially useful if Crunchyroll goes down
- Can link Crunchyroll and VRV accounts
Cons:
- Only available in the U.S.
- Slim pickings if you don’t like weird, mature or eclectic
Price:
- Free, no account, ads included
- Free account, ads, mature shows
- 30-day free trial of Premium, no ads
- Mondo Premium, no ads on Mondo, $2.99/ month
- VRV Premium, no ads, access to everything, $9.99/ month
Language options: Same as Crunchyroll
