My Dress-Up Darling Season 2

Adapted from Shinichi Fukuda's manga published by Square Enix in Young Gangan, My Dress-Up Darling is arguably the most polished calling card the ecchi genre has produced in years. CloverWorks, the studio behind Spy x Family and Horimiya, brings the same visual craftsmanship to this second season that made the first one go viral, warm lighting, near-obsessive fabric detail, and fanservice that is never gratuitous, always tied to the growing bond between Gojo and Marin. 1 average with over 200,000 votes, confirming a massive following both in Japan and abroad, where Crunchyroll simulcast it worldwide with dubs including an Italian track.

The show plays with skimpy costumes, fitting-room moments and pool or hot-spring scenes, but always within the romantic, comedic register of the source material, never tipping into explicit territory, this is ecchi in its most classic form, built on unresolved tension and a glance that lingers a second too long. Western critics praised the animation and Marin's characterization, while noting a somewhat slower pace in a few episodes compared to season one. It remains a benchmark for viewers seeking cinema-quality fanservice that speaks equally to cosplay fans and to anyone craving a sincere love story.

Its cultural footprint has helped mainstream cosplay as a narrative theme well beyond otaku circles, making it the natural choice to open this 2026 ranking.