How My Dress-Up Darling Discusses Social Anxiety

gamerant.com:

While the major theme of this slice-of-life romantic comedy is focused on cosplay, all four of the main characters display some element of social anxiety in Season 1 of My Dress-Up Darling.

While some issues are more glaringly obvious than others, the underlying themes of social stigmas are very much prevalent, as each character wishes to be true to themselves, but finds society has a lot to say about their digression from the norm. Wakana Gojo, Marin Kitagawa, Sajuna, and Shinju Inui are all oddballs in their own right, trying to find their place in this relatively cruel world while embracing their passions to the fullest.

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At a young age, the orphaned Wakana Gojo discovers an unexpected love for the Hina Dolls that his Grandpa Kaoru lovingly handcrafts. Perhaps yearning for maternal replacement, or simply seeking a distraction, Gojo forms an (arguably unhealthy) obsession with these dolls, even going so far as to anthropomorphize one. The youngster was teased relentlessly for his newfound «girly» passion for Hina Dolls, and subsequently isolates himself to avoid further persecution. He spends his remaining days utterly friendless, and by the time high school arrives, Gojo has very limited social skills and evidently struggles to relate with his peers.

Gojo displays several distinct personality traits that are indicative of possibly falling within the autism spectrum, although this speculation has not been officially confirmed. His extreme passion for such intricate and detail-orientated crafts is borderline obsessive, best depicted when he worked on Kitagawa's cosplay outfit for two weeks straight while simultaneously studying for tests, helping his injured grandfather, and running the