"Is the Order a Rabbit?", commonly known as "GochiUsa," is a four-panel comic strip published in Manga Time Kirara MAX that was adapted into an anime in 2014 and became a huge hit. A movie version was released in 2017, making it one of Kirara's most popular works in the mid-2010s. Here we'll introduce the charms of GochiUsa's main character, Cocoa!
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa is the main character of GochiUsa!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee ?
When you think of "GochiUsa," you might imagine Chino (the silver-haired girl) as the main character, but the main character of "GochiUsa" is Cocoa! Her rather unusual appearance is striking: short, light-brown hair that's almost orange, and purple eyes! Her appearance seems to embody Cocoa's cheerfulness.
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa is the brightest character in the series!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Cocoa is one of the most cheerful characters in the series, and her brightness is just as striking as that of Maya, a member of the middle school group. While Maya comes across as active and energetic, Cocoa seems more natural and curious. She has a charm that draws people in, and unconsciously acts as a conduit between people.
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Is Cocoa Japanese?
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee ?
Although Cocoa's appearance is clearly un-Japanese, her real name is "Hoto Cocoa." It's a Japanese name, to be fair. The real names of the other characters are also written in kanji, but overall, she doesn't seem Japanese, and the setting, a town of half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, doesn't feel Japanese at all.
【Is the Order a Rabbit? 】Cocoa Wants to Be a Big Sister!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Cocoa moves to a "town of half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets" upon entering high school and ends up staying at Chino's family home, Rabbit House, a cafe and bar. Cocoa also works as a maid at Rabbit House, and aspiring to become a big sister herself, she dotes on Chino like a little sister.
Cocoa's "Call me Big Sister!"
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Cocoa, who admires her big sister too much, persistently pressures Chino, saying, "Call me big sister!" (lol). Chino finds this annoying and almost never calls Cocoa "big sister" throughout the story (lol).
Megu is one of the few little sister characters who admires Cocoa.
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Most of the younger sister characters looked up to Rize and Sharo, and Cocoa struggled to establish herself as an older sister. However, Megu was the only one who admired her and described her as a "wonderful older sister"! Chino doesn't recognize Cocoa as her older sister, but it's good that she can at least be admired by a cute girl like Meg (lol).
[Is the Order a Rabbit? Cocoa's ideals are mysteriously high.
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee ?
Cocoa is easily influenced by what others want to do, and as she interacts with various people, she begins to pursue a mysterious goal: "I want to write novels while baking bread as an international barista lawyer in the city." (laughs) While any one of these would be more realistic, Cocoa's attempt to do them all is what makes her unique.
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa is good at math!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee?
Although it's a surprising skill, Cocoa is good at math and can solve problems in her head that would normally require a calculator. Cocoa may seem clumsy and careless, but she's surprisingly talented.
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa is surprisingly skillful?!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Since the characters in "Gochiusa" work at a coffee shop, many of them are fairly skilled, but Cocoa is a quick learner, even when she first started making latte art. While she may seem a bit of a dork, she doesn't seem like a bad worker and generally does a good job.
Cocoa is good at baking bread
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee ?
Cocoa's family owns a bakery, so she seems to have a particular way with bread-making. When it came time to bake bread at Rabbit House, Cocoa took the initiative to teach everyone how to bake bread, even though Rize and Chino usually take the lead and speak up.
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa and Chiya are good friends!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee ?
Cocoa can generally get along with anyone, but she seemed to get along particularly well with Chihaya from the moment they met, and they quickly became best friends. Cocoa's naivety and Chiya's easygoing nature seem to get along well, and since they go to the same school, it's natural to see them together.
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa's older sister, Moka, is a superior version
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Cocoa has an older sister, Moka, who is a beautiful woman with the same purple eyes as Cocoa and long, slightly darker hair. Moka is a gentle and kind older sister, but at heart she's a lively and energetic woman, just like Cocoa. Overall, she's like a superior version of Cocoa, so when Moka appears, Cocoa's position becomes precarious.
Moka's big sister aura overwhelms even Rize
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee?
If I had to pick a main character with an older sister vibe, it would be Rize, who is one year older than me. However, Moka exudes an overwhelming "big sister aura" that even overwhelms Rize, resulting in a rare scene where Rize, unusually intimidated, is intimidated by Moka. Moka, you're amazing (lol).
Is Moka a sister complex?!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee
Cocoa's siscon for Chino is incredible, but Moka's siscon for Cocoa is also quite intense. Even Moka, who is generally brave, seems to hate being disliked by Cocoa. Cocoa's siscon was inherited from Moka (lol).
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa's voice actress is Ayane Sakura
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Reality TV Production Committee?
Cocoa's voice actress is Ayane Sakura, who also voiced the heroine Nao Tomori in Charlotte and the protagonist Akari Mamiya in Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA. Sakura, nicknamed "Ayaneru," is a popular voice actress.
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee?
I understand that it's Akari and Cocoa, but Tomori and Cocoa are completely different characters and voices, so it's surprising! How do you manipulate Cocoa to sound like Nao Tomori? (lol) It's a mystery (lol).
[Is the Order a Rabbit?] Cocoa is the central character of the group!
Source: Is the Order a Rabbit? ©Koi・Houbunsha/Is the Order a Rabbit? Production Committee ?
Cocoa from "Gochiusa" is a cheerful, curious, and energetic girl! Rather than focusing on the specifics, Cocoa's overall cheerfulness and her ability to connect with others are what make her a wonderful girl.
