Gochiusa finds a sort of equilibrium in its plainness. It is nothing that anime veterans and newcomers will find to be anything too special, but it is not as though every anime needs to be a life-changing experience. Something that merely allows you to relax and forget the troubles of the real world is also an equally valid (though perhaps less important) source of entertainment... especially when it contains cute girls.
The set-up can be explained in just a few words: "Girl starts working for café and makes new friends over time." There is no exposition, no infodump, no profound characterisation - it is simply a light-hearted story of a young group of girls living their daily lives and joking around along the way. I suppose the setting is a bit different from the norm (just how many high-school themed anime are there, anyway... ?) as it is focused almost entirely on the café itself, but it still follows the genre's trend of 'been there, done that'. That being said, if you enjoy the genre and don't mind feeling a bit of deja vu every now and then, Gochiusa can be a surprisingly pleasant experience.
Anyone looking for a cast of cute characters to fawn and giggle over will find just what they are looking for in Gochiusa. None of them are especially fleshed-out, but that's actually OK here. Gochiusa is not concerned with climaxes and drama. It is simply comprised of a few chapters in Cocoa's and Chino's daily life. Rather than focus entirely on creating sentimental value, it instead crafts a believable (somewhat- the talking rabbit is pretty weird!) world that the audience can identify with. There are no superheroes, no end-of-the-world scenarios. And that's fine.
The main cast comprises of Cocoa, the ditzy sort of protagonist found in nearly every slice-of-life show; Chino, an adorable, quiet girl that will get your heart pounding on more than a few occasions; Sharo, the timid worker of the rival café (who also wears a maid uniform!); Chiya, the ojou-sama and the sole source of reason in the story; and Rize, the most beautiful girl this world has ever known.
Rize is by far the most interesting character in the story. She is somewhat of a military otaku (ミリオタ), obsessed with guns, combat and all things violence. Her father brought her up in such an environment and consequently she does not have a great understanding of how 'normal' girls behave. The moments where Rize misunderstands completely ordinary things as something military-related are often hilarious, and the moments where she reveals her tender side, desperate for human attention, are unbearably cute. Her military background makes her a type of character that has not really been seen in slice-of-life anime, so her presence is very much appreciated. I am just not quite sure whether she looks better with her usual twintails or her hair down. Either way, her cuteness is probably enough to immediately send any human being into cardiac arrest.
The format of the show is structured similar to Aria the Animation and its sequels. There is a subtle Italian vibe to the setting and the episodes usually succeed in putting a smile on your face by the end. There are certainly episodes that are more exciting and more boring than others, though, and the blatant fanservice during the bathhouse episode is a bit on the pandering side. For a show so innocent and so heart-warming, close-up shots of the characters' ass and titties felt quite unnecessary. It didn't need to stoop itself down to that level. It could have done without.
And where was the episode focusing on Rize's father and home situation? I was waiting, waiting for it to happen and received nothing of the sort. It could have been a great source of comedy, a way to portray Rize's military obsession as something genuine rather than a simple joke. It's nothing so severe as to lower the quality of the anime, but it definitely feels like a missed opportunity.
Gochiusa impresses with its audio. Many of the tracks evoke a sort of carnival theme, while others (again similar to Aria) are simply quiet orchestral pieces existing to create a sense of peace and tranquillity. The opening theme is lively and catchy, so catchy that it is likely to stick in your head for some days afterwards. It's one of few anime that time the opening track with appropriate visuals, rather than just pan over the protagonist's face or him/her walking for half the sequence. Seriously, what's up with that?
The artwork on the other hand is about average. Gochiusa is not a high-budget project and it shows. It's never offensive to the eye but it is never quite pleasant either. Sometimes the anatomy can get a bit wonky or the faces static and lazily drawn, but these scenes don't occur with too much frequency. Gochiusa is usually capable of hiding its modest budget.
Gochiusa isn't the kind of show that I would hold in high regard critically, but it is what keeps me entertained with the medium during the slow times where there is nothing better to occupy myself with. With all the battle shounen and harem titles dominating each season, I would much rather relax and watch a group of cute girls sipping tea and having fun with their day-to-day lives. And therein lies the appeal of Gochiusa. It is not sophisticated entertainment, but it is fine entertainment nonetheless.
Just do be prepared for more of the same. There isn't much to set Gochiusa apart from its contenders aside from the fact that it has Rize-chan. Actually, doesn't she make the show an easy sell... ?
