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When the name Sanrio comes to mind, iconic characters like Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, My Melody, Kuromi, and Hello Kitty are often at the forefront. These beloved figures have become synonymous with the brand, consistently topping Sanrio’s annual global popularity charts. However, a little-known black cat named Chococat is emerging as a surprise contender in this lineup. First introduced in 1996, Chococat has largely remained in the shadows despite his charming design and endearing personality.
While many Sanrio characters have enjoyed extensive merchandise and media coverage, Chococat long existed as a more obscure figure, adored primarily by the franchise’s most devoted followers. This status began to change with his appearance in Hello Kitty and Friends: Supercute Adventures and later as a key character in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. His growing popularity in recent polls indicates that Chococat is fast becoming a fan-favorite within the Sanrio universe.
In Japan, black cats are often seen as symbols of good luck. Despite this, Chococat hasn’t experienced significant domestic success. At Puroland, Sanrio’s expansive theme park located in Tama, Japan, characters such as My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Badtz-Maru, Keroppi, and Hangyodon are prominently featured. Yet, Chococat is conspicuously absent, even from the merchandise available in the park’s numerous gift shops. Some speculate that Chococat’s lack of popularity in Japan may be due to his deviation from the “kawaii” aesthetic that characters like My Melody or Hello Kitty embody.
Chococat Wasn’t Popular In Japan, But He’s Rising In The Popularity Polls
Despite black cats being considered good luck in Japan, Chococat was never a domestic success. Puroland is a giant Sanrio theme park in Tama, Japan. It features My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Badtz-Maru, Keroppi, and even Hangyodon. Chococat is nowhere to be seen, even on the merchandise in the park’s multiple gift shops. Some argue that Chococat wasn’t as popular in Japan because he didn’t fit in with the “kawaii” aesthetic of other characters like My Melody or Hello Kitty.
A weak argument indeed, considering that no one can deny how adorable Chococat’s chocolate nose is and how much personality his quivering whiskers have. However, it is true that he doesn’t quite match the “girlier” appearance of other characters — but then again, neither does Hangyodon, Badtz-Maru, or Pompompurin. In fact, fans love Chococat’s aesthetic and merch from the early 2000s. The plaid print, fall colors, and emphasis on stationery tools resonated with a certain demographic in the fanbase that needed a happy medium among all the other Sanrio characters.
Despite unpopularity in his home country, Chococat found success in the United States. In the annual popularity polls, Chococat never leaves the top 10 in the United States. It’s even rarer for him to leave the top 5. Brazil is another country that loves Chococat. In the 2025 popularity poll, Chococat ranked first place in Brazil. However, the global rankings tell another story for everyone’s favorite puzzle-solving black cat.
In 2015, Chococat ranked 85th globally. He steadily increased from there, hovering between the 60s and 70s until 2024, where he placed 46th. In 2025, Chococat finally cracked the top twenty-five, placing 24th right behind the fashionable rabbit girl, MARRONCREAM. As Chococat regains popularity worldwide, fans are discovering there is so much to love about this little black cat with a chocolate nose and intuitive whiskers.
Sanrio’s Chococat Has a Special Backstory
Chococat was born on May 10th in Chocotown, Colorado to his parents, Rory and Catrina, who are divorced. Chococat lives with Catrina in the Choco Choco House. This detail doesn’t define Chococat, but it’s worth noting because it does set him apart within Sanrio’s other family structures. Other characters have undefined families or traditional family units, even appearing in media like Hello Kitty Island Adventure. Pompompurin, for example, has Mama, Papa, and his grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa.
Hello Kitty’s mother is named Mary, her father is named George, and she has a twin sister named Mimmy. By contrast, Chococat’s explicitly defined broken family dynamic introduces a more grounded dynamic into Sanrio’s world for kids to latch onto and see themselves in. It adds depth without disrupting Sanrio’s upbeat, gentle, and comforting tone. Rather than a traditional household, Chococat’s sense of belonging comes from a close-knit group of friends, similar to Cinnamoroll’s expansive social circle.
Chococat’s companions include the Duckies, Nutz the hamster, Cookie-Bau the dog, and Jelly Bean the bunny. While these side characters are rarely featured alongside him in modern Sanrio media, they were frequently included in vintage merchandise. Their absence only highlights how much of Chococat’s original charm has yet to be fully rediscovered. A revival of his lovable sidekicks would feel like a natural next step.
Like all the other Sanrio characters, the franchise focuses on Chococat’s lovable personality quirks. Pompompurin loves to eat and nap, while Chococat loves solving puzzles and exploring. He loves science, flowers, and well-balanced meals. However, Chococat does have a sweet tooth and his favorite food is Chocoballs, a Japanese confection. In Season 3, Episode 13 of Hello Kitty and Friends: Supercute Adventures, Chococat’s love of flowers is on full display.
In the episode, aptly titled “Flowers for Chococat,” he becomes enamored by the prospect of planting flowers all over the town and making his friends happy — only to find out that too much of a good thing can be suffocating after the entire town drowns in yellow flowers, even inside his friends’ homes and shops. Chococat being a main character in the YouTube series and the video game Hello Kitty Island Adventure undoubtedly contributes to his growing popularity in 2026. Due to his presence in current Sanrio media, it always feels like a loss whenever Chococat is absent from brand collaborations or new merchandise lines.
Chococat Has Been Present In Recent Sanrio Collaborations
Chococat’s presence in recent Sanrio brand collaborations, such as his recent 2025 run with Build-A-Bear for not only a holiday release, but a jumbo version, proves how in-demand this little black cat truly is. He’s often included in anime crossovers, such as with My Hero Academia and Naruto. He was also present in Happy Meal collections, such as the Yu-Gi-Oh! x Sanrio collection and the recent Sonic the Hedgehog x Sanrio collaboration with McDonald’s.
There was even a special collection of InstaX Polaroid cameras and accessories, of which Chococat was included. His part of the collection was defined by warm autumnal colors and plaid patterns, evoking nostalgia for his early 2000s merchandise. Impressions Vanity is also in on the Chococat craze, producing a vanity chair in his likeness and including him among the rest of the cast on makeup cases and other accessories. Chococat’s presence is also felt in mall retailers, such as Zumiez and Hot Topic, where he is present on enamel pins, hoodies, purses, and other trinkets — all of which are quick to sell out, proving how in-demand Chococat truly is.
Such immense retail turnover highlights just how strong the demand for Chococat has become in recent years, especially among younger and newer Sanrio fans who are discovering him for the first time. Chococat may still be on the rise in Japan, but the rest of the world has already fallen in love with him. In 2026, Chococat is still an underrated Sanrio character by all accounts, but he’s proving himself much more. Chococat’s comeback is being supported by his lovable personality, cozy aesthetic, and adorable merchandise. Hopefully, Chococat will find himself in Puroland with the rest of his friends one day.
- First Film
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Hello Kitty: Cinderella (1989)
- Latest Film
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Hello Kitty in The Sleeping Princess (1991)
- First TV Show
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Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater (1987)
- Latest TV Show
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Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures (2020)