Kiki's Delivery Service

Dir: Hayao Miyazaki

1989

*****

One of Studio Ghibli bigger hits, Kiki's Delivery Service is actually based on the book of the same name by Eiko Kadono. I found the original to be that little bit darker than Hayao Miyazaki's version, and while I like both, I still find it to be an unusual adaptation, given the tone of the book and its illustrations. It's rather telling that this was the first Ghibli film to be distributed in the west by Walt Disney, as it certainly feels more like one of theirs rather than one of Ghibli's. Kiki is a young Witch but this never feels like a Witchy sort of story, it's bright and colourful and Kiki certainly isn't of the green-skinned and wart-ridden variety. The Witch thing is really just a tool to portray a meaning, as well as giving the character the opportunity to fly and talk to her pet cat. Witches appeal to younger audiences for various different reasons, Kiki appeals because instead of using her powers selfishly, she uses them for a better purpose. Miyazaki has since said that Kiki explores the gulf between independence and reliance in teenage Japanese girls. Witches have to adhere to rules, just as everyone does, but even though she has powers she also feels isolated and struggles for her own independence. She uses her power of flight and magic to better herself and move on to adulthood, a far cry from what you expect from Witches but it captures the very real growing pains and vulnerability felt by youth in general. There are times during the film whereby Kiki loses her power of flight and can no longer talk to her cat Jiji during bouts of self-doubt, when her confidence takes a hit. This is a great lesson for kids in understanding that vulnerability is an important aspect of self-realization and not a reflection of failure. I suggest this is more Disney than the other films but I say that only because of the style it adopts, it's still very much a Ghibli fantasy and Disney's preachings are generally a little less accurate than this. Kiki's Delivery Service is far more of a character driven animation than the other Ghibli films. The story is fairly simple, which is half of the appeal, Kiki herself is quite complex and far from being two dimensional. Similar Ghibli themes arise and it is easy to see some of the studio's films that were made before and after in one way of another but the mood and structure is something pretty unique among their animations. It's not just an adult friendly cartoon for the kids, it is a cartoon FOR the kids, something that will mean something to them as well as enjoy. I believe it to be something rather special, although everything that is great about it is also rather subtle. Jiji the talking cat was enough for me to love it, everything else is an added bonus. I know they've said that BeWitched was the inspiration but I can't help but think Kiki was responsible for Sabrina The Teenage Witch.