When I got my copy of Kiki’s Delivery Service, I was beyond excited. Only last month my roommate introduced me to Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki (the director of this fine film) and now I was going to get to review one of his other films rereleased by Disney? Awesomeness. I’d never before seen this movie, but I was sure I would adore it.
There are many reasons to love this flick, first and foremost being Kiki herself. Kiki (voiced by Kirsten Dunst) is a 13-year-old witch, and like all 13-year-old witches in her world, she must spend an entire year away from her family training in another town. She picks up her broom, her dad’s radio and her snarky cat, Jiji (voiced by Phil Hartman), and heads off to the nearest city with a view of an ocean. But once she’s there, she realizes that she doesn’t really have any useful talents, like forecasting or making potions. All she really knows how to do is fly.
Fortunately, Kiki meets Osono, a pregnant baker who helps her realize that she can use flying to be helpful in her city by starting a delivery service. Osono provides a place for Kiki and Jiji to stay and even gives her some business. But while she works at the bakery and makes her deliveries, Kiki must also figure out who she really is. Her friend’s life and her ability to fly will depend on it.
Not only is Kiki absolutely adorable, but she is also very relatable. She’s growing up, and it’s easy to see her struggles and remember what it was like to be 13. To be invited to a party, but unable to go…to be insecure and a little awkward…to wish for the perfect dress or the perfect friend…that’s a universal experience (well, perhaps except for the perfect dress bit – more like clothes that will allow you to fit in, but you get the idea). Watching her, the audience is reminded of that stage of life and the excitement and independence it brings.
What continues to impress me in this film is the use of dialogue. Several scenes go without entirely, showing the audience what is happening through a window or by the characters’ body language. It’s a testament to the animators that they can so adeptly demonstrate what is going on without having any additional explanation or clues. Likewise, the animation is absolutely stunning. Landscapes are phenomenally beautiful, and the city exteriors were architectural splendors. Somebody definitely ate their Wheaties while animating.
While I really enjoyed the movie, if you are a parent and want to let your child watch this, it might be a good idea to sit down afterward and have the “hitchhiking is bad” talk. Kiki’s Delivery Service originally came out in 1989, and maybe then there weren’t as many issues with hitchhiking dangers, but I read that David Sedaris book and no child of mine is getting in a car with a soon to be drunk driver with a gun who wants to play with brain splatter. But other than that, this is a gem of a family film and Miyazaki fan or not, you’ll love it.
DVD Bonus Features
Along with the introduction by John Lasseter (which automatically plays at the beginning of the movie) and the storyboards, the second disc contains “The World of Ghibli,” an interactive experience that is on all of the Disney rereleases of Studio Ghibli films. This includes both “Enter the Lands,” a game for the young or dim-witted, and “Behind the Studio,” a selection of documentaries and interviews with Hayao Miyazaki which is actually really interesting.
"Kiki's Delivery Service" is on sale March 2, 2010 and is rated G. Animation, Children & Family. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Written by Eiko Kadono, Hayao Miyazaki. Starring Debbie Reynolds, Janeane Garofalo, Kirsten Dunst, Matthew Lawrence, Phil Hartman, Tress MacNeille.
