Majo no Takkyuubin

Kiki's Delivery Service resonates with me more than any other movie I've seen. Filled with inspiration, warmth and tenderness, it's perhaps the best example of a coming-of-age story I've seen in anime to date. While most Ghibli fans prefer the likes of Spirited Away or Mononoke Hime, and while I love and adore those films passionately, I personally feel that Kiki's Delivery Service is their best work, and Miyazaki's best directed film.

Everything about this movie just brings me a smile and always brings me up when I feel down. What makes this movie great is that it doesn't have huge ambition; it's not here to ... tell you about the consequences of relying too much on technology, or destroying the natural earth, confronting the spirits of the forest. Of life. But it's simply the story of a young girl coming to terms with growing up and living in an entirely new town with total strangers. Transitioning from the comfort of her quiet country side hometown, to the hustle and bustle of an urban area.

Being independent for the first time is a terrifying experience for anyone, but it's also enlightening, as you can learn more about yourself and others than you thought. Kiki's Delivery Service showcases those ups and downs brilliantly. From an awkward introduction to baffled strangers on the streets, to starting her own business and befriending her clients, to meeting the owner of a Bakery who immediately shows a keen interest in the young girl, taking the role of a sort of mother figure to her. You meet all sorts of characters in this movie, all of them with an interesting or realistic characteristic. From a gruff looking, but gentle husband of the Bakery owner, to a boy who is extremely passionate about flight and aircrafts(even attempting to lodge a propeller onto his bike to try to get some air) who develops an immediate infatuation with Kiki, to a painter who takes comfort living in the middle of the woods, befriending the hordes of crows that live in it.

And then there is Kiki herself; at first glance she is cheerful, if a little naive. Honest, yet surprisingly old fashioned("It's not polite to ask a persons name without introducing yourself first!"). The thing I love about her character is that she's so many things, so many qualities that show how much of a varied, complex, but very realistic character she really is. She isn't a spoiled brat, she isn't selfish, she isn't annoying. She's simply a little girl with her own quirks and principles.

The film showcases the joys and pains of growing up finding your place in the world. At one point, she wearily laments the fact that she doesn't have pretty dresses, and she cannot afford that sparkling pair of red shoes that she gazes at through the window of a clothes shop. She sees her friend Tombo chatting and laughing with girls, sparking an immediate sense of jealousy from Kiki due to her insecurities.

She wants nice things, she wants to wear a nice dress, she wants to talk to boys and make friends. But cannot afford it, nor does she have the time. She simply desires a lot of what girls probably want at that age or slightly older. It's what makes her human and convincing as a character.

Even if you're not the same age group, or even gender, I feel that a lot of us have lived through moments where we feel so unsure of ourselves, feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation in the process.

And even though she goes through times of insecurity, depression and feeling like she's in a rut. She also befriends and meets many people that find her remarkably charming, sweet and sincere. She experiences friendships, success in her business and feeling accomplished.

The music, composed by the master himself, Joe Hisaishi. Is nothing short of perfect, the soundtrack has a very distinct European sound to it, also induces a large sense of nostalgia. From the early 60s pop sound of the opening, to the tender folk ballad of the ending. The soundtrack compliments nearly every scene in the movie to considerable effect. As expected!

The animation and designs are also incredibly top notch. It's crisp, it's clear(I just recently purchased the bluray version), it brilliantly showcases the varied areas and backgrounds. Everything is just straight up gorgeous. The town itself, Koriko, an ideal version of a pre-WWII Northern European city is one of my favorite designed places in fiction. To the hectic main-roads, the quiet alleyways and side areas you could casually stroll through, to the gorgeous beaches and scenery. It's very romantic and exhilarating. I would personally love to live in a city like this.

Despite what it does right, does it do anything wrong? Well, I wouldn't have minded if the movie went a bit more into the witch culture. In the story, when 12-13, a witch must leave her town and spend a year elsewhere, growing and learning, broadening their horizons essentially. But it's not really explained too much, but this is simply a nitpick as the film is more about Kiki and her experiences than all that.

There's a certain warmth to this film that makes it feel like you're revisiting an old friend. I find it difficult to find any major faults in this movie. I've grown up watching it on tv dozens of times, and later in life revisiting it, only to truly then realize how special this film is to me. I never said that I would be objective or impartial in this review, that would be pointless and a disservice to the film. Kiki's Delivery Service makes you passionate, or just really happy and relaxed, whichever works for you.

It's anime like this that proves to me yet again that animation can be a wonderful expression of art. If you've never seen this film, do yourself a favor and do so soon. Set up some free time during a quiet weekend afternoon and let yourself be enveloped in tenderness.

Any constructive feedback is appreciated on this review!

For my second Hayao Miyazaki movie, I’d say it was pretty good.

I liked the plot of Spirited Away much, much better though. Spirited Away had a more complex and interesting plot, while Kiki’s story was simpler. I guess the advantage of that is it’s easy to understand. As much as I like stories about witches living amongst normal humans, Kiki didn’t really act or live like a witch. She was more of a human who can fly and happens to own a cat that talks.

Since I brought up the subject of the talking cat, I’m glad I picked the English dub over the original ... Japanese dub. I fell in love with the cast when I saw their interviews, so I decided to go with the Disney dub.Sure it became more Disney-ish, but it was actually pretty good. I like how they made Jiji talk more – I realized that in the Japanese dub Jiji wasn’t as talkative. Also, Phil Hartman made Jiji way funnier.

As expected of Hayao Miyazaki, the animation was fantastic – even if it was a 1989 movie. Since it’s from 1989, I’m assuming everything is hand drawn. The backgrounds were very detail, but it wasn’t overwhelming. It’s kind of looking at a fine, intricate watercolor painting that moves.

I did notice a lot of fan service throughout the movie. I know that seems weird, but there were numerous panty flashes from Kiki herself. I was beginning to think if that was intentional.

Disney edited the music, for sure. There were poppy, contemporary songs (both by Sydney Forest) during the beginning and the ending scenes of the movie. I can’t say I like the songs that much, but they were pretty catchy. I also noticed that a lot of the original BGM was omitted – I don’t know why that is. For the BGM I heard, I thought those tracks were very nice. They were easy to listen to and made the scenes especially peaceful and serene.

I’m probably gonna watch it again. It’s the kind of thing that you can watch any time and you’ll never get tired of it.

The first time I heard of this movie was when one of my friends mentioned it as one of the movies on his "to watch" list. I remember looking over the synopses and cover of the movie and wondering what the heck had gotten into him. It's a cartoon, for heaven's sake, how good could it be?
Just a few weeks ago I came down with a cold. It was no ordinary spring cold, but the great granddaddy of all spring colds. I was stuck in bed for around 3 days, during which time I re-acquainted myself with my inner child. ... In other words, I watched Kiki's Delivery Service. Then something happened. While I had begun the movie with very low expectations, and a "childish" mentality, I found myself wholly captured by the movie.

Story: The plot is simple. Super simple. So simple, in fact, that an overtired anime newbie with a head cold can understand it. It begins when Kiki, a 13 year old witch makes the traditional journey away from home to begin her training in a new city for one year. Within the city, Kiki finds an occupation, along with many new friends who help her find place in the world. It is a cheerful and optimistic plot which is both uncommon and appreciated.

Animation: Like the storyline, the animation is simple. Since it was made in 1989, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic, but I was pleased to find that both the simplicity and the colors matched the tone of the story and the characters.

Sound: I think this is what really hooked me. The music isn't absolutely fantastic, but it fits right into the scenes where you'd want it to be. It is comfortable, and fun. The voices were also impressed me (I watched the English dub). Perhaps that is because I started the movie with such low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the voices matched up with their characters quite nicely.

Characters: Ah, here is where the fun part begins. Kiki is truly the heroine in the story, and while she isn't saccharin sweet, she has a definitive moral standard. She has the added complexity of being a tween, and having to deal with new feelings of insecurity and affection. Her cautious and decidedly unadventurous cat, Jiji, is perhaps my favorite character, and his snide remarks had me laughing out loud every time. The rest of the characters are distinctive, and memorable (though maybe that is because this was my first anime movie. . .).

Overall: I thought it was a sweet, cheerful, "breath of fresh air" movie that I will probably watch more than once. It isn't on my list of top favorite movies (not that I have one...), but then again, it doesn't need to be. It is entertaining and sweet, and just the right thing to watch when you're feeling down - or when you've caught the great granddaddy of spring colds.

Studio Ghibli movies have always been known for being creative, visionary and imaginative, filled with so much care and heart poured into them, to the point where they become distinguishable from the medium as a whole. For several years, Miyazaki and his buddy Takahata have devoted many hours of their days to making the best of the best when it came to animated features. For Takahata, some may say that his masterpiece when it came to movies was Grave of the Fireflies, others may say that his true masterpiece was Only Yesterday. Regardless of what Takahata’s true masterpiece is, both he and Miyazaki have produced ... many movies that have been hailed as masterpieces by many over the years, but what is Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece? What is his magnum opus? Many will immediately point out to the award winning, beautifully animated 2001 movie, Spirited Away. Others will point out to his famous 1997 movie, Princess Mononoke. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what Miyazaki’s masterpiece truly is, since everyone has their own subjective opinions, and picking out the best of the best when it comes to Miyazaki is a hard chore to accomplish, especially considering all of the quality movies he’s put out during his career. Regardless of subjective opinions and differences between Ghibli fans, today we take a look at Miyazaki’s most underrated gem, his overshadowed masterpiece - Kiki’s Delivery Service. A movie that is so beautifully directed and animated, and has been undeservingly overshadowed by many other Ghibli titles that have come out since this movie’s debut.

Kiki's Delivery Service is one of the very few Ghibli movies that would make a viewer cry. Spirited Away would come close, but it wouldn’t quite hit the mark with what it offers, and wouldn’t emotionally resonate with some viewers. Kiki’s true beauty, however, lies in the fact that it is a simple movie, and any person would have come up with both the plot and the ending, but it takes a lot of care and brilliant directing to make a plot so simple shine in such a prepossessing manner. Miyazaki took a simple concept that is magic and witches flying through the air, and turned it into a film that emotionally resonates with most of those who have seen it. The plot follows Kiki, a young witch who wants to find her place in the world, and this is where the narrative truly stands out from the rest of both the other Ghibli movies, and the other witch fairytales. Kiki’s Delivery Service may seem like a witch story on the surface, but as you delve deeper into it, it begins to show itself as a movie exploring the hardships of life and a masterfully crafted coming of age story as well. The titular character is one of the most relatable to ever come out of the Ghibli discography, and is the most explored heroine in Ghibli’s catalog as well.

The central character Kiki, is relatable due to the fact that her relationship with her companions is explored thoroughly, from her relationship with her black cat Gigi, to her relationship with the young boy Tombo, to her relationship with the bakery owner, and so on and so forth. Not only are the character interactions believable and thoroughly explored, but so is the fact that Kiki exhibits human behavior unlike any other Ghibli character. When I say “human” I do not mean in the sense that it is forced like some of the other Ghibli characters, as her depression and lack of self-worth arise slowly after losing something that is deep to her, which makes her character all the more believable. It doesn’t come across as something that is shallow for the sake of gaining some sympathy and tears from the audience, since the thing she lost is something which she had owned her whole life, not something cheap which came out of nowhere and then vanished that easily to garner sympathy and tears from the viewers. This is one of the very few times where Miyazaki would go into such hard topics when it came to his characters. Usually, Miyazaki’s characters are mostly joyful and cheerful, whereas Takahata’s characters are the ones to exhibit such genuine lack of emotions and self-worth, which is another factor as to why this movie stands out as something that is both unique and exceptional in Miyazaki’s discography.

As for the other characters, they aren’t as well explored as Kiki, but they serve their purpose well within the narrative regardless. Kiki’s black cat, Gigi, isn’t the typical black cat that a witch would carry around, he talks, and his attempts at humor land solidly. When something devastating happens to him, the audience relates with him and to his struggles. To be able to make the audience feel attached to a character that isn’t as deeply explored as a well-developed protagonist like Kiki, is a feat that should not be underestimated, but Miyazaki did it brilliantly this time around. As for the bakery owner, she serves to guide Kiki through her emotional struggles and as a maternal figure to Kiki as well, since Kiki is a character that was forced to depart from her parents as a part of undergoing a witch training program. The contrast between the owner’s kindness and Kiki’s depression makes the emotional catharsis all the more immense here, and makes Kiki even more relatable as a character. Kiki is also not a perfect character at the end of the day, which makes her all the more relatable to the audience, especially those who struggle with hardships. Yes, she may be a witch and she may have special powers, but she isn’t a princess nor a hero prophesied in legends like most other Ghibli heroines. Kiki is clumsy, acts haphazardly at most times, especially with her terrible ability when it comes to landing her broom, and she tries to better herself and develop throughout the movie’s run.

As underrated as this gorgeous movie’s characters and direction are, the most underrated aspects of it are the animation and the visuals. People do not give enough credit to this movie’s audiovisuals, as it boggles the mind how a movie that is thirty years old, can have such animation that has not aged in the least bit. It is also nice to see Ghibli upping their game with this one, as the animation progressed from stills and flappy animation back in 1986 with Castle in the Sky, to some of the most fluid animation found in Kiki’s Delivery Service. Whether it’s the beautiful hand drawn animations, or the picturesque landscapes, Ghibli never ceases to amaze with this one. The backgrounds serve the story better and make the atmosphere all the more engaging, especially with the places they chose. The colors are vibrant and give the movie more life, and become pale and lifeless when the movie needs to be serious and grim. As for the character designs, Kiki is by far the most visually striking Ghibli protagonist, her most appealing feature being her tie that she wears on her head. Her dress is only one cloth, but it’s a nice change from the ridiculous clothes many other Ghibli characters wear, and it adds more to her humble character.

As for the soundtrack, this is Joe Hisaishi’s best work. The soundtrack immensely captures the beauty of the film and the general atmosphere that it was striving to achieve. The best piece Ghibli has ever put out is “A Town with an Ocean View”, as it is immensely visceral and awe inspiring, and it beats out Spirited Away’s main theme, “The Name of Life”. The other pieces helped solidify the scenes that they were placed in as well. All around this soundtrack is Hisaishi’s most emotionally striking soundtrack, even when some may argue that it isn’t his absolute best.

This is Miyazaki’s masterpiece. After seeing most of what Ghibli had to offer - from the bad, to the nauseatingly slow average, to the very good, I can assure readers that this is Miyazaki’s crème de la crème. This movie contends heavily with some others that Takahata has put out, and uncertainty always arises when trying to make sure what Ghibli’s absolute magnum opus is. Regardless of that, this is Miyazaki’s visceral masterpiece, without a shadow of a doubt.

For Kiki, a young witch-in-training, the time has come to spend a year away from home. During this time, she is to mature as a person and develop into a full witch. Accompanied by her talking black cat, Jiji, Kiki will move into a new town where she will make new friends, start her own business, and even develop her first love interest. But most importantly, Kiki will come to truly understand herself and the magic that comes from within.

Kiki's Delivery Service is a very sweet story and is presented in typical Studio Ghibli fashion. Animation is detailed and beautiful, and the soundtrack is enjoyable ... and fits well with the mood of the film. Voice actors are well chosen and professional; in the English version viewers should be pleased to find the lead role of Kiki played by Kirsten Dunst. As for storyline, there isn't much that can be said: the film sets out to provide a cute story about a witch coming of age, and it is successful. If you're in the mood for something like that, you will be satisfied.

Still, when I watched this with a friend that loves stuff like this, even she was somewhat let down in the end. Kiki's Delivery Service is so sweet that it's drab. Throughout the film both of us kept asking, 'what's the plot?' And the fact of the matter is, nothing really happens in the story. Now of course a film doesn't need to have a distinctive plot to be good, but even in other character-centered Ghibli films like "My Neighbor Totoro" there is something unique that makes the movie stand out. Kiki's Delivery Service simply isn't unique, doesn't have much of a plot, and cannot be carried by its characters alone. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the film: upon finishing I didn't feel like I'd wasted my time. But at the very least, I recommend that you spend your valuable time watching the other Miyazaki films first.

Overall Score: B

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Kiki is a witch only because she hallucinates talking to her cat and flying 11,300 metres in altitude; in other words, she gets high. Her mother appears to be more of a self-taught pharmaceutical scientist who is probably also an anti-vaxxer as well as someone who believes in free-range parenting, rather than a witch.

We are told about so-called “training” that Kiki will undergo, but we get nothing of the sort. The first nice boy she meets in an unfamiliar city, she decides to hate for unknown reasons. Perhaps it was her insecurity stemming from the lack of interaction with boys, or otherwise (more likely) ... not having enough magic mushrooms at that particular moment to keep her mellowed and grounded while kickstarting her witch alter ego.

She thinks the lady that took her in is exceedingly kind and pure; but we all know that she, blinded by capitalism, was ultimately plotting to expand her business and revamp her brand image because who wouldn’t love a cute 13-year-old happy-go-lucky witch and her tiny black cat? She saw a ripe opportunity to exploit child labour and she took it, managing to implement quick strategic thinking while pregnant no less! What a strong, independent woman. This was probably one of the millions of beautiful hidden meanings buried within this ghibli film.

A bit later into this, we are basically told (indirectly) that Kiki’s flying on her broom is comparable to art, yep, art. Nothing Kiki has ever done in this movie can be interpreted as artistic. Ursula, the painter, was the only remotely interesting character, and I’m just a little biassed towards her because I like birds and the idea of producing artwork of them, but that didn’t get much screen time. In the end, the protagonist barely goes through proper hardships or development. So it's not among the best coming-of-age stories out there.

This will either be really boring or relaxing depending on what kind of person you are and the mood you happen to be in. However, by no means would I call this forgettable, clichéd slog inspiring.

This will be my first 'review'. So I hope this is somewhat helpful.

This may not be the most famous movie of the Studio Ghibli collection, however Kiki's Delivery Service is a brilliant film in it's own right and in my opinion is often over shadowed and under appreciated because of its more famous cousins such as Spirited Away.

Kiki's Delivery Service has a very simple storyline. Based off a book of the same name. Following the life of the young witch Kiki and her cat Jijii, we follow her adventures as she goes out into the world to make a life for herself as a ... witch in the modern world where witches are not as commonly known as they once were, with her only real witches skill being her ability to fly on a broom. This as the title suggests brings her to create a delivery service in which she uses her flying skills to help people deliver various things.

The book for the most part just followed her various adventures on her deliveries from start to finish with no real focus on any particular character other than Kiki and Jiji, however the film adaptation has taken a few of these adventures and expanded upon them, as well as developed the characters associated with these to create a slightly deeper and more enjoyable film.

And well that is about it, we simply see how she struggles to find a place in a new town and make a life for herself and follow as she struggles through various situations and problems, meeting friends along the way. Very simple compared to many other Studio Ghibli titles but this is not a bad thing.

I feel the appeal of this movie is its simplicity and its just overall feel. Kiki's Delivery Service is a very light hearted movie that will make you smile throughout.

The art as always with Studio Ghibli is fantastic as is the music and sound and the characters are appealing and well developed. I think this movie is a good example of showing that you don't need the most complex story for something to be enjoyable.

I have watched both the subtitled Japanese and English dubbed versions and both are well done. Disney for the most part have done well with the dubbing, although there is some controversy to some edits from the original to the dub, which I won't go into. However I feel they do not really effect the overall story and personally prefer the way the dub comes across in the end.

So if you like a story that is light hearted and sweet with a simple but effective story I would highly recommend this movie. If you however want a movie with a more deep or complex story then perhaps try else ware.

"Kiki's Delivery Service" is a typically fun to watch family anime from Studio Ghibli. Though it's instilled with imagination like their other productions, it isn't nearly as outlandishness as the likes of "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke". This is probably due to the unusual lack of whacky character designs like Totoro and 90% of the characters in "Spirited Away", however it doesn't prevent the characters that are in "Kiki's Delivery Service" from having that "Ghibli charm". It's just as well, as "Kiki's Delivery Service" more about the characters than some complicated plot. The idea itself is simple enough - a young witch named Kiki has ... reached the age where she must venture out into the big wide world to fend for herself - but it's the execution that makes it count, and "Kiki's Delivery Service" certainly succeeds in being heart-warming and delightfully charming.

The artwork in "Kiki's Delivery Service" looks dated but is still of passable quality that's easy on the eye. The real strength on the technical side though, comes from the fantastic music found in the movie. The director Miyazaki has a tendency to pick great music to go with his movies, and musically this has got to be one of his finest, kicking off with a bouncy and infectiously catchy theme that caught my attention right away and put me in a great mood to watch the anime in.

There's not much to complain about. One thing the comes to mind is that "Kiki's Delivery Service" ends rather abruptly, though the epilogue after the ending credits does repair this to some extent.

As with most of Miyazaki's films, "Kiki's Delivery Service" is not really my type of thing, but I did enjoy it nevertheless. It has to be said though, that this isn't one of his more memorable movies, as I saw this years ago and can't really remember much about it at all. It's missing that spark provided by, say, the adorable cuteness of "My Neighbour Totoro" or the emotional poignancy of "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds".

just outstanding.

literally just finished watching five minutes ago, and feel privileged to know that I have just beheld a true classic. The artwork is sublime, the story endearing and heart warming and the sheer beauty just uplifting and inspiring.

A real masterpiece.

Majo no Takkyuubin, aka Kiki's Delivery service, is one of the first films by Hayao Miyazaki and studio Ghibli. When the 13 years old witch, Kiki, chose to strictly adhere to the rule that a witch must spend one year away from her family, she packs her things; rides her broom stick with her familiar, a black cat; and searches for a new city.

The city she chooses, is a beautiful, maritime one, with an Italian stylization. During her stay, she must utilize her arcane talents in order to provide for herself. While her initial reception is cold, Kiki ... is infatuated with the city and decides to stay.

We, the audience, quickly become infatuated with the city as well; the backgrounds look spectacular and the direction manages to depict accurately the vibrant Mediterranean setting. I know it is a matter of taste, but I love the design of the early Miyazaki films and still consider them the pinnacle of the medium.

And that is the point where the praise stops. For a film that's about a magic wielder it is not magical at all, like for example its predecessor, Tonari no Totoro (1988), was. The film's main theme are the troubles of a girl stepping on the threshold from childhood to adolescence. For instance no focus is given to how kiki studies or trains for her craft, but at two scenes we see her disappointment with her plain black robes.

As the film progresses it is apparent that this is a kid's movie; the scenario is simplistic and the world's rules unestablished. The film doesn't hide that fact, and it is maybe unfair to criticize it strictly, maybe I am just spoiled by the quality Ghibli and Pixar films, but it just is not as good as the competition.

While it fails to transcend its genre like Mimi wo Sumaseba (1995), or the Incredibles (2004), it is still a very cute family film, that will resonate especially well with young girls. Know your expectations and enjoy the spirited animation. 6.0/10.

Ive seen other movies from ghibli studios and i really have no reason as to why this one never caught my eye, but in the end it was not at all dull as i was expecting it to be and managed to keep itself afloat in my amusement.

(just want the readers to know as well that this was not at all a bad score and one of the key reasons which was always kept in mind while this review was written was the fact this was perhaps one of the directors' [Hayao Miyazaki] earlier movies in which the styles of how these shows were made ... will never be as complicated, and in-depth as the ones today. this has to be taken in consideration as well.)

the story itself was simple and gave off an aura of subtlety and a slight hint of adventure in it. I cant really say anything much about the artwork other than it is simple and not glamorous and which is something i like every now and then to feel nostalgia. :)

to wrap this up i will just say. this movie was not at all bad in any way, shape or, form what-so-ever, but for it to achieve the point of enjoyable, it didn't quite make it, so in the end it stays even with a five with feelings of tolerable, okay feeling. :)

Kiki's delivery service is a beautifully written and animated story about the young witch kiki and her pre-determined adventure of seft improvment.

Story -8- The story is a bubbly fun but also progressive and heart grabbing fiction which puts a different sort of spin on the traditional conception of witches. In this representation witches are a force of good that although is not a new idea, is done in a way i have not seen before. But in many ways the fact that kiki is a witch is not as important as her being a girl, as this anime raises concepts of maturity about ... what it means to grow up. That said it is a innocent tale that will leave you thinking "awww" and can be enjoyed by all the family. The only reason it didnt get a 10 is that i cant really give a movie intended for a younger audiance a 10,(too many restrictions) but its as close as one will ever get.

Art -10- This is a beautifull anime, infact calling it an anime (or cartoon) is (in my eyes) downgrading its status as a peice of art, as you see it is not just telling a story, its also showing you a painting. In all my life i have not seen anything that tells a story in such detail and in such traditional hand drawn glory (as its from the 1970's before p.c. editing). If you are unsure of wether the story is for you, then i would surggest you watch this simply for the entertainment value of the art work.

Sound -8- It wasnt really my cup of tea to be honest, but it fits the story well. It also sets the mood for alot of kiki's adventures and hardships, so in terms of the background sound, it is very good. Ide also like to say on the note of sound that this is possibly one of the only anime movies/series that enjoys a good english dub. I am not afraid to say i enjoyed both the sub and dub vertions.
**note** - this is just my subjective oppinion many of you might enjoy the music in this film more more.

Characters -9- The characters in this movie are also a great feet, especially based on that its only feture length. Both the main characters get development in this film, but they still keep all the charms and features which made me love them in the first place. The supporting main characters are also quite effective in the film, and at least i hope alot of younger boys and girls can associate with them and their lifes. Although Kiki is a lovely character, i think in some ways her side-kick Jiji is the charcter that most impressed me, as he is able to produce alot of very intresting plot lines without lsoing his nature as a cat or Kiki's best friend.

Enjoyment -9- You cant help but enjoy and love this film, nomatter your age or gender. In my oppinion it is a great film to bring people together and remeber the simple innocent pleasures in life.

Overall -9- As i have said above, i decided not to give this a 10 on the grounds on that it feels too simple, but as far as simple films go this is the best. Just sit back relax and enjoy, you can think about it as little or as much as you like but will still bask in its gentle aura of innocence and bubbly fun.

"Stop trying. Take long walks. Look at scenery. Doze off at noon. Don't even think about flying. And then, pretty soon, you'll be flying again!"

(WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS)

Kiki is a witch that has just became Thirteen the day of her birthday: This is the age when witches become independent, and also the time to transfer to another city and find a job.

So the very same day, she flies with her broom along with her faithful talking cat, Jiji, saying goodbye to her birthplace and her parents and friends: A new adventure is about to begin!

Even though it isn't said, it can be guessed ... that Kiki is very insecure: In fact, she thinks she isn't a witch to all effects because she can't do magic like other witches.

However she is really good at flying: In fact after thinking a lot about what to do resting in the dormitory of a kind baker couple who offered her a place to sleep (This is an anime, please remember to never trust strangers guys, please be aware of what happened to Colleen Stan) she decides to be a "Flying Delivery Girl".

During her first work, she will unfortunately bear with a great storm that will make her delivery pack fall in a wood. However she encounters an easy-going and kind painter girl that will help her adjust the cat-peluche (The thing she had to deliver for a birthday) and the two of them will become friends. After helping her cleaning her house, she will finally save her poor cat Jiji, who had to pretend to be a peluche in order to don't make her lose the job.

Kiki seems to finally have found her vocation and her place in the world: She loves herself more finally understanding how hard-working, responsible and how kind she is (She will give up to go to a friend's party in order to help one of her clients in need even if it wasn't a part of her job), Being in love with her work, happy to make other people happy by delivering them gifts.

However one day, something unexpected happened: She loose her flying powers, and as well her powers to understand the cat's language.
She is really sad, because no matter how hard she tried she couldn't fly anymore, so she had to pause from working (Something really rare in Japan that our master Hayao Miyazaki wanted to point out: In Japan people work way too hard, and that's why sometimes they loose inspiration and their will to work, and as well sometimes even die because of too much stress , either by suicide or cardiac arrest. Hayao Miyazaki wanted to tell us that is ok to not feel inspired all the time and that is also ok to pause from working for all the time we need, because it can actually be benefical for us and for improving our services to other people.)

During her rest time, she decides to stay at the Painter's place, learning to have fun just like people of her age do, and finally learning how to be more patient with herself without cancelling her first achievements, believing in her capacities and accepting her tiredness.

She will in fact be inspired by the Painter's speech where she said she also lost her will and capacity of painting at some point of her life, but that her passion returned all alone after some time.

Some days after, she will indeed obtain her powers back, and her life will eventually returns to normality, having fun with her life and her loved ones.

I honestly feel like this movie is an enormous and rassicurant hug, telling you that everything will be ok and to love yourself more and to accept your faults as part of your persona.

I also had a period when I didn't feel inspired by anything, because I was indeed in a bad period and I needed to rest, and this movie helped me a lot to not loose my respect for myself and to go on with my life, because I knew that everything would eventually re-acquire colors, because no situation lasts forever. It will surely happen again, but I will ready to face it thanks to what Kiki taught me.

If you ever feel depressed, uninspired or insecure, please watch this movie, it will surely help you out and relax you.
Remember to believe in yourself always, even when you do mistakes or don't give your all in something you love, because it is just a period that will be past one day. You have your worth, don't forget that ^-^

Thanks for reading my review, Have a great time on mal !<3

Very rarely does an anime truly deserve a perfect 10. And yet, for the classic works of Hayao Miyazaki, the opposite is true. A 10 simply doesn't do them justice.

It seems almost pointless to review an old Studio Ghibli film from Miyazakis prime, because it seems like the movie should need no introduction. It's from Miyazaki. It's from 1980-2000. Does anything really need to be said here? Yes, it does, because after reading many of the reviews I feel too many don't give Kiki the respect her movie deserves.

The truth is, Miyazaki doesn't create anime. Miyazaki creates...films by Hayao Miyazaki. His own style, ... his own way, and it stands in a league of its own above all the rest. This is the kind of legendary talent that only appears once per generation, that most of us can only look up to and dream of. His method can be summed up in one word: "Love." Love for every detail. Love for the characters. Love for the world. Love for the soul. Miyazaki pours his unmatched spiritual tenacity into every single frame, which gave him a reputation in the anime industry of being one of the hardest directors to work with as his standards are sky high. What an ordinary director would consider amazing, Miyazaki considers as "Still not good enough!". But the pain and sweat that goes on in Studio Ghibli pays off.

The result of their hard work is a show that is not just "good", but one that legitimately places the viewer into a world that feels alive. Watching Kiki fly through the air, the animation is so pristine and the details so perfect, you will feel as though you are actually there with her. Flying by her side. Washed away into an amazing parallel world where magic is real and anything is possible. Miyazaki then uses this mastery of animation to take the audience on a journey through a story that is actually quite basic: Coming out of our shell and finding our place in the world. It's such a simple idea, and yet Majo no Takkyuubin does it in a way that is so well done that anyone can watch it and feel as though the story was made just for them. Kiki may be a witch, and most of us at least are not. And yet it's easy to see yourself in her shoes, because what she goes through is something we have all been through. Life is never as easy as we think it is, and making your mark in the world is tough. Reality doesn't always meet our expectations, and yet here we all are. Still alive and moving forward.

Majo no Takkyuubin is one of Miyazakis best works. Brilliant and profound, it deserves its place as an animation classic in an era that birthed animation as a viable story telling medium. Thousands of years into the future when children are learning about art history they will open their holographic textbooks and may very well just see Kikis smile glancing back at them. That's how important this movie is to the anime industry.

I love Studio Ghibli. They make films that generally range from good to excellent and excel at art and music. Kiki's Delivery Service is probably the type of film they're best at. It has a simple story with some nice themes and a small cast of important characters who get some development but it keeps the focus on one or two of them. As a result they're able to really develop those few focus characters very well. It isn't my favourite Studio Ghibli film but it's still pretty impressive.

The story follows a young witch named Kiki who leaves home to train and find her ... talent as a rite of passage. She ends up in a large city by the ocean where she encounters some trouble but gets through it with the help of many kind people. Since her special talent is flying she decides to start a delivery service. It's a pretty standard coming of age story about a young girl who leaves home to find her place in the world. The only real twist is that the girl in this case is a witch. Having a simple story isn't necessarily a bad thing and Kiki's Delivery Service is done very well. The story has a very good progression and the themes are explored pretty thoroughly. It has an open ending, but that works to its advantage since the story is more relatable as a result. It honestly might be the best coming of age movie I've ever seen. If I had to come up with a complaint about the story it would be that a lot of really convenient events happen and it starts to stretch verisimilitude really thin. But, honestly, that works perfectly with the movie's optimistic atmosphere.

The characters are where it really excels. They're vibrant and interesting but they're also flawed. A few of the characters don't really experience development, but they're still written as three dimensional characters. Even the old dog who shows up in about five minutes worth of scenes is an interesting character and that really takes talent.

The art is amazing. The backgrounds, characters and overall atmosphere are all done in Studio Ghibli's distinctive style It immerses you in the world which serves to make the film very engaging. The nature scenes help set the mood and, unlike some Studio Ghibli films, they don't drag on so long that they take away from the plot. I'm looking at you, Only Yesterday.

The voice acting is great. I especially enjoyed Takayama Minami's performance. She voices both Kiki and Ursula, and she does it so well that I only noticed because of the credits. The music is also very good and atmospheric.

I'm going to give Kiki's Delivery Service a yuri factor of 3. Ursula and Kiki share some really homoerotic moments, Ursula viewing Kiki as her muse is especially homoerotic, but it never really goes anywhere beyond that. Which is probably a good thing since Studio Ghibli doesn't tend to write romance very well.

My final rating for Kiki's Delivery Service is a 9/10. If you're looking for a fun, simple movie it's excellent and you'll probably enjoy watching it thoroughly. The combination of excellent visuals, interesting characters and great story all contribute to this.

Kiki's Delivery Service has to be my favorite anime movie of all time!

I love the art style and how old fashioned it looks! It's very different towards what I would see today in anime art styles. I found it to be very unique and original since this is Studio Ghibli.

The soundtrack and the theme songs were absolutely fantastic! I loved the way Studio Ghibli made their music for their anime movies. It brings the whole movie together. Without the soundtrack, it wouldn't make it watchable!

The story line was beautiful because it never made any scene or part of the movie dragging or boring at all. ... It just made it much more interesting to watch the rest of the movie.

The characters in the story were so heart warming and amazingly picked out! I loved every single character in the movie because of their personalities.

I couldn't find anything that I disliked about Kiki's Delivery Service but of course this is just my opinion!

Overall, I enjoyed this anime movie and everything that it brought to me!

This is probably one of my favourite studio ghibli films that I have seen.
It's sweet, magical and has some kind of charm to it.
The story is lovely as its a girl training to be a witch however she decides to do deliveries as she can fly around on her broom stick which is kinda cool!!
I think I enjoyed it because its always nice to watch an original anime film that has a strange story line to it.
The art is amazing!
Some of the characters remind me of 'sabrina the teenage witch' e.g. black talking cat but still really cool characters.
Overall I would say this film is ... worth watching as it's wonderful and it really gets you in the mood ;)

So, Kiki's Delivery Service. A movie from Studio Ghilbi directed by the everyone-claims-he's-great Hayao Miyazaki. It tells the tale of Kiki who is a witch, and it is a tradition in her family that when a witch turns 13, sh/he leaves home to find a town and do training for a year. It is Kiki's time, though as a witch she's slightly useless and can't do much besides flying her broom. However, she ends up at a town, and while the citizens seem apathetic at first, she befriends someone at a bakery shop who gives her a home. Then Kiki decides due to the fact ... she can only fly, she will do the only thing she can do- Start a delivery service.

Kiki started out well. I really liked how the people in the town acted like how real people would if a witch flew in. Aka they back away when she introduces herself, merely walk past her and don't give her a second glance, and a policeman even approaches her and says it's her fault that she nearly caused an accident. Then Kiki meets that person at the bakery, and sure it's a little unrealistic that she would take her in so quickly, but hey, they are a few people like that in the world, and they did meet admittedly realistic compared to some of the anime meetings of fate and destiny I've seen . But then things fall down.
My main annoyance with this is how freakin' bipolar Kiki is. Most of the times she's like a combination of Nausicaa and Sheeta from Miyazaki's previous works, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Castle in the Sky, with Nausicaa's bravery and kindness but Sheeta's personality, if that makes sense considering Sheeta was nothing more than a way wimpier Nausicaa in the first place. However, then her love interest/ friend Tombo appears, and Kiki acts all cold towards him. That's right. Kiki acted like a tsundere before tsunderes were made! Now, that's not my main problem though, but this scene later in the movie. Once she befriends Tombo (she had a weak reason for disliking him in the first place) and turns dere-dere, comes this scene. A few of Tombo's friends come up and ask Tombo if they want to go look at a fallen dirigible (a really dump name for a blimp/zeppelin). Tombo asks Kiki if she wants to go, but all of the sudden, she goes cold again and storms away! Why? I would say she was shy as there was an early scene when two girls walked by talking and Kiki didn't react, but she had plenty of friends back at her hometown. And the ending credits shows her talking to one of the girls in the bakery! What happened, nothing about the way the movie ended suggested that Kiki would suddenly turn dere-dere to everyone else in the town! There's also several other problems too. The ending is rather weak and predictable and for some reason once the day is saved white confetti begins to fall out of the sky from nowhere. Okay, maybe that's a nitpick, but still, there's no reason for the confetti rain.

I already talked about Kiki above, but let's discus the others. Tombo doesn't have Nausicaa's male lead's charm or Pazu's “so boyish you can't really complain” personality, no. He has an annoying personality and freakin' stalks Kiki at times it seems. I wouldn't just act tsundere to him in real life, no, I would down right hate him. The family Kiki lives with is nice, I especially liked the husband who seemed to never talk but was just there, reacting. The other characters had their flaws.

The music is of course good like most of the Ghilbis, and the voice actors fit their characters, aka Tombo has an annoying loud one and Kiki has a nice one. The animation is Ghilbi, so of course it looks good. The backgrounds still stand out too much though like other Ghilbi movies, but ah well.

So, Kiki's Delivery Service. Um, it's a classic, so you probably should watch it, but yeah, it's not that good. But hey, it's not terrible. Just not that good.

For those who have not seen this film, they might perceive it as a fantastical film involving magic, spells, all interwoven into the awe-inducing high-budget animation that has characterized Ghibli films. While to a degree this is true, the film is primarily a slice-of-life....no, better put, its a coming of age story about a young girl trying to find herself as she ventures out into the world with nothing but her mother's broom and her cat ( jiji ).

The narrative is heavily driven by the main character, and in many ways, Kiki's experiences and development as a character are easily relatable to viewers. We've ... all felt the anxiety of being on our own for the first time, endured the hardships and self-doubt that comes with being new in town, and most of all, embraced the pleasant surprise of making new friends along the way. Moreover, these experiences bring her character to life as an individual, ( not merely another Magical Girl character ). The supporting characters, while not receiving the same amount of attention, play an equally important role in depicting these experiences through the eyes of Kiki.

Sound was excellent overall, providing a rich yet serene ambiance to the film which befits the narrative. The music also exhibited an almost childish, innocent, vibe which is very appropriate for Kiki's coming of age experiences throughout the film. Art was equally impressive and detailed for a film made nearly 30 years ago. Animation was also incredibly smooth.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film from start to finish, and while it was certainly not an action-packed nor a fast paced film, I appreciate its calming feel. At the same time, watching Kiki's character grow and learn allowed me to think introspectively on myself as a person as well. This introspection of one's self ends up being one of the central themes of the film.

I highly recommend this anime for general audiences, children and adults alike, and especially newcomers to anime looking to get a foothold in this vast fandom.

In recent months, I've watched "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro", two of Miyazaki's most celebrated films. Yet, the less acclaimed "Kiki's Delivery Service", released directly after Totoro, is superior to both.

The main difference between "Kiki's Delivery Service" and its predecessor is the existence of a story. While Totoro was a collection of enchanting, hyperreal moving images of the Japanese countryside and fantasy creatures with no further point, "Kiki" follows a more conventional structure. There is a clear premise, with Kiki coming of age and needing to live independently as an adult for a year. This larger narrative is interspersed with small adventures throughout ... the film. Most take the form of Kiki delivering packages by flying on a broomstick, but a few are related to her adventures with the boy Tombo, who loves her.

These are entertaining on their own, with connections to the overarching theme. They incorporate action and humor well, and in one case, the adventure ends in an ironic twist, with Kiki fighting through the soaking rain to make a delivery for a kindly old woman, only for her sacrifice to be in seeming vain. Perhaps my favorite part of the movie, as it's a rare instance of Miyazaki morally condemning a young woman, and rarer still, for a sin against her elders.

One must temper this praise, though. These adventures work well as part of a beautifully animated movie. Written down, it would make for a series of drab, mediocre stories. "Nils and the Wild Geese" or one of Astrid Lindgren's classics this is not, though I wouldn't be surprised if Miyazaki took inspiration from those sources. It's just good enough for the medium of film, with its lower requirements for thought and ingenuity.

Since we're examining the film's flaws, it should be noted that Miyazaki's laziness as a writer comes through at two moments.

Firstly, how do witches, of which we meet several besides Kiki herself, exist in this world? Do they have to hide their powers for fear of being captured and burned at the stake? Are they an accepted, known part of society, and if so, what is their status? It's a fascinating question which Miyazaki largely ignores. We see Kiki's mother, also a witch, mixing potions, which is her specialty, and it's mentioned she is the town's witch, whatever the hell that entails. When Kiki arrives at a large, developed city, however, her ability to fly on a broomstick elicits a few "wows!" but nothing more. No one is eager to learn about her powers. Crowds of adoring kids don't follower her every move. The city's leaders don't meet with Kiki, despite her being a very powerful and potentially disruptive entity that just moved in. Nope! Miyazaki just ignores it, making the story feel thin and artificial.

And then of course, we get to the ending. Miyazaki, the proud feminist, can do nothing more than a simple gender swap of the most standard fairy tale trope. Instead of a boy saving a damsel in distress, it's the girl saving the boy! Rather than inventing something new or interesting, all he can do is leech off the most basic story trope with an intellectually bankrupt, corroded version of it.

Speaking of Miyazaki's feminism, my favorite anecdote about him has to do with when he and his wife had kids. Miyazaki's wife was an animator, and at first, being a progressive couple in the 1960's, they swore that they would both continue working. Neither would give up their careers for their children! So they would ship their two sons off to daycare, letting strangers raise them. A few years later, with two young boys who were distant from their parents and tired from walking home every day from daycare, the decision was made to have mom stay at home while Miyazaki continued being a typical workaholic of his generation.

Thus, the young progressives ended up being exactly the same as every other traditional Japanese couple. So much for all their feminism! Funny how getting married and having kids has this profoundly right-wing effect on people, eh?

Surprisingly, the movie's animation is unique among Miyazaki's works. I've noted that Miyazaki reuses visual themes with hardly any change from one movie to another. And yes, there are the same lush greens, bushy trees, magical forests, and streams running through farm country that were in Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, etc. However, Kiki has a wholly original aesthetic all those others lack. It isn't just focused on nature and the country, but incorporates a bustling Old World city. Seemingly based on the celebrated cities of Italy, especially with its narrow streets and cobblestone paths, it's as beautiful and charming as any of his rural creations. In particular, it invokes what we recognize in more recent times as the cozy aesthetic. One can practically smell the rising bread of the delightful bakery where Kiki works. The colorful streets are full of energy, but the people are friendly and familiar. All of the abodes are cottages straight out of a picture book, whether it's the artist who lives alone in the woods, the old lady's grand house, or even the attic where Kiki resides, with its strong wood floors, considerable space, and soft bed. Moreover, the flying dirigibles are impressive, really conveying their weight, power, and brand of beauty.

I criticize Miyazaki a lot, but this is a unique wrinkle, and shows that his mastery of animation extends beyond mere nature and fantasy. Shame that he didn't use it more in his other films.

There was one scene that I find especially memorable, where Tombo is riding a modified bike with Kiki on the back. The style of the visuals and music is straight out of one of those Japan-only video game releases of the late 80's or early 90's, whether on the Famicom (Nintendo in the West), Super Famicom, or disc-based system. It's an utterly hypnotic scene, and far more interesting than the movie's climax.

Overall, this is a truly good film, the second best Miyazaki work after "Castle of Cagliostro", and the best of those he wrote. The story is notably better than his other scripts, though it still has flaws and exposes his limitations in that area. Visually, "Kiki's Delivery Service" is a spectacular accomplishment, even compared to his other output, seamlessly melding the country and the city, nature and humanity, cozy and cool together.

71/100