Kiki' Delivery Service
Year: 1989
Country: Japan
I am slowly trying to catch up with the work of the great Japanese animator
Hayao Miyazaki. I have been quite delinquent in this because for the most
part I am not fan of the genre though more so as I see more of it. Thus far
I have seen My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and
now Kiki. All of them have been terrific.
Kiki feels much more targeted at children then the other three with a very
gentle sweet nostalgic look at growing up. Not a lot happens until the last
15 minutes but it is so soothing that you can almost feel the wind blowing
through your hair. The animation is of course first rate with lovely touches
along the way. I hate the style of current American animation so this just
feels so refreshing.
Kiki is a witch who has arrived at the age of 13. In this world witches are
unusual but not looked at negatively. They have skills and earn a living
just like everyone else. But at 13 witches are expected to leave their family's
and find a town to live. So Kiki takes her broom and goes looking for a town
where a witch can make a living and she and her black cat Gi Gi find a lovely
town by the ocean and try to settle down. It isn't easy fitting in or making
friend but she sets up a Delivery Service and goes through emotional ups
and downs. Nothing as dramatic or action based or just plain weird as the
other three but it is a delectable tale of life and friendship in a small
town.
Rating: 7.5