Kiki's Delivery Service

Year: 1989
Running time: 103 minutes
Certificate: U
Language: Japanese
Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Starring (voices): Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma, Kappei Yamaguchi, Keiko Toda, Meiko Nobusawa, Kôichi Miura

Jiji clings on while Kiki delivers a package.

This is a truly wonderful film with a heart of gold. It manages that trick almost exclusive to Studio Ghibli films of being about nothing very much, but is still utterly engaging. Kiki (voiced by Minami Takayama in the Japanese language original and Kirsten Dunst in the English-language dub) is a young witch off to find her place in the world. Kiki is an infinitely resourceful girl and she meets the challenges she faces with a never-give-up attitude that leaves you helpless to do anything but root for her. Kiki and her scene-stealing black cat Jiji (Rei Sakuma) find a picturesque town to settle in, and they manage to find a spare room at a bakery and the friendly owner Osono (Keiko Toda) lets her stay.

Kiki also meets Tombo (Kappei Yamaguchi), a young boy smitten by the new witch in town. To begin with Kiki is less than impressed by Tombo's interest, but she slowly thaws and they become good friends. Kiki finds a niche and starts her own delivery business out of Osono's bakery and as her reputation grows she takes in some outlandish jobs and meets and helps a number of interesting characters along the way.

Kiki hitches a lift on the back of Tombo's bicycle.

Catchy music and beautiful animation combine with character-focused storytelling to make a thoroughly absorbing story (but what else would you expect from Studio Ghibli?). Kiki has a crisis of confidence and starts to lose her witchy powers, forgetting how to fly and understand Jiji. The surprisingly action-heavy final set piece involving a crashed dirigible sees Kiki risking all to save Tombo and securing a place in the hearts of the townspeople. It is beautifully realised and a genuine pleasure to watch.

Score: 8/10

It comes as no surprise at all to me to find that Kiki is universally loved, if these reviews by Mimo at Geeks and Charles at Indiewire are anything to go by.