Kiki's Delivery Service
1989
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Many people are familiar with Hayao Miyazaki and Studion Ghibli because of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, two of my favourite movies. Miyazaki, often called "the Japanese Walt Disney," has been a prolific creator of animated movies for children and adults (and continues to be, as he just released the well-received Ponyo earlier this year.) The thing is, Miyazaki is better than disney. His characters are more complex, his imagination has no bounds, and there are no embarassing musical interludes to be found in any of his movies. (Yeah, yeah, Disney was pretty good too...)
I'm a bit obsessed with this guy - actually I bought all of his movies together earlier this year, a bit of an impulse buy. But really, they're probably the most consistent collection of animated feature films you will ever get your hands on, so don't hesitate to do so.
Kiki's Delivery Service is markedly different from most of the other Studio Ghibli films. It's a story about a thirteen-year-old witch who leaves home for a year on a traditional pilgrimmage before becoming a proper witch. It does not contain: antagonists; magic, other than flying on a broom and a talking cat; battles; a handsome prince. All of this works in its favour. A relatively conflict-free film, it's mostly about Kiki's attempts at establishing herself in the world and building her confidence.
Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that this would be the most boring movie in the world. Actually, it's totally engaging from the very beginning, but in a very down-to-earth way; it's actually a movie you can relate to. After leaving home, Kiki finds herself in a beautifully realized, bustling seaside city that she adopts as her new home. Lacking any other magical skills, she decides to use her flying ability to start a delivery service (surprise surprise.) While there, she meets Tombo, a young aviation enthusiast who takes an immediate shine to her (but not so much the other way around.) Of course, business and the opposite sex are both pretty difficult for a thirteen-year-old girl. Kiki also has a tendency to get depressed, especially when the world doesn't meet her rather naive standards of kindness and decency.
1989
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Many people are familiar with Hayao Miyazaki and Studion Ghibli because of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, two of my favourite movies. Miyazaki, often called "the Japanese Walt Disney," has been a prolific creator of animated movies for children and adults (and continues to be, as he just released the well-received Ponyo earlier this year.) The thing is, Miyazaki is better than disney. His characters are more complex, his imagination has no bounds, and there are no embarassing musical interludes to be found in any of his movies. (Yeah, yeah, Disney was pretty good too...)
I'm a bit obsessed with this guy - actually I bought all of his movies together earlier this year, a bit of an impulse buy. But really, they're probably the most consistent collection of animated feature films you will ever get your hands on, so don't hesitate to do so.
Kiki's Delivery Service is markedly different from most of the other Studio Ghibli films. It's a story about a thirteen-year-old witch who leaves home for a year on a traditional pilgrimmage before becoming a proper witch. It does not contain: antagonists; magic, other than flying on a broom and a talking cat; battles; a handsome prince. All of this works in its favour. A relatively conflict-free film, it's mostly about Kiki's attempts at establishing herself in the world and building her confidence.
Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that this would be the most boring movie in the world. Actually, it's totally engaging from the very beginning, but in a very down-to-earth way; it's actually a movie you can relate to. After leaving home, Kiki finds herself in a beautifully realized, bustling seaside city that she adopts as her new home. Lacking any other magical skills, she decides to use her flying ability to start a delivery service (surprise surprise.) While there, she meets Tombo, a young aviation enthusiast who takes an immediate shine to her (but not so much the other way around.) Of course, business and the opposite sex are both pretty difficult for a thirteen-year-old girl. Kiki also has a tendency to get depressed, especially when the world doesn't meet her rather naive standards of kindness and decency.
This is the kind of kid's movie that children should actually be watching. Forget the implicit message in Disney films that you've gotta marry a rich prince or end up an old hag; forget "ultimate good vs. ultimate evil." Kids might actually learn something from this independent girl who makes a go of it while not asking too much of life, and is thoroughly decent to everybody she meets.
But the real reason I love this movie is the animation. Absolutely stunning, kick-ass, awesome animation. Every scene is beautiful. Even when nothing is happening in th emovie, there is something interesting to look at. The level of artistry in any Miyazaki film is, I think, unparallelled anywhere else. Kiki's Delivery Service is no exception. It's a joy just to see simple sights such as a busy street, geese in flight, a small bakery, the movement of grass in the wind. If there were no plot whatsoever, I would still watch this movie. Dialing down the high fantasy aspects of many of his other films, Miyazaki finds in KDS a certain wonder in the mundane - I almost wish he would make some more movies like it.
I would recommend this movie to mostly anybody. Fans of old-school animation in particular will be in heaven. Kids should really enjoy it also, provided they haven't been screwed up already by the sex and action shit that Hollywood seems intent on directing their way. If even a bitter cynic like myself can enjoy KDS, I suppose only a totaly soulless bastard would find it less than completely charming. One of the best from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki.
9.4
By the way, I watched it in Japanese with English subtitles, but English dub is available on the same disc from Disney (who bought the rights to many of the Studio Ghibli titles.) I have no idea how the dubbing is, and I don't intend to find out because it drives me crazy.
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