Leofwine_draca
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE is another well-regarded classic from Japan's Studio Ghibli, the purveyors of the finest animation on Earth. This one tells the simple but oddly moving story of a 13 year old witch striving with responsibility and the need to grow up in a world largely devoid of magic. It reminds one of classic fantasy literature like that written by J.K. Rowling and Terry Pratchett, but is more refined and carefully-constructed than either of those authors. Truth be told, this is a simple story and one that's well told. Kiki herself has a depth of characterisation very rarely seen in this genre which makes this a worthy watch for kids and adults alike. I love the way the plot is grounded in reality and the magical elements are sparingly used. Kiki's relationship with her pet cat Jiji is very well portrayed and things build to a suitably grand and exciting disaster-fused climax. It's a film really worth watching in high definition, where the quality of the animation and in particular the colours are stunning.
avi-greene2
I love all the Studio Ghibli masterpieces that have been directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and feature an original score and original songs composed by Joe Hisaishi. This is a movie released in Japan that contains beautiful artwork, and a story to it where there is a thirteen-year old girl named Kiki. She is intending to be a witch-in-training, because it is a tradition that when a girl turns thirteen they go away for two years on broomsticks. That's what Kiki does with her beautiful black cat named Jiji. Together, they use Kiki's mother's broom, and go to a French town where Kiki stays with a baker named Osono. During her stay with Osono, Kiki loses her witch's powers, so she flies down a local hill where the broom breaks in half. A woman named Ursula then takes Kiki to her cabin/art studio, where Kiki learns that when she flies, she has to rely on what's inside of her. She then takes the broomstick of a man who lives in the same town as Osono, to save a local teenage boy who is learning all about aviation from Kiki. His name is Tombo, and he is seen taking Kiki on a tour of town on his bicycle that comes with a propeller so he can actually bike on air. It breaks, and they land on a beach shore, but this happens before Kiki loses her witch's powers later in the film. So, getting back to the part with Tombo when Kiki has a brand new broomstick, Tombo is seen riding on the bottom of a huge dirigible that flies into the town. What happens in that scene is that the dirigible is flying towards the top of a clock tower, and when it gets to that point there is a huge crash. Kiki has to save Tombo from falling down when the bottom of the dirigible breaks, and she has to rely on her spirit to save Tombo. She catches him, and they float down to a mat. Kiki writes to her parents at the end of the movie, to tell them her delivery service is going well, and that she misses home, and is getting comfortable where she is living now.About what my opinion is about this classic from Studio Ghibli in Tokyo, I love the songs at the beginning and end of the original Japanese release, and they are called "Rouge no Dengon" in the start of the movie, and "Yasashisa ni tsutsumareta nara" in the end. They respectively translate in English to "Message in Rouge", and "If I've been enveloped in tenderness". However, I have different opinions about the English dub. I am very entertained by the comedic acting of the late actor Phil Hartman, who voiced Jiji in the English release of this Miyazaki/Hisaishi project. The English dub also includes Kirsten Dunst as Kiki, Matthew Lawrence as Tombo, Debbie Reynolds as Osono, and Janeane Garofalo as Ursula. They are very good, too. What I probably have as the only complaint I have against the English dub is that the songs that were included in the Japanese release were replaced by two songs that I don't think were as good. They are "Soarin'" in the opening credits and "I'm Gonna Fly" in the end credits.All in all, though, I think this is a must check-out for everyone who is fond of anime.
Sjalka Rjadottir
For me - it is a clear 10/10. It is one of those rare gems that contradicts so many usual movie concepts but emerges much better from this.This movie tells a part of a story of the life of Kiki. It is an exciting part - full of wonder and adventure ... but it is not some artificial adventure with epic good vs. evil... nor is it some rare and unlikely incident that puts the protagonist into unlikely positions she needs to solve with previously unknown skills.Instead it is the excitement of growing up and becoming independent. The situations Kiki gets in are situations that pretty much EVERYONE lived through at a certain age. There is not really much hyped up action (well, at least if you get down to it...) - and everything Kiki goes through remains relatable.The people - no matter of importance - act natural (well in the context of most Miyazaki movies) and it is one of those rare movies that gets along without an antagonist to drive the story forward.But at no time does the movie feel long or boring - and it also ends on a high note without sinking into stereotypes.In terms of art and design - it is as stunning as other Miyazaki films of that time. Amazing hand drawn animation with a vivid world and vibrant colours. Probably not as stunning as Spirited Away .. but on equal terms with Howl's Moving Castle.
