Revisited: Kiki’s Delivery Service ⋆ Soulcial Dreamin' Ent.

Kiki’s Delivery Service 魔女の宅急便 is a Japanese animated film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. KDS tells the story of a young girl named Kiki, who moves to a new town as part of her witch training. This adventure is full of ups and downs, but that’s just part of growing up.

Kiki Delivery Service has been my favorite Ghibli film for a long time. When the credits started rolling in, everything came rushing back, and I quickly remembered why. KDS is a coming of age tale, but it’s relatable. Even though I haven’t been adolescence in a long time, I find myself still going through some of the same things.

Like learning to take care of yourself and finding a sense of purpose. I know what it’s like to go through the motions daily and being swept away by it. You hit a wall, and you realize that you lost sight of what you’ve been chasing or maybe you haven’t ever known. I really felt for Kiki.

The animation is stunning and still looks amazing 30 years later.

I really loved the cast of characters and how Kiki learns something from just about everyone she meets. They all have a hand in her progress character arc even if they don’t get much development. They served their purpose and were entertaining at the same time.

I also really loved all of Kiki’s flying sequences, but the rescue scene at the very end of the movie was powerful. There was tension, urgency, and a high probability of failure. The stakes were high, and she rose to the occasion. Kiki got a heart, and this scene was proving grounds she needed to see what she’s really made off.

Another scene that I really enjoyed was the trip that Kiki and Tombo took to the beach. This scene was my all-time favorite. It was straight forward, but the way it was animated always gets me. It’s not the most flashy scene I’ve ever seen but the simplicity of it and how the movements were laid out. They really put a lot of thought into the bike’s actions, and that’s what sold me.

Shoutout to Jiji, all of his smart remarks were appreciated. He and Kiki are polar opposites in terms of personality, and it makes for a delicate balance on screen.

All in all, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a dope film. One of my favorite animated movies. With my bias aside, I would still recommend it.