Thirty years ago today, Studio Ghibli published Kiki's Delivery ServiceDirected by Hayao Miyazaki and based on the, a film that would have quickly earned its reputation as a classic of animated children's entertainment. Witch's Delivery Service books by Eiko Kadano, the film tells the story of Kiki, a 13 year old witch who is eager to leave home as part of a traditional year long, self-guided study period.
Despite her initial enthusiasm, Kiki soon learns that living on her own and discovering how she fits into the modern world is no easy task, and her journey to becoming a fully-fledged witch is complicated by bouts of depression and self-taking. Giki's perspective, Miyazaki and company create a story that is not only gentle and emotionally compelling, but also a powerful metaphor about the trials and tribulations of becoming a fully-realized adult.
When viewing Kiki's Delivery ServiceThe viewpoint of the movie is a neutral one, but it's a random one, but it's colored by the hopes of a hard working but a headstrong young lady in the throats .
Kiki's perspective is also what's in the mind with the symbolic sense in addition to the symbolic sense in addition to the symbolic mean in the symbolic take on the extra contemporaries and the everyday occurrences (such as the weather). what she truly thinks about herself.
The grown-up characters in Kiki's Delivery Service Kiki's parents, Osono the baker and her husband, and even the kindly old Madame that hires Kiki to deliver a herring pie to granddaughter are represented as universal kind, patient, loving, and supportive. The closest to the filming angry or aggressive adult is the gendarme that yells at Kiki for nearly causing a multi-car pile-up when she tries to make a splashing entrance upon arriving in her new town.
By contrast, Kiki is clumsy, uncertain, untalented, unfashionable, and socially awkward … or at least this is how she appears to be. Remember, Kiki's Delivery Service is told exclusively from Kiki's perspective, and Kiki is an unreliable narrator.
In her eagerness to grow up, Kiki is looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses, It's not the adults of the film are so perfect and that Kiki is such a running mess, but this in the process educating the tiny mistakes that adults make while beating herself up for every poor decision and missed opportunity.
This is where the magic of Kiki's Delivery Service There is no children who cares for her own strengths. It is children's film where the primary tensions and conflicts are internal. There is no suchache-twirlling villain seeking to hold away her powers for their own. worthlessness, ennui, and depression.
When things are going well for Kiki, it's all sunshine and clear skies. When Kiki experiences doubt and uncertainty, suddenly it's driving rain and gusts of wind strong enough to keep out The Madame explicitly comments on this phenomena, noting that these violent changes are characteristic of the season, but the implication is that the "season" in question is actually puberty.
In Kiki's Delivery ServiceMagic is also the symbolic act of becoming a fully actualized, functioning adult. When Kiki begins to lose her magic, what is, magic isn't just the literal brewing of potions, telling of fortunes, and flying through the air astride a broomstick. has really lost the confidence that she can function in the grown-up world, and this fear is not unreasonable.
Without Osono to offer her food, shelter, and a place to set up her business, Kiki's prospects are It is only through the grace, kindness, and unwavering support of other grown-ups that And without the Madame's reassurance and a push broom borrowed from a street-sweeper, Kiki would not be able to rise to the world. disaster.
The world of adults responsibilities can be a trolling and confounding place, but Kiki's Delivery Service It's a wonderful film with a powerful message, and every second of reminds us that even though we all strive along our own individual journeys, none of us makes the trip alone. Kiki's Delivery Service is just as enchanting now as it was three decades ago.
Previously released on home video by Buena Vista, Kiki's Delivery Service is currently available on DVD and Bluray from GKIDS, at the time of this writing, GKIDS and Fathom Events If you haven't already, be sure to check out the film and experience the magic of are also screening the film on July 29 and July 31 as part of their Studio Ghibli Fest 2019 programming. Kiki's Delivery Service for yourself.
Image copyright: © 1989 Eiko Kadono-Studio Ghibli-N
—–
Paul Chapman is the host of the Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.