Kiki's Delivery Service
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Movie Reviews of Kiki's Delivery Service
Movie Review: Beautiful, uplifting, and yes, magical.
Summary: 5 Stars
I used to believe that Anime was nothing but sex and violence -- stuff for grown-ups only. However, I take it back. And I owe it to this cute little gem called KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE that really turned me around for the better. It introduced me to arguably one of the greatest animators of all time, Hayao Miyazaki, who happens to be dubbed as the Walt Disney of Japan. Having since seen virtually ALL of his films, from CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO to SPIRITED AWAY, I can see why he is such a highly acclaimed artist -- his works (and I mean every one of them) are a stroke of genius.
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE may have been my first real exposure to Miyazaki, but this happens to be the director's fifth film, which was the highest grossing movie of its year in Japan. Adapted from a children's book by Eiko Kadono (which is to be released in America as of this writing), the film is not a typical good-versus-evil conflicted, dysfunctional story but a gentle, character-driven story with endearing characters, beautiful artistry, and a strong, positive message about confidence and independence that are quite encouraging for all, from the youngest of children to the oldest at heart. (On a side note, it persuaded me to get some exercise! The "fat, fat, FAT!!!" line did it for me.)
The story is about 13-year old Kiki, an adorable witch-in-training, who, on one moonlit night, leaves her hometown to seek her independence and fortune. She's accompanied by her wisecracking and hilarious pet black cat, Jiji, and a little wobbly when it comes to takeoffs and landings while maneuvering her broomstick. Kiki arrives at a luxurious town with an ocean view where she eventually finds work at a bakery run by the generous Osono and her silent, gruff husband. There, she starts a high-flying delivery service which opens up many new relationships for the budding witch -- including a friendly painter, Ursula, a kind old woman, Madame, and a boy named Tombo, who dreams of flying.
The above synopsis may sound dull, but KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE certainly is not. It is a joy to watch from start to finish as we see Kiki slowly grow up and learn to have faith in herself, especially when her powers begin to fade away toward the end of the movie. It's engrossing enough to keep one's attention and there are a number of tear-jerking moments that make it more than just a movie. This is a characteristic you'll only be able to find in Miyazaki, and KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE "delivers" a wonderful movie which shows that movies don't have to be about overcoming evil or action-packed or angst-ridden to be entertaining.
In 1996, Disney struck a deal with Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki's studio, to distribute the director's movies worldwide. KIKI was their first release. It proved to be a very successful release when it was released to video on September of 1998; it sold over a million copies in the US - a record for any Anime video. But since then, the movie has been out of print, and there was never a DVD release. Recently, however, Disney has given this movie its first ever DVD release in America (debuting alongside CASTLE IN THE SKY and SPIRITED AWAY).
The movie was originally dubbed into English by Carl Macek of Streamline Pictures, but Disney redubbed the movie when they struck a deal with Miyazaki's Studio Studio Ghibli (for worldwide distribution of his movies, starting with this) with an all-star cast whose performances hold up well even today. Thirteen-year-old Kirsten Dunst is perfect as Kiki, eliciting just the right touch of cuteness, spunkiness, independence, and poignancy to her role. The other actors, which include Debbie Reynolds (Madame), Tress MacNeille - of TINY TOONS and ANIMANIACS fame - (Osono), Jeanane Garofolo (Ursula), and Matthew Lawrence (Tombo), give similarly superb performances. Of the actors, however, it is the late Phil Hartman's witty, sarcastic take on Jiji that steals the show. He added in some new dialogue and proved to be so good at his role that he actually expanded the character. I swear, I just cannot get enough laughs every time I hear his lines. ("First, don't panic! Second, don't panic! And THIRD, did I mention not to panic?!?") The opening and ending songs were replaced by two gorgeous, rollicking numbers from Sydney Forest, but even they seem to suit the story wonderful. In fact, I find myself bouncing to them every time they pop up over the opening and closing credits of the show.
Recently, however, Disney has given KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE a second DVD edition, which offers a lot more extras than its previous edition did (there's newly recorded interviews with Miyazaki and a half-hour long documentary on the locations Miyazaki and his staff visited in order to get ideas for the film's settings). Controversially, though, the new edition also makes some significant edits to the English dub--all the extra dialogue for the dub is gone (which includes much of Hartman's one-liners for Jiji: although one of them omitted--the last in the film which alters an important plot point--is beneficial), and so are the Forest songs. In fact, the entire sound mix has been reverted to the original Japanese music and sound effects, but the vocals aren't as well mixed--there are times when the actors sound like they're talking into a fan. Whether the extras warrant a double-dipping of this revised special edition is up to the customer.
Movie Review: A film that everyone will enjoy. As delightful as they come!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's great that Americans are finally discovering the dazzling animation of Japanese genius Hayao Miyazaki (whose film "Spirited Away" won the award for Best Animated Film in 2003), and that Disney has started to release excellent DVD editions of his films with both Japanese and English language options. Miyazaki's 1989 film "Kiki's Delivery Service" ("Majo no takkyubin" in Japanese; literally "Witch's Express Mail") is his most easily accessible and the best place to start in watching his movies. "Kiki's Delivery Service" is an honest-to-goodness `family' film. Children will adore it, and adults will find themselves enchanted with its charm, delightful characters, and the sheer beauty of the animation. I once watched the film with a room of twenty and thirty year-olds, a few young children, and an 84 year-old woman, and everybody LOVED it and cheered the heroine on at the end. Simply put, there are few films out there that are as loveable and likable as this.In terms of story, it's an odd film: there's not much in the way of `plot.' The film depends strongly on its heroine and the way she learns from the world and the people around her as she grows up. Kiki is a thirteen-year-old witch in training who leaves her home to start her required period of living on her own to discover her talents. Kiki and her cat sidekick Jiji jet out on her broom to a city (vaguely European, with traces of Paris, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam) and settle down at a friendly baker's shop, where Kiki establishes her own broom-powered delivery service (look out, Fed-Ex!). The story follows her troubles and joys, such as her friendship with a local boy inventor Tombo, her meeting with nature-loving artist Ursula, the tricks and difficulties of making deliveries, and the possible loss of her powers when she starts to lose belief in herself. It all climaxes in a thrilling action sequence that Superman would be proud of.
The movie leaps from wonderful sequence to wonderful sequence: Kiki's passionate farewell to her parents, her first flight over the city, Tombo's wild ride on his experimental flying bike, a dangerous flight through a flock of birds, the action-packed finale, and the many terrific meetings between Kiki and other charming characters. Watching Kiki learn and grow will have an affect on children young and old: everybody can take something away from the lessons Kiki learns about herself. And of course, the animation is dazzling; not only the sweeping visuals, but the nuances of the characters' expressions and movements.
The DVD offers the film in English and Japanese (oh, and Spanish too). If you watch the film in Japanese, you have the choice to watch it with two different sets of subtitles. One set is a literal translation of the Japanese script. The second are taken directly from the English version, and therefore have a distinctly "American" feel to them. I recommend when watching the Japanese version to stick with the literal subtitles. Since the English dub of the film often adds extra lines to characters (especially Jiji), it can be confusing to see subtitles pop up when nobody is speaking.
The Americanized dubbed version, however, is fantastic as well, and done with great respect and intelligence. The voice cast is superb: Kirsten Dunst as Kiki, Janeane Garofola as Ursula, and Debbie Reynolds as sweet old Miss Dora. But the scene-stealer is the late Phil Hartman as Kiki's smart-aleck cat companion, Jiji. Hartman is hysterical in every scene, totally nailing down the character, and his performance is a bittersweet reminder of what a great comedian we lost with his premature death. If you're going to watch the film with children or a large, general group of people, stick with the English version. It's quite an achievement, and just as enjoyable as the Japanese version.
There are some extras, although a lot less than you would expect for a 2-DVD set. John Lassiter (director of "Toy Story") introduces the film, and there's a short documentary about the English language actors. The second disc contains the whole film in storyboard and rough sketch form: this will really only be of interest to animators and hardcore Miyazaki fans.
Every family should have "Kiki's Delivery" service in their library, although the adults may find themselves returning to it as much as the children; and it's a great introduction to Miyazaki. Make sure you also watch "Castle in the Sky," "Spirited Away," and "Princess Mononoke" (the last one isn't really for kids, however).
Movie Review: Lovely children's film
Summary: 5 Stars
The film starts at the beginning of a journey. As dictated by traditional custom, young Kiki is granted independence at the age of thirteen so she may begin the year-long training away from home to cement her status as a bona fide witch. She leaves behind her loving parents and small town and relocates herself to a large city, which (though nonexistent) has distinctly European features. However, she soon learns that the rules of the city (and life) are not quite as she imagined.
Eiko Kadono, author of the book on which the film is based, and Hayao Miyazaki, the screenwriter and director, are both Japanese. Although the film takes place in a made-up world, it can be said that those who craft the film leave their own mark on the story, demonstrating the proper values thought important. Kiki demonstrates the archetypal Japanese trait of showing respect for her elders.
Since she has no special talents (except for flying on a broom, which she does haphazardly at best), her training consists of learning how to support herself, which she accomplishes by establishing an air delivery service (via broomstick). Kiki's growth as a character evolves through her interaction with her customers. At least three of her female customers act as second mothers, aiding her in the gradual transition from the sheltered childhood she knows into the reality of young adulthood. This supportive network of parental-substitutes allows Kiki, and young viewers, as well, to explore her new environment safely. Kiki's work ethic is impressive in a child so young. She earns the respect of adults through her earnest and diligent behavior.
She also learns that items she took for granted before (food, cooking implements) cost money and can be somewhat expensive. She cooks and cleans for herself, and finds herself scrimping when money is low. Although she longs to own nice clothes, she notices that even the price on a pair of shoes she admires in a store window is equal to, or more than, the amount she spends on groceries alone.
Even though Kiki serves as a role model towards young children, she also stands as a figure they can empathize with. She has the same doubts and disappointments as everyone else. Her stay in the city, for example, doesn't begin as well as she had hoped. The city is not warm and inviting like her hometown. Her attempts to introduce herself to strangers are at first met with indifference. She is insulted when an incredulous hotel desk clerk doesn't believe her when she asks to rent a room without her parents present. "No one seems to like witches in this town," she observes sadly. Her sense of alienation is present whenever she is around children her age. When her new friend (and love interest) Tombo introduces her to his usual gang of friends, she finds herself unable to relate to them. She feels herself to be "an outsider." Her insecurities and failed self-confidence affects her ability to do magic: she can no longer fly a broomstick, and she can no longer communicate with her black cat, Jiji. She feels lost without the very thing that makes her feel special. Her host family and friends give her the emotional support she needs to regain her self-confidence. It is put to the ultimate test when she is the only one who can save Tombo, who is dangling from a rope attached to a runaway dirigible and faces certain death if he falls.
Kiki's Delivery Service is a sweet, lovely film about what happens when life disrupts our preconceived notions, and the sense of loss and insecurity which takes place after. The pacing is sometimes slow and methodical, that might not work with younger elementary students. With its discussion of teenage independence, it will probably have the most developmental impact for children in their preteens. Recommended for 8-12 year-olds, this is also a film that parents, too, can appreciate.
Movie Review: One of the best children's films I've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
I was first introduced to the work of Hayao Miyazaki three years ago, when Spirited Away came to my local cinema as an "arthouse" feature. I instantly fell in love with his complex and believable characters and his grand animation style, and I've been a devoted fan ever since, having now seen six of the director's films.
Kiki's Delivery Service just happens to be one of my all-time favorite films. I waited a while to see it, dismissing it as a "pedestrian" Miyazaki film - I thought a G-rated film for teenage girls couldn't possibly have the gravity and realism of his more epic features. I was most pleasantly surprised, therefore, when I finally purchased the DVD, brought it home, and watched it.
KIKI is a beautiful motion picture in every sense. The animation is stunning, as Miyazaki's animation almost always is; and the characters are as convincing and real as those in a Dostoevsky novel, and much more charming to boot. Kiki is a well-adjusted and intelligent, but average-looking and never sappily cute, thirteen-year-old girl, easy to sympathize with, and watching her grow through experiencing independence is a joy. The attention to detail is nothing short of astonishing - the opening sequence with the wind gently blowing through the grass shows an awareness and love of nature; and we see perfect reflections in little rain puddles. The story is just as real and engaging: like "Spirited Away," it is a film about surviving on your own and believing in yourself, which is such a nice change from the "fight the bad guys and rid the world of evil" plot that plagues so many American children's films.
The film's only real flaw isn't in the feature itself, but in the translation. I first watched it in subtitled Japanese - the actors give lots of nuance to their characters, and we are able to appreciate the quiet moments in life as well as the more active ones. The subtitles aren't as accurate as they could be - I distinctly heard the word "koohii" ("coffee") when the subtitles said "hot cocoa" - but they sure beat the dubbed version. This edition, like the other Disney/Ghibli films, suffers from Disney's apparent need to fill every moment of the film with dialogue. The character of Jiji, Kiki's faithful black cat, is changed completely, from meek and soft-spoken to obnoxiously chatty. His added dialogue is neither cute nor funny - just plain annoying. None of the English-language voices had any sort of subtlety, but Phil Hartman as Jiji was probably the worst offender. At the risk of sounding like an utter snob, I will admit that I only got through about half of the dub before turning it off. However, I will also admit that the dub is more than acceptable for younger audiences who don't know Japanese and won't be able to appreciate a subtitlted version.
But that is a minor complaint, really; for Kiki's Delivery Service is gorgeous to look at no matter what language you choose, and the story is the same. If you have young ones, this is a must-have; and if you are able to appreciate simplicity, beauty, and the slower-paced moments in life, then you will absolutely love it.
Movie Review: Fresh, Lovely, Humorous, Uplifting: Another Miyazaki Delight
Summary: 5 Stars
Kiki's Delivery Service has the same sort of optimistic delightfulness as that other much-beloved and much-praised Miyazaki offering, My Neighbor Totoro. It has a way of making you not only wish you were young again, but it actually makes you feel as if a few years (or decades) have fallen away and the world is all shiny again, and so are you.
There is no villain. There is no terrible abuse or viciousness. This is a totally sparkly story of a young witch who is sent from home to get her training, which means traveling to a new town and living there for a year. (To some, that might sound rather harsh, like child labor or a dangerous lack of parenting wisdom.) You have to surrender yourself to the idea of this rite of passage, and that Kiki will be all right.
She ends up with her cat, her radio, her purple witch's dress, her mother's trusty broom, in a new city, where she befriends a kindly bakery shop owner who lets her live in the attic. From there, Kiki embarks on a delivery service, taking packages on her broom. The story follows that journey in setting up her business and learning about her capabilities and flaws, as wella as her new city world.
The magic is in the details of both the story and the artwork. The city is beautifully done, and the city feels like a welcoming European city, with some buildings as stately and rich as Viennese jewels and others having a more Mediterranean seaside feel. It's a city that you'd want to visit, and the artwork makes it accessible. The sky takes on astounding colors and depth at times. Small details of characterization in expression and movement--in both humans and animals--or in the setting--a bit of grocery that falls to the floor, the way toes are depicted--add to the richness and are so charming.
And Kiki's a typical 13 year old of a more innocent age--she can be hasty, emotional, enthusiastic, helpful, worried about fashion, respectful of elders, and she is inately good and kind and industrious. (Miyazaki's films seem to uphold the value of kindness, compassion, and hard work quite a bit.) She finds out things about her own abilities, and she makes friends.
Kirsten Dunst does a terrific job of voicing Kiki, and the tone has the ebullience and girlishness that's perfect for the characer. The late Phil Hartman is an amusing black cat familiar.
It's a gentle story, but it's never boring. Even my 47 year old engineer husband found it a fun, sweet, watchable tale.
There is this enveloping magic that I've found in Mr. Miyazaki's movies, whether it's My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, there is something in the combination of story and character and artwork that makes you feel the wonder again of being young and diverted by the adventures in magical worlds where good, ultimately, wins out over bad.
This is the sort of film parents and kids can treasure together. And if you've seen or read or heard too many dark and terrible things, this is the sort of movie that restores a bit of youthful innocence.
Highly Recommended.