Delivering the goods
If you’re not familiar with Kiki’s Delivery Service then you should definitely get to know it. It’s a magical story about a young witch named Kiki. She’s trying to find a town to fit into that can find usefulness in her budding skills as a witch. With the help of her cat, Jiji (pronounced gee-gee), She ends up in a small coastal town and finds herself involved in a ‘delivery service’. More importantly, she meets new friends and truly finds her purpose thanks to a runaway blimp.
Much like My Neighbor Totoro, Miyazaki seems to have the knack to capture the very essence of human situations and nature. He focuses completely on Kiki’s fear of change and especially her fear of fitting into the new town and its folks. Much like a teenager going to college, Miyazaki captures the trials and tribulations of Kiki’s life. He even shows us the first failure in her life and how she overcomes it in the time of need. Showing all of this through the eyes of Kiki is nothing short of brilliant. More importantly, Miyazaki goes through all of these things in the most creative and fun manners (not to mention very subtle stuff). Jiji is a perfect comic relief to the potential stress that Kiki goes through. He also acts as a perfect companion when Kiki is in need of someone. He’s a great device to support our main character.
Another point of the film is there isn’t really any bad reaction to Kiki’s life as a witch. When she enters her new homestead and finds work delivering goods at the local bakery, it’s wonderful to see the town folk accepting her for what she is, a witch. Miyazaki is basically telling his viewers that being different is a part of life and everyone serves a purpose; no matter the difference.
Much like his other films it’s a wonderful message to his viewers. Unlike Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, it’s not over the top; it’s just simple. Kiki’s Delivery Service proves that you don’t have to be epic to be good; much like the Kiki.
As for features on this two-disc set, here’s what you’re looking at:
– The World of Ghibli – Imaginative Interactive Experience
– Enter the Lands
– Behind the Studio
– Storyboard Presentation of the Movie
If you need the movie then there’s really no better version than the two-disc set. The features are great, especially for a younger audience. The features are repeating for all the two-disc sets, but still very insightful.