Studio Ghibli is known and beloved across the globe for its myriad of heartwarming and passion-filled animated films. While they absolutely expand into more fantastical and imaginative territory, these movies remind us of what it means to be human in a world where nothing is as it seems. Fans have long debated the greatest anime movies and whether the highest-rated contender comes from this cherished production company or another source. Arguably, Kiki’s Delivery Service rises to the very top.
The film follows the adventures of the titular Kiki, voiced by Kirsten Dunst and Lisa Michelson in the English-dubbed versions, and Minami Takayama in the original Japanese edition. At the age of 13, the young witch ventures out alone with her snarky black cat, Jiji, as she begins a traditional year of living on her own in a picturesque seaside community called Koriko. With a wholesome atmosphere and colorful characters, the film’s relatable nature shines alongside an accurate portrayal of approaching adulthood. Here’s why Kiki’s Delivery Service is the best Studio Ghibli film.
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Kiki’s Pursuit of Independence
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After she turns 13, Kiki leaves her village to spend one year living independently, following a custom set by her village for novice witches like herself. Getting to create a new life of her very own is overwhelmingly exciting to her, but she soon realizes the more complicated side of her new undertaking. With no one familiar around her, she has to befriend locals to find a place to stay and start thinking about how to support herself financially. Thankfully, she finds a home with Osono, a baker who offers Kiki a spare room. In return, Kiki runs a delivery service for her by broomstick. At first, everything is fine and dandy, until she becomes overworked and feels increasingly unconnected – a familiar feeling for many moviegoers.
While Kiki was initially overjoyed about moving to a brand-new place by herself, she doesn’t anticipate the effect that this solitude will have on her bright and bubbly persona. She begins to understand that independence isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She eventually falls into a depression where she loses her ability to fly and talk to Jiji. A Polygon review of the film reads, “Studio Ghibli films often interrogate the notion of loneliness and emotional connection, centering on heroes that reluctantly strike out on their own…But in Kiki’s Delivery Service, loneliness isn’t explicitly in the forefront; it slowly folds itself into Kiki’s life as the story stretches out.” Thankfully, she recovers thanks to the kindness of her new friends and the town’s growing need for her unique powers.
Magic as a Facet of Reality
In the world that Kiki comes from, magic is just a normal part of everyday activities. She hails from a village where it’s more expected than concealed to save face. So when she arrives in a charming coastal city filled with unknowns, she turns a lot of heads as she goes about her days and works out the kinks of her new life. Understandably, her new neighbors aren’t used to seeing talking black cats and young girls flying around on broomsticks. But simply by being her true self, Kiki shows them that magic has an important role to play alongside the average, making normal life more fun and exciting for everyone who crosses her path.
This theme is a calling card for most Studio Ghibli films. But unlike the long-form lore of ancient gods and nature spirits found in more fantastical movies like Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service offers a more realistic progression in a more recognizable setting, alongside a few aptly placed magical elements. The result is a story that more viewers can personally sympathize with and relate to, which is perhaps why it’s one of the most beloved Ghibli movies to this day.
As Kiki’s life in Koriko continues to unfold, she begins to grow up in more ways than one. She hangs out with the high-spirited Tombo, an aviation geek whose infatuation with her straddles the line between crush and close friend. She’s responsible for her own income and productivity for the first time in her life. And finally, she experiences the very real sensation of feeling burned out and an insatiable lack of fulfillment. After she loses her powers – and her love for life itself – her friend Ursula helps her unearth what it is that makes her truly happy. If Kiki discovers that, Ursula believes that she’ll find a new passion again.
An article from Slash Film reads, “What I found more interesting than the universal feeling of burnout was the idea that Kiki’s powers aren’t lost to her forever. Rather, it’s because she took them for granted that she lost her connection to that part of herself.” As it always does, life comes back around for Kiki, and happy times find her again after hardship. Her life may look a little different from the average person’s in her new town, so her coming of age story is all her own. This reminds audiences that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the adventure of life. Kiki’s approach to adulthood also encourages viewers to find moments of magic in the mundane. These imaginative instances aren’t just limited to the simplicity of childhood; you can absolutely find them at any age.
