Not that it has much to do with the review itself but figured it was worth pointing out, this was the first anime film I’ve ever watched. Not that I recall much of what that experience was like as I was in diapers and barely a year old, and it was through a VHS, which I’m sure my family is still in possession of. Anyways, it goes without saying that this film is a classic in every sense of the word. Being a Ghibli film directed by Miyazaki, this should go without saying. But what exactly makes this film such a classic and is it without any flaws?
Firstly, we follow a thirteen year old witch named Kiki. Embarking on an expedition to a new town, along with her cat Jiji, to hone her witch-craft in. A right of passage every young witch must take. During her training, Kiki has a lot of growing up to do and fast as she’s presented with the harsh realities of the outside world. A story, while on a surface level seems fairly simple, is surprisingly presented with tons of both elegance and nuance. The way Kiki see’s the world initially is very naive, giving her cat the ability to converse with her and all. But through thick and thin, Kiki endures everything from feeling like an outcast, having self-confidence issues, enduring people who are impolite, dealing with people who are too polite, envy, a cold, and even having to save someone’s life on more than one occasion, we see her blossom into a fine young woman over the course of the film.
Coming into this film I was expecting it to be a quirky, family romp. And while it’s filled with quirky moments throughout, I was astonished with how soothing and atmospheric the movie presents itself. Remarkably, the film is able to seamlessly mesh elements of healing (Iyashikei) with the childlike innocence of experiencing a foreign world. So much so that I consider this film an Iyashikei that the whole family can get behind. The backgrounds, being inspired by towns in Sweden, are quite possibly the most beautiful backgrounds I’ve seen in all of anime. Notable examples include: Vibrant small mill-towns coated with long, soft, green grass swaying against a nice summer breeze. Buildings reminiscent of old Italy with streets flooded with pedestrians and small shops. And forests with trees and foliage so thick that you can suffocate in. Combine that with the sweet and bubbly signature animation of Ghibli and you’ve got yourself a film where every scene is an aesthetic that can be proudly framed in your household.
My favorite scene that I feel captures the vibe of the film perfectly, aside from the opening and closing sequences, is when Kiki and Tombo get on a bike together for the first time and they go from paddling around town to racing down a street on a hill with oncoming traffic. I love this scene because it’s simply an amalgamation of everything I love about the film. The orchestral music and consoling visuals pacify a scene that most other studios would turn into an intense action sequence, into a majestic and tranquil experience despite their predicament. Which could prove fatal given they’re not careful. The sequence ends with some ambiguity as well: Did Kiki use her magic to make Tombo's bike fly? Or did Tombo successfully manage to create the world’s first hovering bike by simplifying putting a propeller on the front? You decide, but personally, I think it’s both. The initial glide was likely from Tombo’s propeller plus the acceleration from their initial descent, and when their lives were at stake with an oncoming vehicle, Kiki unknowingly used her magic to save them. It’s in this scene that I’m able to appreciate the beauty not only of the world, but Kiki and Tombo’s childlike friendship. As well as the whimsy in their reactions both during and after the sequence.
It’s not long after this scene that we are shown Kiki in a predicament where she temporarily loses her powers after succumbing to an amalgamation of negative emotions and self-doubt. It’s here that she embarks on a minitrip with her friend Ursula (with the face of a bird and an affinity towards drawing them) to discover that it’s normal to have moments of despair and low self-esteem. And that she’ll find herself coming out of that lull in no time, and probably when she least expects it. I think this is an excellent message in this coming of age story. Nobody is safe from bad days and low points in our lives, it’s inevitable. What we can do is turn those into learning experiences about ourselves and what we can do to overcome them, and even on our road to recovery there will still be bumps on that road. Much like how Kiki still struggles with her confidence in her abilities after getting them back. It’s a timeless message about it being okay to fall down, as long as you don’t give up! And that’s what makes this film so beautiful, is that throughout all of her struggles, Kiki perseveres and comes out on top. Making the town that abhorred her so much her bitch and becoming a young woman who doesn’t need to rely on others (or a decisive cat for that matter) because she’s already proved her worth to herself.
With that tangent out of the way, were there any downsides to this film? I’ve spent this entire essay gushing about how much I loved it, and dammit I could write a book detailing how much I love each little scene from baker’s husband showing off his skills to both Jiji (twirling some pans with bread) and Kiki (baking a bread loaf that says “Kiki’s Delivery Service” to be plastered at their front window), most of the little girls being little dips, any scene where Kiki is with the grandma (particularly that scene where the grandma secretly bakes her a cake), the adorable dog that takes care of Jiji after he’s been lost, and the wind physics plus Kiki bouncing around from building to building like a pinball while getting ready for take off. I could go on and on. Aside from the usual nitpicks I have regarding Ghibli films like wanting more, and wanting it to be longer, there’s not much to complain about. Sure, being an Iyashikei it can have slow parts. Or that the dialogue between characters can sound a little stilted and awkward at times, but that’s understandable given that Kiki’s an accurate depiction of a hormonal and confused teenage girl. I suppose aside from it being slow, the complaint I have with it has to do with the English dub. It’s not terrible, but it alters the personalities of character’s a bit. Namely Jiji, who I felt was, while still judgemental, was more elegant and concise in what they were saying in the original dub vs. the sub where he (and a few other characters) come off as more prude and brash. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s a personal preference.
This was the first anime film I’ve ever watched. Not that I recall much of what that experience was like as I was in diapers and barely a year old. Anyways, it goes without saying that this film is a classic in every sense of the word. Being a Ghibli film directed by Miyazaki, that goes without saying. But what exactly makes this film such a classic and is it without any flaws? In short, the combination of the film nailing what it’s like to be a teenager taking on your own for the first time and how it presents itself makes this film utterly timeless. The only gripe I have being the drawbacks of the English dub is hardly much of a criticism and is more of a nitpick. Watch this movie, if you aren’t at least cracking a smirk while holding a tear back while doing so, then you have no soul.
