Hi, everyone! Sorry it’s been a long while since my last movie review! Still, better late than never, is it not? Well, anyway, today, we dive back into the world of Studio Ghibli for the first time in a long while. In this case, it is a film that was first released in Japan in 1989, and then made worldwide releases in places like the US sometime later. Presenting to you all my review of Kiki’s Delivery Service!
Plot: When a thirteen-year-old witch in training named Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) leaves her hometown with her black cat, Jiji, for the port city of Koriko, not only does she train for flying on her broom, but also accepts a job that a female of that town offers her to deliver food by broom to other places in the area. As she continues her training, and becomes more familiar with the area around her, the question remains, will she feel more comfortable in her own skin, and the new people, and town around her, or will she regret leaving the family, and friends that she had before?
Well, first of all, the animation in this Studio Ghibli film is beautiful. From the green grass, the wind blowing in the trees, and more, this film most definitely did a phenomenal job when it came to the great animation, and the details that were involved in the animation. The storyline was also very good. I mean yes, it can sometimes feel very simple. On the other hand, the storyline also has a way of being complex, and imaginative at other points as well. I mean to have Kiki deliver food, or just gifts, to other people’s places by flying on her broom was very clever on the writer’s parts. Also, you know how many Studio Ghibli films had very complex, and really, really imaginative stories to tell? Well, Kiki’s Delivery Service is no exception. What’s more was for the movie to have Kiki learn some valuable lessons on her journey as well. Now, yes, as a Christian I know that witchcraft is wrong. Still, since this is a movie that’s based in the fictional world, why let that be bothersome in this case with the whole deal with a female being a witch, flying around on a broom, and things like that? I mean that would be like saying that even if Fantasia was fantasy, it would be wrong to like this film, or same with Lord Of The Rings having a wizard like Gandalf, or something along those lines, you know? Besides, again, you’d be surprised by some of the lessons that Kiki had to learn along the way, and some of the plot twists that end up occurring over the course of this film. The characters are also great, and likable. I mean even Kiki’s cat, Jiji, was great, and even had some funny lines for this movie. The rest of the characters, again, were really likable as well. The music was also beautiful, and soothing as well. The movie is also overall really strong, funny, and, sometimes even very dramatic at times.
So, are there any elements that big the film down? Well, there were some aspects of the ending that might have felt slightly unresolved. Thankfully, not by much, but still. Don’t get me wrong, the ending is still very good. It just probably could have improved by a little bit.
And that’s my review for Kiki’s Delivery Service. It has a fun, and creative, premise, likable characters, good lessons to be taken from this movie, and more. If you haven’t seen this Studio Ghibli film, definitely do so. It may not be quite as memorable as some of Studio Ghibli’s other works. Still, it is most definitely a must see. So, see Kiki’s Delivery Service whenever you can, and see what you think!
Final Grade: A
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