Kiki's Delivery Service

Name: Kiki's Delivery Service
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Animation, Family
Released: July 29, 1989
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Minami Takayama

1989

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Universal acclaim based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 97 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 97 Ratings

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Kiki's Delivery Service (Studio Ghibli Fest 2017)

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Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: July 29, 1989 | G

Starring: Minami Takayama

Summary: A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Animation, Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Time Out London Tom Huddleston

May 24, 2016

As a story about how hard it is to make your own way in the world, Kiki’s Delivery Service is truthful and scalpel-sharp. That it manages all this while remaining consistently funny, optimistic and exciting – even for little ones – is a mark of Miyazaki’s genius. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Deliberately eschewing the fast pace, strenuous action, frenzied special effects and wall-to-wall songs of the standard Disney animated feature, the film allows the audience to get to know the character of Kiki and feel the emotional highs and lows she undergoes in the course of her year in training. Read full review

100

David Sugarman

It’s a sweet, small story that deals comfortably in big emotions when required, whilst also taking time to speculate on the nature of art and the difficulties of navigating adolescence. One of the greatest triumphs of Miyazaki’s movie, however, is how well-defined each of its characters truly are. Read full review

The Guardian Steve Rose

This sunny 1989 fantasy by master animator Hayao Miyazaki broaches the issue of female sexuality more boldly than any Western children’s movie would dare. Read full review

Jay Boyar

With its simple characters and episodic narrative, Kiki's Delivery Service has an unpretentious fairy-tale charm. [04 Sep 1998, p.29]

Empire Andrew Osmond

A terrific alternative to the diabetic's nightmare that is most of Disney's output, Kiki's Delivery Service takes pride of place in Miyazaki's exceptional body of work. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

It’s a film my kids still enjoy, although it’s a bit lightweight as Miyazaki’s works go. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dostoyevsky3

Mar 13, 2022

Kiki's Delivery Service may not be as imaginative as Miyazaki's top movies, but its service to the same sweet slice of life story-telling and flush energetic heroine may deliver fans everything their looking for while providing more of the usual visual craft.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Mahmus

Oct 19, 2020

A magnificent movie about growing up and finding your independence that resonates with me more than any live action movie about the same subject matter.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Arthuu

Mar 2, 2020

Probably the best one out of all Studio Ghibli's town themed movies, very charming main protagonist and suprisingly deep plot

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

ahmedaiman1999

Aug 1, 2019

Witches have never been so likable and relatable! And witchcraft has never been so mundane!

Slightly bogged down by occasionally going into some familiar territory (especially in its third act), Miyazaki's most light-hearted film is an otherwise fascinating, delightful, funny and charmingWitches have never been so likable and relatable! And witchcraft has never been so mundane!

Slightly bogged down by occasionally going into some familiar territory (especially in its third act), Miyazaki's most light-hearted film is an otherwise fascinating, delightful, funny and charming fairy-tale that effortlessly teaches a variety of valuable lessons such as self-discovering, self-acceptance, self-reliance and self-understanding like no other film did.

(8/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Anhiro

Aug 27, 2018

A coming-of-age story about a teenage witch who sets out from her little countryside village to earn a living in the city. As she helps out with several chores using her magical broom-flying abilities, she one day decides to start running her own mail delivery service using her witch powersA coming-of-age story about a teenage witch who sets out from her little countryside village to earn a living in the city. As she helps out with several chores using her magical broom-flying abilities, she one day decides to start running her own mail delivery service using her witch powers (which seem to be limited only to flying her broom and giving her cat the ability to talk, curiously enough). From there, we see her meeting new people and customers - some helpful and some rather curt with her - which has an impact on her development as she tries to balance work and life as a normal girl. The main weakness of this movie lies in its short length, in my opinion. Running at only 100 minutes, the action and character development feels rushed, which is compounded by the fact that there are many characters that Kiki comes across, and have little time to develop further along with her. As such, they felt like accessories to develop or contrast with Kiki's own character and little else besides that.

Even the ending seems to come abruptly, with the credits scene rushing to tell what happens to the characters after the climactic point in the story.

Besides those gripes, the animation is great and has aged well since 1989. Kiki's mannerisms are endearing and the idyllic life of this fantasy European port city can be felt during those scenes where Kiki is flying on her broom.

The protagonist Kiki, upon which the movie's storytelling is centered on, is a character who is easily relatable due to her plain looks, but the real qualities that define her are her excellent work ethic and refined etiquette/manners... A unique message that is not very often told in today's movie characters. That said, Kiki's Delivery Service is a very nice feel-good piece of animation if the short duration of the movie is not an issue for you, because for me it still felt like I was at some introduction chapter to a larger series as far as character development goes. Still, I would highly recommend this movie to the younger audience out there for its positive message, and adults can easily find a great hour & a half with this one too.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DMLYxCritic

Feb 4, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Innocence, coming of age and magic collide as Studio Ghibli's Kiki's Delivery Service appears on the screen. Full of hope, charisma and positivity that is for kids and adults alike, the film does captivate its audiences. The musical score was amazing, and the animation is a marvel. However, the film suffers on editing and how coherent it tells the story and the plot. There were some scenes that certain things were heavily implied but was not clearly show which is enough to throw a film buff worth his/ her salt off of the flow of the plot. But all in all, this is definitely an unforgettable film that will probably last throughout the ages.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

strangers

Apr 20, 2021

Let's start with the good. The background is beautiful. Characters are warn and unique, a joy to watch. (how this movie even managed a 3 from me)

Character art and music is serviceable. But the plot is utter trash. Every point of the plot both big and small is either nonsensical, contrived,Let's start with the good. The background is beautiful. Characters are warn and unique, a joy to watch. (how this movie even managed a 3 from me)

Character art and music is serviceable. But the plot is utter trash. Every point of the plot both big and small is either nonsensical, contrived, or somehow both at the same time! (and a large amount of it is nonsense) Often the way a plot is contrived is getting Kiki to act inexplicably stupid, but it's contrived in many other very obvious ways too. I struggle to find any plot point of any significance at all of this that even is a little OK

So watch it for the beauty and warm characters and if you can turn off your brain (which I was not able to do) you can enjoy this. Kids can be better at this than adults so maybe show it to little kids. For others, the horrible practically nonexistent it's so bad plot will make them feel like they are losing brain cells. If I were to give all examples of plot issues, I'd basically also be "spoiling" the movie from beginning to end, not that such should matter to someone who doesn't give a **** about plot and a movie that doesn't have one.

I forced myself to watch the entire movie because I am a big fan of many other Studio Ghibli movies and wanted to give a complete review. Like if the plot started working at any point at all in the movie... It never did. Please don't down-vote my review just because you enjoyed this movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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