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

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 15 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 25 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	Your Score
8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 25 Ratings

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Kiki's Delivery Service (Studio Ghibli Fest 2017)

Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: July 29, 1989

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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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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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

CineVue - 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

Orlando Sentinel - 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

Film Threat - 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

alejandro970

Feb 28, 2019

One of most endearing, lovable characters of SG; the one that sew the seed of Harry Potter. An amusing story about growing up and making a place out of home. A mandatory for anime hard-core lovers.

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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

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sent_worki

Nov 3, 2018

8.4(Впечатляюще)........................................................................................................

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Tyranian

Apr 11, 2019

Typically weird and wonderful Japanese animation, mostly weird though, very weird.

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