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Hayao Miyazaki is responsible for a number of animated feature films that many consider to be much more beautiful than anything Disney has yet produced and his classic, Kiki's Delivery Service, is no exception. For years Disney has re-dubbed his Japanese films in English and released them to a comparatively small audience here in the United States. If you’ve never seen a Studio Ghibli masterpiece, I recommend My Neighbor Totoro, which is much more accessible to a Western audience and can be a great stepping stone to his other works. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a lesser known gem, but one that will make you smile and laugh just the same. In my personal opinion, a Miyazaki film is best when a very young child is the center character (Totoro, Ponyo). The amount of excitement and youth bubbling to the brim in these children melts your heart.

Kiki is significantly older, therefore less distracted by her imagination and more focused on the real world around her. This doesn’t mean she isn’t likeable – in fact, she is delighful. Kiki’s Delivery Service maintains the Miyazaki tradition of heart-warming moments in the form of another supporting character. The youthful energy and many of the laugh-out-loud moments in this film come from Kiki’s pet cat, Jiji, voiced by the late Phil Hartman. The music in the film is so catchy, you will surely be tapping your feet without realizing it.

Kiki is a witch who has just turned 13 years old, which means she must leave home for an entire year and fend for herself. The point of this witch tradition is for her to hone her craft, learn the ways of the world, and become the best possible witch she can. Kiki sets off on her broom and travels far from home to a seaside town to begin her journey. Once she has arrived, her adventures (and misadventures) begin almost immediately. Soon she is able to set up her own business, a delivery service, and her path to adulthood seems to be laid out for her. Kiki runs into a major setback and befriends two new characters, Tombo, a local boy who has a fascination with her and a woman who lives in the forest named Ursula. Kiki must now defeat what is preventing her from completing her mission and ultimately learn enough about herself to become the great witch she is meant to be.

Special Features:

The World of Ghibli:

• Behind the Studio – Includes a number of featurettes stuffed with behind-the-scenes footage from the film. Interviews with those involved focus on such topics as collaborating with Miyazaki, scoring the film, and recording the voiceovers. The original Japanese trailers are also included in this section.
• Enter the Lands – Features the same interactive map available with other Studio Ghibli DVD and Blu ray releases. A delightful special feature, you can click on any of the animated images to catch a glimpse of other Miyazaki characters, stories, and feature films.

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