Kiki's Delivery Service

is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film produced, written, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Eiko Kadono, an author of children's literature. The film stars the voices of Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma and Kappei Yamaguchi, and tells the story of a young witch (Takayama) as she spends a year in a town on her own while using her magical abilities to earn her living.
According to Miyazaki, the movie touches on the gulf that exists between independence and reliance in Japanese teenage girls.Nausicaa.net The Hayao MIYAZAKI Web. The Hopes and Spirit of Contemporary Japanese Girls By Hayao Miyazaki 1989. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
The film was released on July 22, 1989, and won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize. It was the first Studio Ghibli film released under the partnership between The Walt Disney Company and Studio Ghibli;"Majo No Takkyûbin". www.bcdb.com, May 13, 2012 Disney recorded an English dub in 1997, which premiered theatrically in the United States at the Seattle International Film FestivalRobogeek's Report on Miyazaki and KiKi!!! by Robogeek May 28, 1998. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. on May 23, 1998. It was released on home video in the U.S. on November 10, 1998.Nausicaa.net English VHS Video release. Retrieved on 2007-03-25.
==Plot==
Kiki is a 13-year-old young witch living in a village where her mother is the resident herbalist. Traditionally, witches live a year alone when they reach the age of 13. One night, Kiki takes off for the big city with her best friend Jiji, a talkative black cat.
Kiki settles in Koriko, a port city. After a hard start, mostly because of her own insecurity, Kiki makes friends and finds a place to stay. However, she discovers that her only skill as a witch is her ability to fly on a broom, at which she is still not fully proficient. To support herself, she begins a delivery service at Gütiokipänja Bakery, a bakery owned by Osono and her husband Fukuo.
During her time in Koriko, Kiki experiences setbacks, and she must contend with adolescent worries. She is pursued by Tombo, a local boy crazy about aviation who has developed a genuine respect for her flying power and a strong liking for Kiki as a girl in general. Kiki eventually warms up to him, but after a brief encounter with Tombo's friends, some of whom she had met earlier under unfavourable circumstances, Kiki loses her powers to fly and speak with Jiji. She goes into depression. However, one of her friends, a young painter named Ursula, invites her to stay in her forest cottage, where she analyzes Kiki's current crisis as "some form of artist's block." Since many things had not gone as hoped for, Kiki is experiencing such a period, which resulted in the loss of her powers; but if she finds a new purpose, she will be able to reclaim what she has lost.
Regaining her spirit, Kiki returns to the city. While visiting one of her customers, she witnesses an airship (dirigible) accident on the television. A strong and sudden gust of wind blows in the area. Tombo is lifted into the air and blown away hanging from the dirigible. Kiki pushes herself to regain her flying ability and uses a street-sweeper's push broom. Kiki is able to regain her power and rescue Tombo.
Later, Kiki becomes a local celebrity and flies in formation with Tombo on his human-powered aircraft, a propeller-rigged bicycle. Kiki sends a letter to her parents about gaining confidence through difficulties and that she has decided to make Koriko her new home.
==Voice Cast==
Character 	Japanese voice actor	Streamline Dub (1990)	Disney Dub (1998)
Kiki 	Minami Takayama 	Lisa Michelson 	Kirsten Dunst
Jiji 	Rei Sakuma 	Kerrigan Mahan 	Phil Hartman
Osono 	Keiko Toda 	Alexandra Kenworthy 	Tress MacNeille
Ursula 	Minami Takayama 	Edie Mirman 	Janeane Garofalo
Tombo 	Kappei Yamaguchi 	Eddie Frierson 	Matthew Lawrence
Fukuo 	Koichi Yamadera 	Greg Snegoff 	John Hostetter
Kokiri (Kiki's mother)	Mieko Nobusawa 	Barbara Goodson 	Kath Soucie
Okino (Kiki's father) 	Kōichi Miura 	John Dantona 	Jeff Bennett
Madame 	Haruko Katō 	Melanie MacQueen 	Debbie Reynolds
Barsa 	Hiroko Seki 	Edie Mirman 	Edie McClurg
Senior Witch 	Yuko Kobayashi 	Wendee Lee 	Debi Derryberry
Madame's Granddaughter	Keiko Kagimoto 	Wendee Lee 	Sherry Lynn
Ket 	Yuriko Fuchizaki 	Lara Cody 	Pamela Adlon
Maki (Ket's aunt) 	Kikuko Inoue 	Lara Cody 	Julia Fletcher
Ket's Mother 	Mika Doi 	Diane Michelle 	Julia Fletcher
Miss Dora 	Sho Saito 	Diane Michelle 	Fay Dewitt
Ket's Father 	Takaya Hashi 	Steve Kramer 	John DeMita
Policeman 	Koichi Yamadera 	Steve Kramer 	Matt K. Miller
Radio Announcer 	Koichi Yamadera 	Carl Macek 	Corey Burton
Clock Tower Caretaker 	Tomomichi Nishimura 	Greg Snegoff 	Lewis Arquette
Baby 	Chika Sakamoto 	Unknown 	Unknown
===Additional Voices===
*Japanese: Yoshiko Kamei, Hiroko Maruyama, Shinpachi Tsuji, Yuko Maruyama, Yuko Tsuga, Akio Otsuka
*Streamline: Barbara Goodson (Hometown Friend 2), Dave Mallow (Tombo's Friend 1, Dirigible Captain), Diane Michelle (Tombo's Friend 2), Doug Stone (Bakery Customer 1, Driver 1, Hotel Receptionist), Greg Snegoff (TV Newscaster, Kiki's 2nd Customer), Kerrigan Mahan (Driver 2), Lara Cody (Hometown Friend 1, Tombo's Friend 3), Melanie MacQueen (Woman), Mike Reynolds (Hometown Adult 1, Ket's Grandmother), Steve Kramer (Policeman, Street Sweeper), Wendee Lee (Hometown Adult 2)
*Disney: John DeMita, Eddie Frierson, John Hostetter (Dirigible Captain), Sherry Lynn, Scott Menville
==Releases==
The first official English dub of Kiki's Delivery Service was produced by Carl Macek of Streamline Pictures at the request of Tokuma Shoten for Japan Airlines' international flights.Kiki's Delivery Service News-Old Kiki was portrayed by voice actress Lisa Michelson. This dub is only available in the Ghibli Laserdisc Box Set.FAQ // Kiki's Delivery Service // Nausicaa.net
Kirsten Dunst voiced Kiki in the 1998 English dub. The English dub was also Canadian actor Phil Hartman's last voice-acting performance (as Jiji) before his death;RevolutionSF Kiki's Delivery Service Reviewed by Kevin Pezzano April 27, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-01-05. the dub is dedicated to his memory. Critics generally praised the dub, though some objected to script changes compared to the original Japanese.
In Spain, Kiki was renamed "Nicky", and the film re-titled Nicky la aprendiz de bruja (Nicky the Apprentice Witch), because in Castilian Spanish, the phonetically similar "quiqui" is commonly used in a slang expression: "echar un quiqui" which means "to have intercourse".
===Differences between versions===
Disney's English dub of Kiki's Delivery Service contained some changes, which have been described as "pragmatic".A Comparative Analysis Of Requests in Majo no Takkyūbin and Kiki's Delivery Service The changes were approved by Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
There are a number of additions and embellishments to the film's musical score, and there are several lavish sound effects over sections which are silent in the Japanese original. For example, compare the "wild geese" adventure in both versions. The extra pieces of music, composed by Paul Chihara, ranged from soft piano music to a string-plucked rendition of Edvard Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King.Otaku World Reviews: Kiki's Delivery Service from Disney Reviewed by Jennifer Diane Reitz. Retrieved on 2007-01-02.
The original opening and ending theme songs were replaced by two new songs, "Soaring" and "I'm Gonna Fly", written and performed for the English movie by Sydney Forest.
The depiction of the cat, Jiji, changed significantly. In the Japanese version, Jiji is voiced by Rei Sakuma, while in the English version Jiji is performed by Saturday Night Live alumnus Phil Hartman, and also has more of a wisecracking demeanor. In Japanese culture, cats are usually depicted with feminine voices, whereas in American culture their voices are more gender-specific.Stomp Tokyo Video Reviews – Kiki's Delivery Service A number of Hartman's lines exist where Jiji simply says nothing in the original (such as in the scene where Jiji approaches Lili along the top of the wall). Jiji's personality is notably different between the two versions, showing a more cynical and sarcastic attitude in the 1998 English version as opposed to cautious and conscientious, like in the original Japanese.
In the original Japanese script, Jiji loses his ability to communicate with Kiki permanently, but in the American version a line is added which implies she is once again able to understand him.The Art of Kiki's Delivery Service: A Film by Hayao Miyazaki, Part Four, The Complete Script Of The Film by Hayao Miyazaki, Page 205. VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (2006-05-09) ISBN 1-4215-0593-2, ISBN 978-1-4215-0593-0. "Central Park. Jiji weaves his way through the crowd. Cameras everywhere. Kiki amazed by the flood of camera flashes. Jiji skips into the frame, leaps onto her shoulder and meows over her shoulder. KIKI: Jiji! JIJI: Meow – Of course, his voice will never return. but it doesn't matter anymore... Kiki smiles and rubs her cheek against his." Retrieved on 2007-01-02. Miyazaki has said that Jiji is the immature side of Kiki,The Art of Kiki's Delivery Service: A Film by Hayao Miyazaki, Part Two, Art Of Animated Film, Page 45. VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (2006-05-09) ISBN 1-4215-0593-2, ISBN 978-1-4215-0593-0. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. and this implies that Kiki, by the end of the original Japanese version, has matured beyond talking to her cat.
More minor changes to appeal to the different teenage habits of the day include Kiki drinking hot chocolate instead of coffee and referring to "cute boys" instead of to "the disco".Original Japanese script at . Line in Japan is "But there'll be a disco there, won't there?" This line is not present in the English dub. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
The English subtitled script used for the original VHS subbed release and the later DVD release, more closely adheres to the Japanese script, but still contains a few alterations. It is based on the original Streamline dub, and has resulted in several additions from that dub to migrate into the script regardless of whether they are present or not (such as Herbert Morrison's "Oh the humanity!" line during the blimp sequence). This came about because Tokuma gave Disney the script for the original dub, thinking it was an accurate translation, believing this was the script that Disney worked on.Nausicaa.net Kiki's Delivery Service FAQ Q: Is there an English subtitled version of "Kiki"? Retrieved on 2007-03-04
===Third English version===
Kiki's Delivery Service received a new Region 1 DVD in March 2010, the same day Miyazaki's Ponyo became available on American home video. This English audio production is something of a combination of the original Japanese version (which is fairly minimalist and has basic sound effects) and the 1998 Disney English audio production (which has newer sound effects, some new incidental music, and the many entirely new lines of dialog, particularly from Hartman).
In the 2010 version, some of the 1998 changes and additions remain and some are gone, reverting to the original audio production. The opening and closing songs from the English version have been changed to the original Japanese pop songs. Hartman's final line which implied that Jiji could talk again by the end of the story has been removed.Review of 2010 DVD for Kiki's Delivery Service
===Manga===
A manga book series using stills from the film was published in Japan by Tokuma Shoten. An English translation was published in 2006 by VIZ Media, in 4 volumes.
===Live-action film===
It was announced that a live-action film adaptation starring Fuka Koshiba is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2014. The film will be based on the first 2 novels.
Disney was also interested in its own live-action take on Kiki in 2005, but no developments have emerged since then. Jeff Stockwell was assigned to the script, and Don Murphy was going to be the producer.http://www.donmurphy.net/dm21_variety.html
===Musical=== 
In 1993, a musical version of the story was produced. Yukio Ninagawa wrote the script and Kensuke Yokouchi directed the show. The role of Kiki was originated by Youki Kudoh and the role of Tombo was originated by Akira Akasaka. Akasaka was replaced by Katsuyuki Mori (of SMAP fame) within the year. There was a cast recording produced by the original cast, and the show was revived in 1995 and 1996.
==Reception==
Kiki's Delivery Service premiered on July 29, 1989 in Japanese theaters; the total distribution receipts were ¥2,170,000,000Online Ghibli Kiki's Delivery Service: Review/Synopsis by Doraneko Retrieved on 2007-01-03. ($18,172,849.38), proving to be quite a financial success and the highest grossing film in Japan of 1989. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. The Japanese DVD was the best selling anime DVD for February 7, 2001.
Upon the release of the English dub of Kiki's Delivery Service by Disney which theatrical premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 23, 1998. On November 10, 1998, it was released to VHS video, becoming the 8th-most-rented title at Blockbuster stores during the first week of its availability.Kiki's Delivery Service on DVD from Criterion: A Pipe Dream? by Steve Brandon.Retrieved on 2007-01-03. This video release also sold over a million copies.Nausicaa.net Reviews & Articles Archive "Houchi Sinbun, September 29, 1998". Retrieved on 2007-01-03. A few weeks later, Disney released another VHS of the movie, this time with the original Japanese soundtrack and with both English and Japanese subtitles. A Laserdisc version of the English dub was also available at this time. The Region 1 DVD was released on August 16, 2005, alongside Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky. It was again reissued on Region 1 DVD in March 2010 along with My Neighbor Totoro and Castle in the Sky as a tribute to the home release of Ponyo. The version of this 2010 release was slightly edited to match the original Japanese version.
The conservative Christian group Concerned Women for America boycotted Kiki’s Delivery Service screeningsHayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation by Helen McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, September 1, 1999, ISBN 1-880656-41-8, ISBN 978-1-880656-41-9, Page 143. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. and released a press release on May 28, 1998 titled “Disney Reverts to Witchcraft in Japanese Animation”.Nausicaa.net Majo no Takkyubin Kiki's Delivery Service News (Old) May 28, '98 Headline. Retrieved on 2007-01-03. Calling for a boycott of The Disney Company, the group said the company “is still not family friendly, but continues to have a darker agenda”."Disney Reverts to Witchcraft in Japanese Animation" by Concerned Women for America archived on Internet Mutual Aid Society. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
On September 4, 1998, Entertainment Weekly rated it as Video of the Year, and on September 12, 1998, it was the first video release to be reviewed as a normal film on Siskel and Ebert rather than on the "Video Pick of the Week" section. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it “two thumbs up”Nausicaa.net Reviews & Articles Archive Siskel and Ebert, September 13, 1998. "Siskel: "Two thumbs up for 'Kiki's Delivery Service'. A delightful animated feature new in video stores." Retrieved on 2007-01-03. and Ebert went on to rank it as one of the best animated films of 1998.Nausicaa.net Reviews & Articles Archive Chicago Sun-Times, December 27, 1998 by Roger Ebert. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
Other reviews were very positive as well. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Kiki’s Delivery Service scored a perfect 100% rating based on 20 reviews.Rotten Tomatoes Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
===Accolades===
Year	Award 	Category 	Result	Recipient
1990	12th Anime Grand Prix 	Best Anime 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
1990	12th Anime Grand Prix 	Best Female Character 	 	Kiki
1990	12th Anime Grand Prix 	Best Anime Theme Song 	 	Yasashisa ni Tsutsumaretanara
1990	44th Mainichi Film Award 	Best Animated Film 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
1990	Kinema Junpo Awards 	Readers' Choice Award 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
1990	13th Japan Academy Prize 	Special Award 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
1990	13th Japan Academy Prize 	Popularity Award 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	7th Annual Golden Gross Award 	Gold, Japanese Film 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	The Movie's Day 	Special Achievement Award	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	The Erandole Award 	Special Award 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	Japan Cinema Association Award 	Best Film 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	Japan Cinema Association Award 	Best Director 	 	Hayao Miyazaki
 	Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs 	Best Film 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Honor 	Best Film 	 	Kiki's Delivery Service
 	7th Annual Money Making Director's Award	Best Director 	 	Hayao MiyazakiCredits // Kiki's Delivery Service // Nausicaa.net
== Notes and references ==
==External links==
* Kiki's Delivery Service page at Nausicaa.net
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