Review: Kiki's Delivery Service (Anime)
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Synopsis:
Kiki's Delivery Service is the story of a young witch named Kiki who is 13 years old. She is preparing to leave home for a year out on her own, in an apparent tradition for witches her age.(Allusions are made that her mother had come to that town during her year away.) She takes off on her mother's broom that evening with her black cat Jiji in tow. Eventually she settles in a small seaside town. She flys around on her broom making deliveries and finds new friends. In the end she conquers her insecurities and becomes a mature witch. The main differences between the movie and the novel are that the movie follows her through the summer, instead of the whole year, and the movie adds in some events such as the situation with the blimp at the end. |
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Review:
The story of Kiki's Delivery Service is one that appeals to young adults both boys and girls. It is a coming of age story that just happens to include the element of magic. Kiki is a girl who is insecure but energetic and very polite. Her insecurity endears her to the audience and makes her relatable. Though I have no complaints with the story, I am dissapointed in the changes made to the movie by Disney. They filled in silent scenes with musical score and replaced the beginnig and ending theme songs with something catchier that had more pop appeal and marketability. Not that I don't enjoy my share of pop music, but I despise companies who make needless changes to anime so that it is easier to market; or to market it to a different more profitable audience (Rabid Disney Fans Perhaps?). Overall I loved this movie and its message to a young adult audience about independence, responsibility, and maturity. Kiki is a witch, but more importantly, she is a 13 year old girl who must grow up. Kiki's Delivery Service is a wonderful anime that portrays the touching story of a young witch striking out on her own. Great for young adults and parents alike. For fans of coming of age stories. |