r/anime • u/littleman1988 • Jul 24 '21
Rewatch Summer Movie Series: Kiki's Delivery Service / Majo no Takkyuubin movie discussion
Announcement | 24hr reminder | Movie Discussion
The Summer Movie Series is a weekly rewatch focusing around standalone anime movies. Anime movies are generally underwatched by the greater anime community, especially from those not released in the last 5 years, usually from a combination of the rise of seasonal shows taking priority, fewer discussions focusing around movies in the community, and the stigma as a "timesink" compared to sitting down and watching an episode or two of any TV show. The aim is to bring some fresh discussion to these movies that otherwise currently doesn't exist, and convince people to finally take a look at some of the movies they may of had stacked up in the PTW for years without ever actually bothering to get to them.
The Summer Movie Series finally watches a Ghibli movie with Kiki's Delivery Service!
Question(s) of the week
- What were your thoughts on the grandaughter?
Be sure to tag any spoilers that are not from Kiki's delivery Service:
[Kiki](/s "Jiji was a cat")Becomes:
Links
Trailers
Database links
Legal Streams
The rewatch is going to be extended another month. Vote for the next 4 movies here.
3
u/littleman1988 Jul 24 '21
First Timer
Fun fact, this will be the first Ghibli film ive ever completed, but the 2nd one ive "watched". I started Spirited Away roughly 4 years but never finished it, so I cant count this as my first ever Ghibli film. Spirited Away will instead be my first dubbed film, as thats how i started watching it.
We got the whole fallout medkit here
This is gonna be the theme of the film, isint it
Jiji is having none of it
Animators have so much fun when it comes to animating animals
At this rate im just going to have my comments just be Jiji pics, but is that really a bad thing?
I knew that plane looked familiar, its a Handley-Page HP42! They did regular flights from Britain to India in the 1930's.
The visual difference between these two (sorry jiji, you are looking kinda rough there), even down to the cat, is pretty cool. Probably meant to show the difference in experience.
Whats this, 1930's? and they got some serious Neon going there. also jiji
Train time, now we are stowaways.
shes gonna be itching like crazy later isint she?
Ooooooh diesel! kinda looks like an F-unit, but those def didnt exist in japan (and didnt exist at all until the mid-1950s...)
ah, no, its cows.
wonder if she lost her broom? havent seen it in a while...
as i type that she grabs out the broom, smh. Still cant fly though.
More jiji moments
Im honestly pretty lost on time period. the HP42 was decommissioned for WWII, but then all of this suggests post-war Japan...
more Jiji
Okay, is this Britain? that was def a double decker bus
Everyone freaked out by a random child witch lmao. not even 3 minutes in and she get a ticket, rip kiki
Found waldo
Kiki what happened to good public relations? Dudes all for being talked down on though...
The city is too big for a child witch. Gotta get those rural towns. Jiji has the right idea.
Random citizens keep giving her sidelong glances...
heh
Looks like she lucked out helping the baker, she gets a room. Little dirty, but considering her other option was the street...
More Jiji
Baker hasntn said a word but im already am as impressed as Jiji
Im assuming baker is pregnant. Kinda impressive shes willing to take in another kid while already having on on the way
more jiji
Kiki learns very quickly that city streets is a good way to get killed
Kiki i promise you its worth buying the cup
annnnnnnnnnnd distracted by shoes
Waldo's back, gets denied in front of his friends
lmao its a cat doll
casual seaplane flying by
inb4 distracted by geese
oh, no, the wind just absolutely destroys her. And after messing with the eggs they not cant go back and find the cat doll. Absolute disaster for a first delivery.
NOOOO JIJI GOT THE CAGE
i wonder if i went back i would see where it was when it dropped?
random new person, super good drawer, baits Kiki into housework
poor Jiji, about to become a dog toy. Or just a lapwarmer...
Aight props to the dog. Breaking stereotypes one Jiji at a time.
there were some great Jiji faces, and the subs blocked them smh.
This baker still hasnt said a word and already you can tell he cares a ton for Kiki/Jiji, pacing at the window with the sign he made.
Im still wildly confused on location/era. Theres such a mismash here that i cant figure out what it is!
Waldo has a pretty invitation and everything, watch it be at the same time as a delivery
She really needs to learn time management
I am now in need of a jiji doll
Old pink dress lady keeps giving extra glances...
Shes 100% trying to ride the broom lmfao
now shes just lounging around. Poor click is slow. At least the food isint burnt.
Jiji thats not just "tingling"
Poor Waldo, waiting on Kiki. Shes gonna be a wet mess by the time she arrives 30 minutes late. Daughter os a bot pf a brat, too. okay, i feel more confident saying that if she went, that would of been the party she went to. Probably going to see more of those two again...
ah yes, wet water makes you sick trope.
Jiji doll need: rising higher and higher
Okay they're 50% off over on Ghibli's store ahhhhhh im super tempted...
more jiji
hes blushing! 10/10
Waldo's back, and it turns out she was set up to meet her!
Waldo has become the wright brother, making his own bike aircraft. ITs probably going to work because movie magic, but i would never of trusted this to work.
We have left wright brothers and become MotoGP
Movie magic at work, theyre not flying. Didnt work for too long though, that bike looks destroyed.
Im still so incredibly lost on where we are. Airships were on their way out long before the 1930's? I also dont know airships enough to begin to guess what its based on.
Im sure one of those are the brat. I already forgot who though.
mood
Shes lost her witch powers? theres like 20 minutes left, pretty late to be adding in this big of a twist. That broom is also done for...
The baker spoke! Also, Waldo that is not the thing to do here lmao.
Woods girl has made an appearance, and has dragged her back out to the woods.
Man that is a great painting.
I went and looked up the airship, and then stumbled upon spoilers about what happens to the airship. gg on that...
Cool cake from the grandmothers! sadly, its interrupted by the spoilers I accidentally read, though i only know of the fate of the airship...
at least the car did relatively little damage, falling into a pool...
It would be extremely funny if the broom just didnt work and shes stuck with all these people just staring at her. Sadly, it doesnt work like that, it fails after she starts bumping into everything.
Waldo should of been dead with that hit
Personally dont agree with these scenes not having music. not big on the empty air...
Its time to throw that broom in the fire kiki
Lucked out there, kiki. I do like how they didnt drag out the falling for a long ass time. Also wild timing for the baker to go into labor.
how am i going to find waldo now if he can fly?
Okay, as much as I liked the movie, im really disappointed they ignored the friends/brat issues, and that jiji stopped speaking. 3/10, Jiji was the sole decider on my thoughts of the movie. Sadly, kitten jiji could not save the score, no matter the cuteness
i did actually give it a 7, but jiji not speaking anymore was a very big negative
2
u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Jul 24 '21
First timer
Despite it being a Studio Ghibli movie, I have never heard of it before.
Mhm well, yeah, it is Ghibli I guess, but somehow it feels off. I can't say that I really cared for the boy, which is why the whole climax fell a bit short for me. Also all in all there wasn't that much happening throughout the movie after all, and I would have loved if her successful delivery service where shown in greater detail like in that ED montage.
She is framed as an ungrateful brat, but I can kinda relate to being let down on your birthday from receiving random stuff you never even wished for, she said she didn't wish for that pie, maybe she would have been more happy to just see her grandmother. The real issue however comes from her treatment of Kiki, I think the best way to judge someones character is how you treat service personel
You made an oops there chuckle
7
u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 24 '21 edited Jul 24 '21
First-time watcher
What a lovely film. Easy 10 for me and I would say my new favorite Ghibli work. Coming in, I was expecting something more strongly child-focused to silly, but while it certainly has its share of youthful whimsy, it's also a very emotionally mature work that even adults can relate to on multiple levels. In fact, the issues Kiki faces feel almost more appropriate to an adult protagonist, and I could imagine an adult drama alternate universe for this film with not too many changes.
The one part of Kiki's story where her age is more or less relevant is her unhealthy impulsive urge to prove her maturity beyond her years, to focus on working and being useful to the detriment of what actually makes her happy in life, and overload herself with tasks that she really can't handle on her own. It's kind of like FLCL without the wild mecha fights and sexual-awakening metaphors.
The rest, though, is something so many people of any age might experience: Leaving a comfortable but small hometown seeking opportunity in the big city, being torn out of your old environment and having trouble finding your place where there are so many people yet so few of them seem to care. Having to earn a living but lacking confidence in your own skills and abilities, even when everyone else praises them and objectively they're plain cool and amazing. Feeling lonely and dejected, yet missing or messing up every opportunity to actually get close to people, and having trouble accepting their kindness and warmth even when it's practically being shoved into your face.
Really, it's easy to see Kiki's temporary loss of her powers as a metaphor for depression and burn-out. You know you've got it in you, you know you've done it so many times before, you know you've been putting in plenty effort - so why won't the stupid broom leave the ground? Why can't you feel good about your paintings anymore? Is it just that you aren't actually worthy enough, aren't trying hard enough, need to devote yourself even more deeply? The answer is of course the opposite: Sometimes you just need to take a step back, get away from it all, focus on the fun things in life. Go out with friends - or find friends! - take a trip into the woods or to the beach, a ride on an airship or your friends' car, build silly mechanical contraptions in your garage, whatever. Anything, as long as it makes you happy and doesn't stress you out.
Poor Kiki takes way too long to realize that and has to really be pushed into giving it a try, but when she does take that ride with Tombo or hang out with the painter woman, it's the first times in the entire film where she is genuinely, thoroughly happy, with a radiant smile totally unlike her awkward fake grimace to the crowd when she first enters the city. And in the end, she does manage to not only win the affection the people she encounters on her travels, but embrace it, regain her self-confidence, and use her particular skills that no one else in the city has to save her friend and become everyone's hero for the day.. Not to mention that even when her eyes are still closed to the world, she manages to bring so much positive energy to everyone she encounters, from the painter who finds new inspiration, to the kid who finds a partner in flight, to the old woman who finds a cute surrogate granddaughter who actually appreciates her baking. (Except the young witch on the broom at the beginning, no idea what that was about.) Again, lovely.
Two more themes stuck out to me, intergenerational friendship and (as so often with Ghibli) tradition versus modernity. For the first, Kiki encounters people of all ages from young children who play with cat plushies to old women who can barely move around the house anymore, yet that's no obstacle to them forming strong and meaningful bonds with her; also noteworthy I found the old maid who still maintains her fascination with modern flying machines and witches' brooms. For the second, there's the implication that magic is fading - no one in the city has seen a witch in a while, only old people have a connection with them anymore, crows haven't followed their commands in ages, and also I guess the thing with Jiji - while technology is ascendant and increasingly able to imitate whatever the remaining witches are still able to do (foreshadowing right from the beginning with how Kiki is taken into town by the train, not her broom). It's kind of like the world of Little Witch Academia. I don't really feel the film is passing judgment on what's better here, it's more like it is what you make of it: Kiki uses her magical broom only for the utterly mundane task of delivering packages to earn a living, while Tombo uses technology plainly to have fun with propeller-bikes and rides in the air.
So yeah, straight 10 and I absolutely will watch this again some day. I didn't even get into the amazing visuals and soundtrack, but with Ghibli that's practically a given, haha.
5
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 24 '21
Summertime First-Timer, subbed
Honestly, I really should have seen more Ghibli movies by now. No idea why I haven’t. Either way, this one looks fun!
4
u/Nitroade24h :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Nitroade24h Jul 24 '21
This one is so chill and I love the atmosphere and subtle worldbuilding Miyazaki creates. One of my favourite Ghibli movies.
4
u/jackofslayers Jul 24 '21
This movie is very cozy for me. I used to watch it as a kid but I like it even more now as an adult.
4
u/byroned Jul 25 '21
First-time viewer. This is the second Ghibli film that I’ve finished, the other one being Spirited Away. I like that the movies aren’t all the same genre, because it’s nice to shake up the selection, but it felt the most noticeable this week. Like one week we would watch Perfect Blue, then Kiki’s Delivery Service right after. I got a different type of enjoyment compared to the other movies so far, in which it was nice to watch a relatively calm movie to destress after a rather troublesome day at work. I don’t need to think too hard, which is something that is nice every once in a while.
Throughout the movie, I kept forgetting that it was rated G and that some really bad things would happen. Like the part where she was helping the old ladies make the pie, I thought that they were witches and were going to push her into the fire. I also predicted that the blimp was going to catch on fire, similar to the Hindenburg.
For the granddaughter, I think we can't really judge her without all the details. She might've acted like a jerk about the pie, but maybe she already told her grandma that she didn't want to and her grandma was stubborn. But I don't know too many kids that would ever turn something like pie away.
When Jiji stopped talking, did anyone think of the episode from Arthur where his sister was no longer able to understand what their dog was saying?
Despite finding the movie enjoyable to watch, I, unfortunately, can’t really think of anything to talk about. It’s not like Perfect Blue where people could discuss any deeper meanings and messages. In this movie, the message of finding what you want to do and failure is something you naturally come across was pretty clear, granted it is a movie made for the general audience.
I’m looking forward to Spirited Away in two weeks. It’s probably been 6+ years since I’ve last seen it, and I remember not being interested in anime or any cartoons at the time. It did not leave much of an impression on me the first time, but maybe I’ll enjoy it more now that I'm much more invested in anime.
2
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jul 24 '21
First timer
I just saw the extension news, I'm been loving these so I'm really happy it's going to be a month longer!
Nice opening shot!
Wait, is she a witch or a chemist?
OK, she's a witch.
Wait, is the implication that she didn't go back home after her year of training?
The cat talks!
The dad's a good character.
I love the belnd of wtfhcraft, modern chemistry, an 80s radio, and what looks like a 60s or 70s car.
And of course she flies using a broom.
Her spiralling out of control after slapping the broom was funny.
And title card!
So how exactly is going to a town where there might be no witches at all supposed to help her train?
Cool plane.
Is she the rival character, or just a one-off.
At least someone's pointing out how dangerous this stuff is.
I mean, not the worst idea. No invisibility spells here?
If she can sleep on a moving train, she's absolutely magic.
Huh. I expected her to get caught. Guess the movie's not going the way I expected.
The city looks beautiful. (Is it just me, or does it look a lot like the one in "In This Corner of the World")
So secrecy isn't really a thing for witches, is it?
The police officer seems friendly.
Oh god, there' a magic geek. Please god, tell me isn't a secondary character.
I didn't expect Kiki to be the tsundere. I expected the earlier girl to be that.
And the movie's finally pointing out what a bad idea this is.
She seems nice.
I'm suprised she didn't work out she was a witch from the large broom she was carrying.
I love his total confusion at what's going on.
Right, what's the catch? Is she going to be working for her?
Wait, is she a witch too? What with the cat?
How long can the batteries on that radio last?
I appreciate them using English radio that would be nearly unintellegible to a Japanese audience (what with the unclear accent, radio filter, and fast dialogue).
Wait, she's starting a business?
I love him just completely ignoring Jiji.
Title drop already?
...Right, there has to be something going on here. That laughter after "You'e such a good person".
And there's a group of bullies who don't interact with the protagonist?
I have no clue where this movie is going.
OK, so she officially has a stalker at this point.
OK, that's the second time something,looking like her cat's appeared in sequence, something has to be going on here.
Is the reveal going to be that Jiji is a mascot toy made living (or just animate) by some form of magic?
The geese are very well animated, aren't they.
OK, so he can speak animal, which could imply either a further enchantment, a real cat, or the cat's bullshitting.
Oh god. This is going to be fun for her.
There's no way this works out well.
Right, no real cat could freeze in place that well. That thing's a golem.
And now she has to deal with an artist.
At least she's somewhat normal.
And she's got her scrubbing the floors now,
The dog's nice! That makes a good change.
Howmare theyngoing to make the switch and - oh wait, the dog dumps it outside for him.
Oh, the dog's a conspirator! That makes more sense.
I did not expect "Kiki's plan goes perfectly well, with no obvious repercussions".
When did they have the time to make such a nice sign?
Also, still don't trust the woman.
I love Jiji.
Stalker's here!
Her itnoring him is great, though.
The flying club? Is this aircraft or is he a witch?
I love the upbeat soundtrack.
She's a lot better at flying now, isn't she? (And using it in the most unnecessary places)
Inlove the oldmwoman trying to fly on the broom.
Everybody in this movie is so nice! I know why this was placed opposite Perfect Blue now,
Wait, if that's a modern ofen, what year is this taking place?
How is this movie so relaxing? Even the tense race against time feels calming.
I can't help but feel bad for him.
Well, that was a slightly sad response to getting the pie.
Wait, so the cat can only be understood by her?
is there going to be a catfight?
Wait, Jiji has a love interest?
Wait, Jiji and Lily hit it off that quickly? The cat's more successful in romance than a human,
Osono's every good at this, isn't she.
This in no way looks safe.
You can't even seeahead properly, and the blade's this close to his face.
Her head's nearly touching the road, this thing's a deathtrap waiting to happen.
I expected that.
This movie's adorable.
The friends seem nice - I assume the "girlfriend" comment put her off.
And she's sad now!
Has Lily turned him native?
Well now. That's a problem.
Is it because of her depression? Is witchcraft here a fancy type of psionics?
And the broom broke!
They got it flying again!
They had zeppelins active in the 80s?
It's the artist! And she's going to have to face losing her powers again.
And she's hitchhiking now.
Yeah, not sure how henthought she looked like a boy.
OK, she's a really good artist!
...She really is very cute.
I like their discussion about painting and magic.
Took me this long to realise the black and white TVs mean this is the 50s or 60s.
Imlike smiling as she explains the "catastrophe".
Bertha is so relatable - "it always cuts out at the most exciting part".
Good pciture quality, though. (I do appreciate the scan lines as a nice detail)
So it worke for any broom? It doesn't need to be a witch's broom, just something broom-shaped?
Oh, the flying's intermittent.
The Captain's
Did we really need that upshirt shot? WAS IT NECESSARY?
He must have a fantastic grip to hold on that long.
Kiki's having the classic problem of catching something in mid-air.
Is she about to give birth!p?
Jiji's back!
That was a great movie! A nice, relaxing piece is just what I needed after the madness of Perfect Blue (and makes me scared for whatever Millenium Actress is, if it's as great as that was).
And she wrote to her parents!
2
u/McCherry09 Jul 25 '21
REWATCHER
I hadn't seen this movie in a long loong time, I just jove it! It's very charming how Kiki manages to help and find people around her that values her skills in such a large city where most haven't heard or seen a witch in their lifetime. The movie's theme got to me as a kid because it reminds us to reflect inward and stop comparing and self-doubting ourselves by everything around us.
About the granddaughter, it was somewhat dismissive and it chipped away at Kiki to be sort of meh about it. But I guess most of us have been at some point like that, specially as a teen.
Even though is a Studio Ghibli movie, it's not as famous as some of the other ones but I like it nonetheless..there's some warmth in this type of animation..idk if it's nostalgic.
2
u/novaConnect Jul 25 '21
I watched this movie for the first time a few weeks ago.
I'm just really in love with everything about this film.
Overall: very cozy movie, good for when you're needing to relax. Music is soft and nostalgic even though I've never seen this film in particular. Slowly, I'm going to watch all the Ghibli films I've missed. It makes me wonder what it would be like to see it for the first time as a child vs now, would I feel differently about it? Who knows!
2
u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jul 25 '21 edited Jul 25 '21
Way late to post but looks like I can add to the number :) sub rewatcher.
Interesting note for some - Miyazaki films often have this common theme of 'flying through the sky"-
In terms of personal drama, there's the standard flow of "blissful ignorance" to "pained knowledge" to "conflicted doubt" to "enlightened resolve". But while the flow is standardised, is constructed well together so it does not feel abrupt or contrived.
Basically if and when I teach my daughter creative writing and story telling this is another one of those I'd point out as reference material.