Kiki's Delivery Service

My Neighbor Totoro A delightfully charming adventure that follows the enchanted friendship between two young girls & a huge funny creature called totoro who can only be seen through the eyes of a child. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/07/2006 Run time: 86 minutes	Castle in the Sky Inspired by "Gulliver's Travels," the fantasy-adventure Castle in the Sky (1986) was Hayao Miyazaki's third feature, and helped to establish his reputation as a visionary in both Japan and America. The orphan Sheeta inherited a mysterious crystal that links her to the legendar...	Spirited Away In the middle of her familys move to the suburbs a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods witches and monsters: where humans are changed into animals: and a bathhouse for these creatures. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 02/22/2005 Run time: 132 minutes Rating: Pg	Howl's Moving Castle Sophie finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is swept off her geet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named howl & embarks on a fantastic odyssey aboard his magical castle. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/07/2006 Run time: 119 minutes	Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Hayao Miyazaki gained widespread attention in Japan for his complex ecological manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982), which he adapted for the screen two years later. One thousand years after a war devastated much of the Earth, humanity clings to existence at t...
Princess Mononoke An a-list of stars lend their voice talents to this breathtaking animated adventure that follows the fearless princess mononoke as she leads a band of animal gods into battle against humankind. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/08/2002 Starring: Animated Run tim...	Porco Rosso Porco Rosso (The Crimson Pig, 1992) ranks as Hayao Miyazaki's oddest film: a bittersweet period adventure about a dashing pilot who has somehow been turned into a pig. Miyazaki once said, "Initially, it was supposed to be a 45-minute film for tired businessmen to watch on long ai...	The Cat Returns The Cat Returns (2002) brings back Muta, the cranky fat cat, and Baron von Gikkingen, the elegant statue, from the feature Whisper of the Heart (1995). On her way home from school, Haru, a confused 17-year-old, prevents an elegant gray cat from being hit by a truck. She's inadve...	Whisper of the Heart Based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, the gentle coming-of-age story Whisper of the Heart (1995) was scripted and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo. Shizuku Tsukishima is an absent-minded, insecure junior high school student who reads book after ...	Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Special Edition) Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro) achieved his first international hit with this delightful 1979 adventure yarn. Quick-paced, high-spirited, and loaded with wit, Cagliostro is a dandy throwback to the caper pictures of the '60s. International man of mystery ...

Kiki's Delivery Service
I LOVE this movie so much. I just love a good anime, and this was just a really sweet story about a young witch. I really enjoy watching this movie.

Fun, light entertainment...
I could see why some people wouldn't appreciate this film. If you wrote the plot down on a piece of paper, this film would look pretty dull. Girl witch leaves home, she meets some people, makes some deliveries, etc. So, I perfectly understand why some may find it boring. The story of Kiki's Delivery Service is really more character-driven than plot-driven. I feel the movie really excels in this department. The characters are very likeable/endearing. I fully enjoyed seeing Kiki come into her own as she gained some confidence in a new place. Overall, this is just a simple, sweet film about growing up, and I think "Kiki's Delivery Service" really succeeds in being this. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a quieter non-violent film. P.S.- Aside from the film (which is excellent), I must complain about the bonus features, which suck. The second disc only contains storyboards, which most people (including me) will not watch (because they are boring). There's an intro from John Lasseter (why?) which just consists of him telling us in five minutes about how great the movie is. Then there's a small interview with the English voice actors. I just wished there was something better, like a making-of. Still, this doesn't detract from the overall excellent film.

Adorable, Sweet, and Fun. A Movie for the Entire Family
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE is a wonderful family film. My entire family - my husband, 11-year old daughter, 3-year old daughter, and me - all absolutely love Kiki. We have watched it many, many times, and it is still as fresh and cute and captivating as it was the first time. KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE is the story of a 13-year old witch-in-training (voiced by Kirsten Dunst), who, in the tradition of her people, must leave home for a year, and make her own way in the world. She must find a new city and provide it a service. Her mother, whose talent is potion making, serves her city as a sort of cross between a pharmacist and a doctor. Kiki leaves her family at midnight on a beautiful, warm night with just her broom, her cat Jiji (voiced by Phil Hartman), and father's transistor radio. Once Kiki finds the perfect city, she settles right in to help. Since she has no special gift other than flying by use of her broom, she naturally sets up a delivery service, delivering packages and messages all over town. Kiki learns about many things over the course of the year: responsibility, how to support herself, trust, belief in herself, loyalty, friendship, and even a first crush. She slowly finds her own way, learning and growing as she goes. By the end she is stronger, more sure of herself, and settled in her new community. She has made a life, through learning life's lessons. Myazaki's animation is, as always, simply delightful. The rich textures and delicate details bring his characters to life. It is the little nuances that draw you in: the way the wind tousles Kiki's hair, the expressions on Jiji's face, the depth of the background scenery. The pallet is soft and lovely. The entire film is quite gorgeous. As I said earlier, my entire family is enthralled by Kiki's coming of age story; none more so than my youngest daughter. For Halloween last year (2007), she wanted to be a witch. I asked her if she wanted to be a witch like the one in the Little Einsteins' Hansel and Gretel episode or one like Kiki. "I want to be Kiki, Mommy! I want to be Kiki!!!" She was very definite on that point. So she had a black dress, red shoes, a red hair bow, a small broom, and a stuffed Jiji (ordered from Japan!). She was so excited and so cute. I think the impression that KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE made on a then 2 year old speaks volumes. This quiet, simple story of learning to be happy with and to trust in yourself is timeless and appeals to all ages and generations.

Hayao Miyazaki Amazes!
This film is filled with the wonder of childhood, elements of the adventure quest, a girls search for her place in the world, a story of friendship, confidence, trust in yourself. And optimism, that even in the face of hardships Kiki endures and recovers and believes in her self. Stylistically it is beautiful. A reserved palette, original and quaint small town qualities, even a love of travel is presented with simple pastoral landscapes and a lovely city on the sea. Such a gem of a film. Hopefully his films will soon be on Blu-Ray.

I'm a 37 year old man, and still love this movie!
I admit this movie is REALLY cute and intended for a younger audience, but it speaks to the inner child in me. It has a real nice spin on kids gearing up to go be on their own. I was alos surprised (and elated) to hear the late, great Phil Hartman as the voice of GiGi.