It had been a while since I’d watched an animated film, so I went through the Miyazaki films I hadn’t seen yet, and picked out Kiki’s delivery service. I had heard the main piano theme and it was so heartwarming, I couldn’t resist.
[Spoilers Ahead]
Kiki’s Delivery service is one of those films where you think about it even after it’s over. Even though it was made in 1989, Miyazaki hits many chords and tells a story that is relevant even today (especially today). Kiki is a perfect protagonist. She’s kind, brave, energetic and driven. Kiki comes to the big city to complete her ‘training’ as a witch, where she is expected to find her special skill. She discovers that since flying is the one thing she really knows and enjoys, she turns it into a living by starting a delivery service. Somewhere along the path, she starts losing her magic (skill). She gets so caught up in her job, that she loses focus on why she flew in the first place.
The struggle she goes through as a young witch in the city is especially relatable to non-conventional professions like art, music, dance etc. Kiki’s situation is a clear metaphor for artists and creators who lose their passion and creativity whilst finding real-world applications in a world that has no economic value for such talents. It is only when her friend is in grave danger, and she’s the only one who can save him by flying that her instincts and magic comes back and let her fly again. Just like artists, Kiki finds her passion back only when she realises that she’s making a difference to the world, and that there is value in what she does.
It amazes me everytime to see how Studio Ghibli successfully tells stories which explore such profound and meaningful ideas through their beautiful characters. They feel more alive and real than us. This, coupled with stunning backgrounds, art and animation gives the perfect illusion of life, and let’s you sink in to their world in the first 60 seconds itself.
I can’t wait to see the next one, and what it has to offer. Hat’s off to Ghibli for yet again giving us a timeless film that we can always run to when the world gets dark. <3
[Spoilers Ahead]
Kiki’s Delivery service is one of those films where you think about it even after it’s over. Even though it was made in 1989, Miyazaki hits many chords and tells a story that is relevant even today (especially today). Kiki is a perfect protagonist. She’s kind, brave, energetic and driven. Kiki comes to the big city to complete her ‘training’ as a witch, where she is expected to find her special skill. She discovers that since flying is the one thing she really knows and enjoys, she turns it into a living by starting a delivery service. Somewhere along the path, she starts losing her magic (skill). She gets so caught up in her job, that she loses focus on why she flew in the first place.
The struggle she goes through as a young witch in the city is especially relatable to non-conventional professions like art, music, dance etc. Kiki’s situation is a clear metaphor for artists and creators who lose their passion and creativity whilst finding real-world applications in a world that has no economic value for such talents. It is only when her friend is in grave danger, and she’s the only one who can save him by flying that her instincts and magic comes back and let her fly again. Just like artists, Kiki finds her passion back only when she realises that she’s making a difference to the world, and that there is value in what she does.
It amazes me everytime to see how Studio Ghibli successfully tells stories which explore such profound and meaningful ideas through their beautiful characters. They feel more alive and real than us. This, coupled with stunning backgrounds, art and animation gives the perfect illusion of life, and let’s you sink in to their world in the first 60 seconds itself.
I can’t wait to see the next one, and what it has to offer. Hat’s off to Ghibli for yet again giving us a timeless film that we can always run to when the world gets dark. <3
❤️
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