Kiki's Delivery Service Papercraft Model by Kujira

28 Dec, 2021

Although the story is simple, Kiki's Delivery Service carries a sensitive and complex message about growing up to be an adult. Here are reasons why it is worth watching.

Synopsis

In a peaceful village, a little witch named Kiki is preparing to leave her parents' house. This was a passed-down tradition that every magician had to do after she turned 13. The goal is to explore the city to learn magic skills.

With the help of a broomstick, Kiki finally arrived at the big city by sea. She is ready to start his new adventure. However, being a magician in a big city without the help of parents like when in the village was not as easy as Kiki imagined.

There are so many obstacles that she has to go through, starting from meeting his daily needs to the crucial moment of finding his identity.

Behind the simple story of Kiki's adventure in the city, this animated film by Hayao Miyazaki has a message about the transition from children to adults which is not only sensitive but also complex.

It is complex because Kiki's character growth is told step by step. Viewers can follow Kiki's adventures from the moment when she was given a broom by her mother (a sign that Kiki is still dependent on her parents) to the process of accepting and being willing to lose Jiji (self-maturity).

By Miyazaki, the various emotions and stories in these stages are described in trivial, but important, detail. Just take a scene when Kiki just wakes up after staying at her Guchokipa bakery.

Kiki hurried down the stairs and entered the bathroom and hid while peeking at Fukuo the baker from behind the door. As soon as Fukuo left, she immediately took a thousand steps into the room while gasping for air.

The scene seemed insignificant and trivial. Other filmmakers may show it only briefly, or maybe not at all. However, it becomes important because the scene shows Kiki's attitude which is still afraid and shy. Through these small details, Miyazaki emphasizes Kiki's adaptation process from her comfortable home in the village to an unfamiliar place in the city.

Miyazaki (and another Ghibli director, Isao Takahata) are well known for bringing up small but important details like these. One of the most popular is the scene of Chihiro in Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001) tapping the toe of her shoe when she wants to hurry after tying her laces. It may seem insignificant, but it does help to sharpen the world and the emotions one wants to build within it.

Kiki's adventures are also full of stories and problems commonly experienced in the transition from children to adults. Kiki, who is known as a little witch by her neighbors in the village turns out to be a nobody in a super busy and individualistic city.

Kiki struggles to be accepted as well as to actualize herself as she wants. Through her flying ability, Kiki opens a delivery service: Kiki's Delivery Service. From his work, she also tried to cover the needs of his life alone. Being 13 years old doesn't stop the fact that we all have to be independent at any age.

Becoming an adult is not just about finding a job and living independently, but also about finding yourself. Miyazaki says it perfectly in Kiki's Delivery Service.

Kiki's Self Search

In addition to the sneaking scene from Fukuo above, another very interesting scene to watch is when Kiki suddenly changes her mind after being invited by her friend Tombo to ride a zeppelin hot air balloon. This scene became a bold turning point for Miyazaki because there was no explicit reason why Kiki suddenly became moody.

After getting a fever due to the rain, Kiki suddenly lost her ability to fly. Jiji's black cat, who is usually chatty, cynical, and a little sarcastic, somehow couldn't talk as usual.

This part is described as a crucial moment and the lowest point of Kiki's life. The comparison is like this: what if for example you've been great at math, then suddenly can't count anymore.

A loss like that felt Kiki. According to her, flying with a broom is his identity. Without being able to fly, what would she be? Without flying, the business between his goods does not work and if it stops, she has no money left to survive.

Miyazaki didn't explain it bluntly. Kiki was just suddenly gloomy. Almost everyone, especially teenagers, can relate because who doesn't have a bad mood at once? That's Kiki.

It was from her lowest point that Kiki was able to learn important experiences and understand who she is. Kiki also learns that crises don't always have to fail, but as opportunities for self-discovery. This is the theme that Kiki's Delivery Service brings behind its simple and easy-to-digest story.

Why is Jiji Mute?

This section is a spoiler section. Why is Jiji still unable to speak when Kiki's strength has returned to normal?

In the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013), Miyazaki answers that question. According to her, Jiji didn't talk because there wasn't anything else to talk about. A vague answer.

However, Miyazaki is also not wrong and it just shows how visionary she is as a director. Jiji's character can be interpreted as a metaphor. Black cats have always been synonymous with witches, and in that world, black cats like Jiji were raised with Kiki since childhood. The two depend on each other like close friends.

Thus, Jiji becomes a metaphor for Kiki's childish and childhood side. By not speaking, it meant that Kiki had managed to get through her difficult times and managed to grow up with an adult mentality. She has learned to break through his imaginary limits.

This is also confirmed by the presence of a female cat that Jiji has a crush on. The female cat is a sign that both Jiji and Kiki can live independently without depending on each other. There's nothing more to say because it's time to grow up.

However, what is most interesting is how Miyazaki packs the ending of Kiki's Delivery Service confidently. After successfully rescuing Tombo, Kiki finally meets Jiji. However, Jiji was unexpectedly still unable to speak. Instead of being sad, after just a few seconds, Kiki was a little saddened but suddenly smiled happily.

Growing up is no fun. Like us who lost the moment when we started growing up. Sad, but everything will be fine.