Hayao Miyazaki’s movies are celebrated all over the world. But as more recent films get popular, old ones are forgotten. In the wake of successes like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, fans tend to forget the films that shaped Ghibli’s path to success.
Miyazaki’s most popular movies are often thought to be Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro. But there is another underrated movie that simply grows more and more relatable as time passes.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service is a precious gift to the world
To put it in simple terms, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a coming-of-age movie. A young witch named Kiki begins her first adventure with her cat, Jiji. As per the traditions followed by her kind, she sets out for a new town to settle in to refine her skills as a witch. For the first time, Kiki finds herself trudging through a new world all by herself.
Essentially, Kiki goes through the same experiences as a 12-13 year old that most people would go through as a young adult or in their 20s. Thus, it is after one reaches maturity that Kiki’s Delivery Service and the protagonist herself become more and more relatable. As a child, her journey might seem fun, but rewatching as an adult is how one can discover the more relatable traits and scenes of the film.
Kiki is one of the most relatable Ghibli protagonists
Kiki might be a witch, but she doesn’t have powers so grand that she would feel detached from reality. Her situation is akin to a young adult who moves away to live alone for the first time. She stands out like a sore thumb in the new place and is surprised when someone shows kindness and gives her a job and a place to stay.
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When she first opens the window in her room, she is welcomed by a view of the ocean. What more could a girl ever want than the hope for the future, a cozy room with a view and a tiny companion? But her hope doesn’t last too long. Soon, she realizes that her work has become such a burden that she is no longer passionate about flying. Consequently, she loses her flying ability as well as the ability to communicate with Jiji.
Hayao Miyazaki showed an apt portrayal of burnout as well as social anxiety, paired with a heavy dosage of depression and confusion. But thankfully, Kiki visits her friend Ursula’s cabin in the forest to ask for help. The way she reconnects with nature while just chatting away is exactly what everyone desires in a burdened environment.
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On her way back, she is summoned by a madame who wants to thank her for her hard work. She is presented with a cake that was baked to show her gratitude. This act reenergizes Kiki as she realizes how much her work means to some people.
Due to her work, she also became detached from her friends, something so commonplace in real life that people have accepted it as a part of adulting. But not being able to keep her promises makes Kiki feel guilty and depressed, but by the end, she is finally able to reconcile with her friend, Tombo. In a way, Kiki captured all the intrinsic feelings that any teenage young adult goes through.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is available to stream on Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
