Summary

• Kiki's Delivery Service remains Miyazaki's biggest underrated gem filled with themes like independence and self-care.
• The film's warmth and growth of Kiki as a character makes it one of Miyazaki's best works that continues to be relevant.
• Miyazaki's adaptation of Eiko Kadono's book creates a remarkable story with deep themes and character development.

Hayao Miyazaki's most underrated anime is still Kiki's Delivery Service since it was released 35 years ago. Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki have undoubtedly been a hot topic among fans lately. After the famed director's most recent film, The Boy and the Heron, won Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards, it brought his work back into the spotlight as people began to reminisce about his best work. Some turn to his other Oscar-winning film, Spirited Away, as his masterpiece, while others look more fondly on childhood favorites like My Neighbor Totoro. However, out of his entire filmography, Kiki's Delivery Service continues to be his biggest underrated gem.

Originally released in Japan on July 29th, 1989, Kiki's Delivery Service is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Based loosely on the novel by Eiko Kadono, the film follows a young witch named Kiki as she leaves home to begin her independent training while finding her place in the world. She sets up shop in a bakery and opens her doors as a delivery worker due to her skills at flying. However, as the work continues to grow, her confidence begins to chip away as she goes through an existential crisis.

While the film was critically acclaimed upon release and has garnered a sizable fanbase, Kiki's Delivery Service hasn't been talked about nearly as much as Miyazaki's other work, joining other Studio Ghibli films as incredibly underrated. Despite this, the film is still an animated masterpiece that deserves to share the same spotlight as films like Spirited Away for its incredible themes and character work.

Kiki's Delivery Service Is a Wholesome Package With Deeper Themes

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by Studio Ghibli

One of the most endearing parts about Kiki is how comforting it is to watch. The film has a warm feeling to it that makes the viewing experience an absolute joy. The story's slice-of-life angle as Kiki adjusts to her new life is incredibly wholesome. From helping an elderly woman bake a herring and pumpkin pie to riding on a propellor bike with a local boy named Tombo, Kiki's adventures have a wholesome energy to them that's impossible to watch without smiling. It's all perfectly captured through Miyazaki's iconic animation style as he blends the fantastical world of witchcraft with the everyday life of the town she moves to. However, what's remarkable about this film is that underneath the colorful surface is a thematically-rich gold mine.

The themes of Kiki's Delivery Service undeniably reach the same heights as some of Miyazaki's other works. Just a few of the concepts it dives into include the topic of maturity, the important value of self-care, the dangers of burnout, the importance of independence and more. It's remarkable how such a simple story is capable of being much deeper than fans expected. Despite its all-ages rating, it's one of the more adult Ghibli films that continues to be relatable today, as those who grew up on the story began to relate to Kiki's struggles as they entered adulthood. The overall story for Kiki's Delivery Service may be easy to follow, but it's the heart of the story that makes it one of Miyazaki's best.

Kiki Is One of Miyazaki's Greatest Characters

The young girl's coming-of-age story is timeless

Another element that makes Kiki's Delivery Service work so well is Kiki herself. Out of all of Hayao Miyazaki's characters, she's undeniably his most realized. The growth she goes through as she excitedly sets out to start her witch training is a remarkable example of a child's naivety about wanting to grow up. The film begins with Kiki wanting nothing more than to leave and gain her independence, even going so far as to cancel a family trip because she wants to leave that night.

This leads to her overworking herself because she wants to grow up and be a full-fledged witch while completely overlooking another important aspect of being on her own: self-care. She's constantly shown working and not making time to be with other kids her age because she wants to stand on her own, with the only moment she experiences true bliss being when she goes out with Tombo and sits along the shore with him. Her lack of balance results in her losing her powers, and it's a great metaphor for how figuring out adult life requires understanding of one's limits.

Kiki's Delivery Service Expands Upon Eiko Kadono's Book

Miyazaki's film expands on the world of a beloved children's novel

Perhaps the best thing about this film\, though, is how much Miyazaki toys with concepts from the original children's story. The book and the movie are incredibly different, with Kadono's story focusing more on episodic storytelling as Kiki comes face-to-face with a task that causes self-doubt that requires her figuring out how to overcome it. It's a simple story that's understandably easy to pick up since it's targeted towards younger readers, but the way Miyazaki takes the ideas presented and molds them into something new makes it a great adaptation.

One of the most notable changes in the film is how Kiki ends up losing her powers after overworking herself, causing a serious decline in her confidence. She loses the ability to fly, and Jiji never talks to her. This never happened in Kadono's novel, but it was hinted at in its first chapter as something that could happen in the future as she and Jiji grow apart. The fact that Miyazaki actually took this concept and built it into his film to explore these themes is a remarkable change that will make fans appreciate the source material even more. It's worldbuilding that never got a chance to shine when the book was first released, so making a brief paragraph a central theme in the film makes it a perfect companion piece.

While Miyazaki is still making films today with him teasing a new project at the start of 2024, his previous films will always be looked at fondly by his fans. From Spirited Away to My Neighbor Totoro, his style of storytelling is incredibly unique and makes him one of the best modern filmmakers. However, the fact that Kiki's Delivery Service still holds up 35 years later and continues to inspire new and old viewers alike is a remarkable achievement, and it's proof that it's still Hayao Miyazaki's most underrated classic.

Watch on Max

Source: GKIDS Films