Kiki's Delivery Service: An Analysis

I was introduced to the world of Studio Ghibli when I was in elementary school. The aesthetics, characters, and even the soundtracks influenced why I am who I am today. I fell in love with the stories, laughed, and cried while watching these movies. A movie that I can relate to on an emotional and personal level is Kiki's Delivery Service. The message is inspiring and is a lot more than a story about a witch moving into a new city.

A Girl Who Trains Away From Home

In the beginning, we see our protagonist lying in the grass and listening to the radio. While the radio is on, there's a weather report stating that a full moon is happening. Without even a second thought, she runs to her house and announces that she will start training tonight.

Already, we can see that Kiki is a very intuitive person. She trusts her gut and follows her heart. She's very loving to her family, friends, and neighbors and likes to help anyone who needs it. Throughout the movie, we see that she has a motivation to help, even when it's difficult. Jiji, her familiar, is more cautious and likes to follow the rules.

As she travels, she sees another witch and greets her. The witch is more dismissive and a show-off. Her familiar present themselves with similar energy, looking at the protagonist with emerald green eyes. As the witch leaves, Kiki wonders what her skill AKA "spiritual power," is.

The Consequences of Overworking

When it comes to Kiki, she likes to help but has a hard time helping herself. This is something I realized recently, even though I have watched the movie many times. She has two jobs, one as a cashier in the bakery and a delivery girl. Osono, the mother figure in the movie, started the delivery service to help Kiki with her training and help her make some money. This is bad for Kiki because she's only 13 but only wants to focus on work.

Tombo is really interested in Kiki and tries to be friends with her. She instead pushes him away and tries to focus on her training. She's a workaholic, and she doesn't want to admit that to herself.

There's a point in the movie where she works herself to the point where she's exhausted and gets incredibly sick.

Kiki's Dress and Bow

While trying on her dress, Kiki is not very pleased with the look of the dress and immediately says she looks dumb. Her mother encourages her to smile and reminds her that she looks beautiful. And I agree, the look is a very nice first impression of her. The blackish-violet color of her dress gives her a mysteriously pretty look, with the bow adding a feminine touch to it, making her look different compared to everyone else in town.

There's a scene where she flies on her broom into town, and everyone's reactions to the fair-skinned are refreshing. Their mouths are gaped open as they see a witch in dark colors flying.

But, sometimes, she feels like she sticks out too much. While heading into town, she sees girls her age wearing bright, preppy clothes. Seeing that makes her feel insecure. It's a reminder that she's a 13-year-old who probably feels alienated because of how she looks. But, later in the film, she learns to be confident and stop comparing herself to others.

Kiki's Resolution

Her losing her powers, I think, is a manifestation of her thoughts and wanting to be like everyone else. As soon as she loses them, she doesn't feel like a witch, but like everyone else. I feel the general theme of this movie is to love who you are, regardless of how everyone else is. Her growth in this film is enriching, not only for her as a character but for the audience watching.