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Synopsis

When a young with turns thirteen years old, she is expected to leave home and find a town with no other witches, where she can spend a year on her own, practicing her trade and gaining independance.

After listening to weather reports, Kiki decides to depart on an evening with good weather and a full moon. Bidding her family and townsfolk farewell, she sets off over the treetops on her mother’s broomstick, carrying her father’s radio, her black cat Jiji, and a head full of dreams.

Impressions

This is perhaps the most Disney-like film created by Studio Ghibli’s Miyazaki Hayao, and I mean that not as condemnation or compliment, simply as observation. At the same time, however, Kiki’s Delivery Service is lacking one of the most important elements for any American animated feature: a villain¹.

As with My Neighbor Totoro, there’s no evil stepmother, no wicked queen; no Scar, Jafar, or Ursula to be seen. You’ll find no Ursula, Cruella, or Shere Khan; no Captain Hook nor any Prince John…

I nearly broke out in song².

As I was saying, Kiki’s coming-of-age is marked not by thwarting some evil schemer but simply by carving out a niche in a strange city, finding a place to live, a job, and friends. And that’s all Miyazaki needs to make an engaging, endearing film.

Dub

Even though this was Disney’s first effort of the Tokuma deal, or perhaps because it was the first, Kiki got a good dub.

Kirsten Dunst does well in the lead role. She should do more voice work—her acting seems better when you don’t have to look at that lazy eye. But of course, Phil Hartman steals the show as the wise-cracking sidekick, Jiji. While he took substantial liberties with the script, changing the character’s vibe a bit, Hartman’s interpretation is still good stuff. Phil was a funny guy.

Disney deserves some special credit for Kiki’s opening and closing songs. Like Fox with Totoro, they wanted to remove the Japanese vocals. Unlike Fox, they created completely new songs rather than trying to force English lyrics onto the original music. It went from doo-wop to country, but I like it. It still feels right to me. I’m sure others will find this to be the evilest of evils.

Notes

¹ Okay, there are Disney animations without true villains. But not many.

² Or wrote a Dr. Seuss book.

Neko Factor

A heartwarming film about a cat and his witch.

- 2005-12-11 21:46 -