Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
★★★½ — Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Kiki's Delivery Service (known in Japan as Majo no Takkyubin, loosely "Witch's Delivery Service") is based on Eiko Kadono's beloved 1985 children's novel and arrived as Studio Ghibli's fourth feature, following My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies, both released the previous year. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed the film himself, taking over from an earlier planned production that had stalled under a different director. Made on a modest budget by international standards, it became a substantial domestic hit in Japan, cementing Ghibli's commercial reputation and running in cinemas for months. The European-styled coastal setting drew heavily on locations in Stockholm and other Scandinavian cities, giving the film its distinctive, sun-warmed atmosphere. Disney later acquired the North American distribution rights and released a dubbed version in 1998.
No question: the look and sound of this film are pure magic. The sun-drenched seaside town, the soft watercolor skies, Kiki soaring on her broom at golden hour, it’s all breathtaking. And Joe Hisaishi’s score is as usual absolute perfection. I could live in this soundtrack. The story, though. It’s… fine. Sweet, gentle, and full of quiet moments, but not exactly packed with drama or stakes. It’s a coming-of-age tale about finding your confidence (which is lovely!) but unfolds like a very calm Sunday afternoon. If you’re expecting adventure, prepare for a lot of baking, flying, and mild self-doubt. That said, my daughter loved it, totally charmed by Kiki and Jiji’s bickering. And honestly, that counts for a lot. A beautiful, calming watch, not Ghibli’s deepest, but one of its most soothing.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 1989 | Watched: 2025-07-23
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Netflix · Netflix Kids · Netflix Standard with Ads
Physical: Amazon UK
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Hayao Miyazaki: Castle in the Sky (1986) · Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) · My Neighbor Totoro (1988) · Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
More from Japan: Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025) · Blue (1993) · The Ghost of Yotsuya (1959)
More from the 1980s: Nightmare City (1980) · A Better Tomorrow (1986) · Style Wars (1983) · Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980)
More animation: Fantastic Planet (1973) · Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025)
More family: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Wonder (2017) · Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anastasia (1997)
