‘Hit me way harder than I was expecting’: Hayao Miyazaki’s Most Underrated Movie Is Also the Only Relevant Movie of Our Time That Has Aged Like Wine

Kiki’s Delivery Service might not be the first Ghibli movie that comes to your mind, but it is still one of Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpieces. It successfully captures the essence of Miyazaki movies, and despite being a film for children, does not shy away from portraying adult themes.

The movie might have been released in 1989, but it is more relevant than ever now. Those who watch Kiki’s Delivery Service in their 20s, 30s, or later can relate to its themes. In a world where one has to constantly struggle between doing what they love and survival, Kiki emerges as a hero with important guidance.

Kiki’s Delivery Service: A movie in which a fluffy adventure turns too real

Kiki finds herself in a town where she oddly stands out | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Kiki’s Delivery Service begins with the young witch, Kiki, who decides to leave home to follow an old custom. The custom dictates that 13-year-old witches must leave their homes for a year to pursue their skills through training. Accompanied by her trusty black cat, Jiji, Kiki reaches the port town of Koriko.

But after leaving the comfort of her hometown, Kiki realizes that the new place is neither as welcoming as her home nor as understanding. She finds a bakery where she opens a delivery business in exchange for accommodation. She faces many difficulties, and as her workload grows, she slowly finds it difficult to juggle her responsibilities.

Kiki goes through a hard time due to her job | Credits: Studio Ghibli

At the tender age of 13, Kiki faces the harsh world where she has to work to make ends meet. She makes friends but has no time to meet with them, a circumstance she has never faced before. But her realization of her state brings the worst fate she could ever imagine.

Hayao Miyazaki portrayed the pressing problems of adulthood via Kiki

Kiki becomes depressed after slowly losing her witch abilities | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Burdened by her work, Kiki slowly loses interest in flying. She used to love flying before and could do it without giving it a thought. But suddenly, she can no longer talk to Jiji or use her broom to fly. Pretty soon, she becomes visibly depressed and is forced to suspend her delivery business. She also shuts herself off from her friend, Tombo.

Kiki’s artist friend, Ursula, correctly guesses that Kiki is going through a form of artist’s block. Kiki spends some time at Ursula’s place and listens to her advice. Ursula tells her that it’s best to stay away from flying, and in the meanwhile, she should do other things till she gets the urge to fly again.

Ursula advises Kiki on her burnout | Credits: Studio Ghibli

At her words, Kiki realizes that she was so busy training to become a witch that she never considered why she did it. Eventually, Kiki does face a situation in which her flying ability is regained. Later, she rejoins with Jiji, resumes her delivery service, and also joins an aviation club where she makes lots of friends.

In fact, the story not only shows Kiki’s coming-of-age journey but also Jiji. Jiji is still Kiki’s companion, but by the end of the story, he has met a cat he likes and had four kittens with her. Despite a gap between Jiji and Kiki, both accept their new lives.

Kiki meets Jiji who now has four kittens | Credits: Studio Ghibli

In this age, where work-life balance is the hardest thing to achieve, and burnout is apparent in every other person, Kiki’s Delivery Service acts as a symbol of hope. The distance between her and Jiji portrays how old friends slowly grow farther apart to have their own lives. Kiki will still face other difficulties in life, but she will find a way to face them, showing the audience that they, too, need to take breaks and resume life on their own terms.

Just like the life of a normal adult, Kiki’s Delivery Service has no villains or antagonistic forces. The movie is about her struggle with herself, and how she achieves the life she will enjoy living.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is currently available to watch on Max.