Kiki's Delivery Service

Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便, Majo no Takkyūbin, trans. "Witch's Delivery Service") is a 1989 Studio Ghibli anime film, produced, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki though based on the true story Majo no Takkyūbin by Eiko Kadono. It tells a tale of a 13 year old witch in training named Kiki, and her black cat named Jiji setting out by tradition to a new town for one year for Kiki to become a full witch. Kiki's Delivery Service Osono: Oh, dear. Oh, my goodness. Hey, there! Your pacifier! Ma'am, you forgot your baby's pacifier! Oh, poor baby. Without this, the baby will wake up and cry all the way home. I better go give it to her myself. I'm sorry, folks. But could you wait just a minute? I'll be right back. Kiki: Excuse me, but would you like me to deliver it for you? Osono: What? Kiki: The woman with the baby carriage just went around the corner. I could reach her in no time. Osono: Really? You'll do that? Thank you so much. Kiki: My pleasure. Jiji: Wake up, you're supposed to be minding the store! Kiki: I am, but today this place is boring. Jiji: But it always gets busy about this time. Kiki: I know that. That's not what I mean. I mean, my customers. Jiji, if nobody comes in, I'm gonna have to eat pancakes forever and be fat, fat, FAT! And what am I supposed to do about that? Jiji: I like pancakes, provided they're not burnt. Kiki: Mmm. Well, look, furball, when you get as fat and round as a pancake, you see if I care. Kiki: If I lose my magic, that means I've lost absolutely everything. Jiji: [after hearing that Kiki plans on leaving town for her witch training] I'm gonna put my paws together and pray you’re not serious. Kiki: Jiji, climb up and turn on the radio. I don't think I can handle it. Can you do it? Jiji: Oh, great. Now I'm suddenly the flight attendant. Jiji: You'd think they'd never seen a girl and a cat on a broomstick before. Jiji: All right, first: don't panic! Second: don't panic! And third: did I mention not to panic? [a flock of Ursula's crows approach to Kiki and Jiji] Kiki: [gasps, looked heart-trembling scared] Oh... What are they saying now, Jiji?! Jiji: They're calling you an egg-stealer and you don't wanna know what else! If I were you, I wouldn't go back down there, again. Kiki: We have to. Hold on! [a crow approaches Kiki] Jiji: Oh, no! Kiki, BRACE YOURSELF! [a flock of Ursula's crows attacking Kiki and Jiji, they driven off] Kiki: AAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!! Jiji: Kiki, look! Look! Kiki: HEY! [swinging the empty cage] STOP THAT! GO AWAY! LEAVE US ALONE! STOP IT! [as a flock of Ursula's crows flies back to the forest] Maybe we better rethink our plan. Jiji: Frankly I think this is a major insult. Crows used to serve witches and do what you told them. Kiki: That was a long time ago, okay? Jiji: How about we go in after dark? Go in, get it, get out. Kiki: We won't be able to make it in time. Unless we buy outselves sometime. Jiji: You gotta be kidding! Jiji: [to Kiki] And this would be interesting because? Kiki: Wow! Jiji, look at all these buildings! Jiji: There are a lot of buildings, yes. Jiji: Well, we're not too conspicuous. Jiji: [about the spare bedroom] This is...quaint. Jiji: [his paws are covered in dust] If you wake up tomorrow and find a white cat, it’s me. Jiji: [Brooklyn accent] Well pardon me, Miss Snooty Cat! Kiki: [to Jiji] Smile so we can make a good impression. Kiki: Without even thinking about it, I used to be able to fly. Now I'm trying to look inside myself and find out how I did it. Kiki: Flying used to be fun until I started doing it for a living. Quotes about Kiki's Delivery Service "The animation of Miyazaki is only now becoming familiar in this country, but he is the equal, I think, of the Disney animators at their best. In the pipeline is Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke which until 'Titanic' was the highest grossing movie in Japanese history. 'Kiki's Delivery Service' is direct-to-video, it's in stores right now, and I loved it." Roger Ebert on Siskel and Ebert September 13, 1998. External links Kiki's Delivery Service page at Nausicaa.net Kiki's Delivery Service page at OnlineGhibli.com Review at THEM Anime 0097814 Kiki's Delivery Service Category:Anime and manga series Category:Children's animated fantasy films Category:Japanese coming-of-age films Category:Films about witchcraft