Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of my most favorite of the studio’s films. Written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, there’s just something sweet and magical about it.

Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Eiko Kadono, Kiki is a young witch who, upon her 13th birthday, must go and find her own way. Taking her mother’s broom and her talking black cat, Jiji, with her and finds a quite little village where she stumbles upon the Gutiokipanja bakery, who’s owners Osono and her husband, Fukuo, who are expecting their first child. Osono invites her to live in a room above the bakery. Kiki opens a business delivering goods by broomstick.

Friends are found including Ursula, a young painter, and Tombo, a young boy who got her out of trouble when she first arrived int he town. However, when her confidence is shaken, Kiki loses her powers. Luckily she regains them when the town, and Tombo need her the most.

One of the first Ghibli films to be dubbed into English before Walt Disney took over, Kiki was voiced by the one and only Kirsten Dunst.

The film has seen several releases to home media, including a collectible steel book release through Shout Factory / Gkids. With an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film, clocking in at about 102 minutes is presented in glorious HD. The set includes audio presented in the original Japanese as well as English, and French each with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Extras include:

  • Feature-Length Storyboards
  • Behind the Microphone
  • Creating Kiki’s Delivery Service
  • Kiki & Jiji
  • Flying with Kiki & Beyond
  • Producer’s Perspective: Collaborating with Miyazaki
  • The Locations of Kiki’s Delivery Service
  • Ursula’s Painting
  • Original Theatrical Trailers

Currently available through Shout Factory, GKids, and Amazon, once the set is sold out, it’s gone… so act fast!

More Studio Ghibli films soon so…

Stay Tuned!