DVD Review: Kiki’s Delivery Service (2-Disc Studio Ghibli Edition)

Release Date: March 2nd, 2010
Running Time: 105 minutes

The Film

I’m running out of ways to praise Hayao Miyazaki. After every film I fall deeper in love with his body of work. There is simply nothing else like it on the planet. Who would have guessed I’d enjoy a film called Kiki’s Delivery Service? Most movies I watch are splashed with gore or big budget action, and yet Kiki’s Delivery Service was just as engaging on every level. If you’re tired of trite musical numbers, grating princesses, or over-the-top CGI, then this film is for you.

Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) is a 13-year-old witch in training who has reached a seminal point in a witch’s life. She has to fly to another city and live there alone for a year to train and prove she can be self-sufficient. Kiki feels ready and heads off on a broom with her cat, Jiji (Phil Hartman). On the way she meets witches who have special abilities, but Kiki hasn’t quite figured out what her own may be.

Eventually Kiki lands in the seaside city Koriko that is very reminiscent of an older, European style. Koriko hasn’t had a witch in quite some time so Kiki makes it her new home. She soon meets a bakery owner named Mrs. Osono (Tress MacNeille) who offers her a place to stay. In exchange Kiki runs bread deliveries on her broom, learning the city and its people in the process, including a boy named Tombo (Matthew Lawrence) who envies her flight skills. As Kiki continues her year-long trip she learns about growing up and responsibility but feels like an outsider at the same time because witches haven’t been in Koriko for so long. If Kiki wants to be truly happy she’ll not only have to grow but learn and embrace who she is as well.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a simple story on the surface but is filled with endless magic and heart. The coming of age tale has no villain, no end of the world threat, or even a traditional plot. It is an experience; an adventure you go on with Kiki as explores the new town and people all while learning to believe in herself. These messages, however, are handled with finesse and not shoved down your throat. In fact, every element, from characterization to art design, is handled with deliberate precision. Miyazaki is able to infuse more emotion and reality within his fantastical world than most live action films.

Koriko is a landmark location in Miyazaki’s work. The city has so much beauty and detailed care that it is breathtaking to see Kiki fly around. Miyazaki has created a fully realized town and community that feels alive and real. Kiki herself is naturally animated, avoiding the over-the-top gestures of other animation styles. Like all of Miyazaki’s films, the wonderment and whimsical nature keeps your eyes glued on the screen. You will feel like a kid again and enjoy every moment you spend with Kiki in Koriko. If there is anything negative I can say about the film it is that Miyazaki has essentially ruined all other anime for me. He has created such phenomenal work without relying on violence or sex in a genre rife with it, and has made other work look shallow and exploitative by comparison.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 1.85:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. The gorgeous hand-drawn animation features crisp, defined lines even in the most hectic scenes. Stunning colors pepper the landscapes and city. The fine detail shows off Miyazaki’s precision, and everything that was drawn is clearly visible in both the foreground and background. There are very minor compression artifacts, but the print is clean. This is pretty much as good as the title will look in standard definition.

The audio is offered in English/Japanese/French/Spanish Dolby Digital Surround Sound with English/French subtitles. The nuanced mix features immersive sound design. The sounds during the flying sequences shoot atmosphere across the front channels and really enhance the feeling of flying through basic, but welcome, panning effects. The rear channels, however, tend to only come alive with the music. Dialogue is balanced, and the music is classical and catchy. This is a clean, unassuming mix that complements the visuals well. It is never overly aggressive but the subject matter doesn’t call for it.

The Extras

John Lasseter provides an introduction to the film that emphasizes what Miyazaki fans already know: he is a genius. Coming from Lasseter, this is high praise indeed.

You have the option to watch a “Storyboard Presentation” of the film with the original sketches. This is a great look into Miyazaki’s design process.

The rest of the special features are similar to the other Ghibli releases under the heading of “The World of Ghibli.” The content is split between two sub-categories.

“Behind the Studio” contains behind-the-scenes featurettes about the film:

“Creating Kiki’s Delivery Service” is a 3-minute segment with Miyazaki discussing the genesis of the project and his influences.

“Kiki & Jiji” (3 minutes) contains more making-of information along with comments on character inspirations.

“Flying with Kiki & Beyond” (3 minutes) covers the unique nature of the flying sequences and the steps Miyazaki took to make them as impressive as possible.

“Producers Perspective: Collaborating with Miyazaki” (2 minutes) has Toshio Suzuki talking about his experiences working with the famous director.

“Scoring Miyazaki” (7 minutes) is a featurette with composer Joe Hisaishi, while “Behind the Microphone” (5 minutes) has interviews with the English voice actors and footage of their recordings.

“The Locations of Kiki” (29 minutes) is the most in-depth piece on the set and explores the real-world counterparts that inspired the locations seen in the film.

The “Behind the Studio” section ends with the original Japanese trailers.

The other section is “Enter the Lands” where you can click on an interactive map to see character/story information and video clips for other Ghibli films. This is the same as the other Ghibli re-releases and includes: Creating Ponyo (4 minutes); Creating My Neighbor Totoro (3 minutes); and Character Sketches for Castle in the Sky (3 minutes).

Finally, a Collectible Lithograph is included.

Final Thoughts

Kiki’s Delivery Service is another Miyazaki masterpiece that further solidifies him in my mind as one of the premiere animation directors of all time. The new edition is the perfect excuse for fans both old and new to revisit Miyazaki’s earlier, but equally acclaimed, work. This title is a staple for any self-respecting animation fan.