Right.. Kiki's Delivery Service. Not an original Miyazaki story. This film was adapted from a chapter book of different adventures + some connections and twists by Miyazaki. What does this movie talk about that hasn't been said before in Miyazaki's films? I'm not sure. Kiki, from the beginning is pretty flustered by her new move to Koriko and not knowing anybody and still being pretty adolescent. Her growing stress and insecurity causes her to lose her magical abilities. So of course as she opens up her heart to the boy that wants to get to know her, Tombo, and an artist that helped her previously, Ursula, she gains her powers back. Tombo brings up Kiki's insecurities about meeting new people and feeling like she's given proper attention in light of Tombo's friends being around him. Ursula teaches her that sometimes people get thrown off, but that doesn't mean the magic isn't there. The magic is always inside of waiting to be connected to.
This story goes back to what we were talking about with Totoro and the cinema of assurance/de-assurance. This film is sooo assuring. I never thought for a moment that there wasn't going to be a happy ending. The overall feeling is pretty light, there is no hint at anything ominous. Yeah, Kiki loses her powers and can't do her job and can't talk to her cat friend, Jiji, but as a viewer it is pretty apparent that everything will be fine. Even when the news reporters are covering the blimp losing air with Tombo hanging on to a rope for his life the news reporters are not that bleak. Bertha even thinks it's exciting.
I don't feel like I really got much out of this film except for maybe a point about magic related to Kiki and Ursula. Ursula kind of represents a form of non-obvious magic, the magic of artistic creation and the ability for humans to create so well. The force that is driving that creativity, Ursula relates to Kiki's magic. I find that a pretty interesting point. What are the magical things around us today?
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