Kiki's Delivery Service

 One of the few Studio Ghibli movies I somehow hadn't watched before, as it would unlock a special badge on MAL for summer viewing, I sat down behind Netflix and watched it with Thorin on a lazy saturday afternoon.

 

You know, those daddy / son moments that are just enjoyable, slouching against each other and watching a colourful movie. 

 

Made all the way back in 1989, based on a 1985 novel.  The story revolves around Kiki, who has come at the age of 13, meaning she will set out into the world as a witch to learn responsibilities and taking care of herself during a year of training.  Together with her black cat Jiji, she travels to a big city near the ocean.  here she finds lodgings at a bakery, and starts a magical delivery service from there.  

 

She befriends other people, like Tombo and Ursula, as well as an elderly lady during these courier routes, but when Kiki becomes depressed she can no longer understand Jiji and loses her ability to fly.  During a weekend stay with Ursula, Ursula deducts she has the equivalent of artist's block and advises her to get a fresh purpose to open her powers again.

 

When a dirigible accident brings Tombo in grave danger, she rushes to his aid.  She manages to unlock her powers again and saves him, and afterwards restarts her courier service, letting her parents know all is going well and that she and Jiji are happy.

 

This is a really feel goed Studio Ghibli movie about the struggle of growing up and learning responsibility, and it was a great joy to watch, including the reason stated at the beginning.  So if you want to see some enjoyable "Japan's own Disney" style movie with the kids, put this one on, it's fantastic!