 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Kiki's Delivery Service
- Review Date: August 7, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
A mystical, positive take on girl's coming of age.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Hayao Miyazaki's classic anime adventure is an ideal film for the entire family. Unlike some of his other movies that feature some potentially frightening characters or disturbing scenes, this film is a sweet coming-of-age adventure. Kiki, the 13-year-old protagonist, is a lovely role model. Yes, she's a witch, but she's a good one who doesn't manifest her magical powers in any way but flying. There's some mild flirting and a couple of close calls while Kiki's in the air, but otherwise this is a positive pick that could be a family classic.
What's the story?
Kiki (voiced by Kirsten Dunst) follows family tradition and settles for a year in a foreign city to serve as resident witch. She makes friends, finds room and board, and uses her broom-flying ability to launch a delivery service. A boy her age, the aviation buff Tombo (Matthew Laurence), develops a crush on her. As she approaches puberty, Kiki begins to lose her powers. She strikes up a chance friendship with an older girl, the artist Ursula (Janeane Garofalo), who helps Kiki weather her loss of confidence. When a dirigible accident puts Tombo in danger, Kiki must summon up all of her powers to save her friend.
Is it any good?
A huge box office hit in Japan, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE is the first film by celebrated animator Hayao Miyazaki to become available in the U.S.; it's part of a deal struck between Disney and Miyazaki's studio. Kiki is set in a large European metropolis (an amalgam of Stockholm and other cities) in a time period suggesting the 1950s. The attention to detail, particularly in the scenes of Kiki flying over the city streets, rivals that of many a bigger-budgeted Disney feature. Such detail provides important background as small-town girl Kiki gradually acclimates herself to this new, bewildering environment. The film also realistically treats Kiki's growing pains, as she copes with the twin problems of independence and peer group relations. This accounts, in part, for the film's enthusiastic reception by so many young viewers.
This English-dubbed version, released straight-to-video, benefits from well-cast celebrity voices, including Phil Hartman (as Kiki's wisecracking black cat Jiji) and Debbie Reynolds. The Disney version's only serious flaw is the replacement of the Japanese original's delightful opening and closing songs with new, less catchy English-language ones.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Kiki's character. How does she compare to other characters in animated movies? Do you think she's a role model?
What foreign movies have you seen? How do foreign movies compare to those made in Hollywood?
What makes a good family movie? What kinds of movies do kids and parents enjoy watching together?
What kinds of messages about growing up does this movie send? Can kids relate to Kiki's loss of confidence? What helps her gain back her strength?
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AGE
Good humor, good music, good characters, good story, and great animation make this movie very special.
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AGE
creates independence!
After my 3.5 year old daughter watches this she wants to be super independent. She loves this movie
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AGE
If you've ever wished you could fly...
My whole family loved this movie about a young witch trying to get her career started when she's not sure what she's good at. My 6-year-old son especially loved the flying scenes -- Kiki on her sometimes uncontrollable broom, and even more fascinating her friend with his crazy homemade flying machines. Another charming import from Miyazaki! Like a lot of Miyazaki's heroines, Kiki is brave, resourceful, and always eager to help.
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Kid, 10 years old
October 14, 2010
AGE
Perfect for every age
Love it
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AGE
beautiful
I remember watching this when I was little! It was so cute :)
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AGE
Better than Spirited Away
I have nothing to complain about. It's perfect. Kids will love it just as much as adults. It teaches the hardships in life and friendship as well as individuality. Kiki is sweet and a nice girl who has a difficult time fitting in since she's a witch living in a city without witches. That, and she meets other nice people who teach her a lot of useful information about herself. She has a bit of a romance with Tombo, but it stays more of a friendship in the film, but you can see it gets stronger in the credits. Unless a young man about to fall off a dirigible is really that scary (it is concerning, but more on a suspense factor), kids should be fine for it all. The Japanese version is better. (I've seen both) but the English voices make some of the characters sound a bit conceited and rude. Especially the witch after the opening credits. She is not nearly that rude as she is in the English.
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AGE
Frightening to six year olds
I think this movie overall was ok. Very witchy - not in a fantasy sense. I think the part where the boy is falling and Kiki has to save him goes on for quite a whiles and is frightening - it is portrayed as an emergency scene with people running and screaming and sirens blaring as a blimp goes crashing into buildings etc ... my daughter and a friend (both 6) had eyes wide opened and seemed stressed watching this. In the end all is well, but do our children NEED to see terrifying images happening, I don't think so. All in all probably better than what's usually out ther - but not quite so harmless as say Strawberry Shortcake or Whinnie the pooh.
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AGE
Great Family Movie
Great family movie. A little slow for the young ones, but still a great story.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, friendship |
| Studio: | Buena Vista |
| Director: | Hayao Miyazaki |
| Cast: | Debbie Reynolds, Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 23, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | April 15, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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