50 Years of SIFF: Kiki’s Delivery Service
April 22 - May 5, 2024
In this anime feature, 13-year-old Kiki moves to a seaside town with her talking cat, Jiji, to spend a year alone, in accordance with her village's tradition for witches in training. After learning to control her broomstick, Kiki sets up a flying courier service and soon becomes a fixture in the community. But when the insecure young witch begins questioning herself and loses her magic abilities, she must overcome her self-doubt to get her powers back. RHYS ILIAKIS CHOICE.
Seattle International Film Festival 1998 selection.
Screenings will be shown with English subtitled.
"A perennial classic and staple for any animation/Ghibli lover, Kiki's Delivery Service is an absolute must-watch for pretty much any human (or cat). This is one of the films I point to when I want to go on a lecture about the importance of artfulness in all-ages media. The heartfelt coming-of-age and slice-of-life story combined with famously lush Ghibli visuals create an experience that excites children's imaginations and adults' youthfulness. If you don't enjoy this film, I can confidently say you are wrong."—Rhys Iliakis, SIFF Graphic Design Manager
In the enchanting world of Kiki's Delivery Service, a spirited young witch named Kiki sets out on a transformative journey to discover her true potential. Eager to prove herself, Kiki starts a delivery service using her broomstick and talking cat companion, Jiji. As she navigates through picturesque landscapes and encounters a myriad of characters, Kiki learns valuable lessons about independence, friendship, and the power of self-belief. Directed by the acclaimed Hayao Miyazaki, this coming-of-age animated masterpiece weaves a captivating narrative filled with whimsy and heart. Kiki's encounters with diverse and endearing individuals, from a kind baker to an artist with a secret, shape her understanding of the world and herself. Against a backdrop of stunning visuals and a stirring musical score, Kiki's journey becomes a spellbinding tale of resilience and personal growth. Kiki's Delivery Service is a timeless celebration of the magic within us, inviting audiences of all ages to embrace their uniqueness and embark on their own extraordinary adventures. With its enchanting charm and Miyazaki's signature storytelling, this film remains a beloved classic that continues to inspire and uplift generations.
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Country: Japan
- Year: 1989
- Running Time: 102 min.
- Producer: Hayao Miyazaki
- Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki
- Cinematographers: Shigeo Sugimura
- Editors: Takeshi Seyama
- Production Designer: Joe Hisaishi
- Music: Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma, Kappei Yamaguchi, Keiko Toda
- Awards: Castle in the Sky (1986) My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Princess Mononoke (1997) Spirited Away (2001) Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Ponyo (2008) The Boy and the Heron (2023)
- Filmography: A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.
- Language: Japanese
- Has Subtitles: Yes