We invite you to discover our opinion on a Live film that was adapted long before him by a very famous animation studio. If we talk about a witch, a black cat and a broom, you have probably guessed that this is the movie Live: Kiki the Little Witch!
Kiki's Delivery Service
Original title: Majo no Takkyubin – 魔女の宅急便
Country: Japan
Release date: 01 March 2014
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Writers: Eiko Kadono (author) – Satoko Okudera – Takashi Shimizu
Genre: fantasy – action – adventure
The main characters of Kiki's Delivery Service
Fuka Koshiba (The Single Teacher Miss Hayako)
Kiki was born and raised with a witch mother and a mortal father. It is therefore natural that she turns to magic and learns to fly. Her desire to become an accomplished witch will make her leave the family home. It is therefore in the company of Jiji her cat that she goes to discover the world.
Ryohei Hirota (Sakura no Ame)
Tombo is a young boy from a large family, who is passionate about aeronautics. His dream is to build a machine that allows him to fly. His meeting with Kiki will disrupt his daily life.
Machiko Ono (Natsume Soseki no Tsuma)
Osono is the wife of the baker, Fukuo, and she is pregnant with her first child. She is the first to help Kiki in need, offering to host her. And she sees in her qualities that the girl does not suspect.
Synopsis
Kiki is a thirteen-year-old girl and a witch her power being to know how to fly. She goes in search of a city where she can do her apprenticeship for a year, a tradition in witch families. It is therefore, accompanied by her black cat named Jiji that Kiki arrives on Koliko ; Charming city by the sea. She will meet Osono, the wife of the island's baker, who offers to help her create her delivery business.
Transition to adulthood
The story should sound familiar to most of you. And for good reason, it was the famous Hayao Miyazaki, founder of the animation studio Ghibli, who was the first (in 1989) to adapt this story. But did you know that its inspiration comes from a children's book (Majo no Takkyubin) by Eiko Kadono? It is therefore twenty-five years later that we rediscover this timeless work plunging us back into the nostalgia of childhood! Although we could compare the two films, here we decided to focus on the Live film which is indeed from a children's novel and not the animated film. If the plot seems rather simplistic, it allows to reach all audiences and especially those who have kept their child's soul. The actress is very expressive and the locals bring a precious help to this beautiful story showing a teenager slowly advancing towards adulthood. As our Japanese friends know how to do so well, morality, mutual aid, questioning and love will only be an excuse to make us have a good time. In addition, the pace of the film does not particularly suffer from length.
An island where life is good
Now let's get to the heart of the matter and find out a little more about Kiki. If she has decided to leave her quiet little life, she is still far from suspecting what awaits her on Koliko. Luckily for her, Jiji her cat is always there to accompany her. We could have expected to see a real cat follow our little witch. But all in all, the animal in 3D version is a great success that could almost pass for a real one depending on the shots of the film. While Kiki does not skimp on her efforts to make her deliveries and services of all kinds; Tombo has trouble associating with the girl. Being especially curious to know how she manages to fly on a broom. Yet the enemies of the beginning will become accomplices later. And different stories will be added to the main one, including that of the zoo or the singer!
Magic and values
A film that is all in lightness and simplicity that allows us to get out of our daily routine for a little less than two hours. Whether in terms of natural scenery with a view of the sea or the strange village where Kiki lives, we are somewhat disoriented and admiring to see its landscapes. In addition, the division of the film into several stages: adaptation to its new universe, familiarity of the inhabitants then descent into hell by the loss of confidence, before a triumphant return. Allow us to understand this character and his evolution from child to future adult. But Kiki is not the only one to evolve because around her, many people will do the same. Takara Kami, the singer who no longer wants to sing, Nazuru the zookeeper who hates Kiki or Saki. A family film, therefore, which with its fantastic atmosphere and well-placed soundtrack will plunge you as if you were there on an exciting journey!
If magic, seaside scenery and the hassles of everyday life appeal to you, we can only recommend this Live film!
https://youtu.be/9CGOdfPuVWo
