Understanding the Conclusion of Kiki's Delivery Service

Article Key Points

Kiki's Delivery Service is a layered story that explores themes of growing up, loneliness, and the struggle to adjust to change.

The movie defies the misconception that Studio Ghibli films are airy and superficial, instead delving into inner turmoil and profound sentiments.

Kiki's adventure enlightens viewers about the significance of accepting change and uncovering the essence of the present moment, steering clear of comparisons to the past.

The Story of Kiki's Delivery Service

Kiki's Delivery Service, an iconic film from Studio Ghibli, captivates viewers with its enchanting tale of growth and isolation. Although sprinkled with whimsical magic, the film goes beyond its reputation for simplicity and silliness. It unveils a multi-layered narrative brimming with undercurrents of melancholy. This nostalgia-induced melancholy, however, invites reflection rather than despair, prompting audiences to reminisce about irretrievable moments.

At thirteen years old, Kiki, a young witch-in-training, embarks on a customary journey to discover a suitable city for honing her magical skills. Accompanied by her talking feline companion, Jiji, she takes flight on her broomstick. Initially struggling to adapt to her new environment, Kiki eventually finds refuge with a kind couple who own a bakery. Utilizing her flying abilities, she establishes a successful delivery service. Amidst her new life, Kiki forms a connection with a boy named Tombo, who harbors a deep fascination with aviation.

However, Kiki's first delivery takes an unexpected turn for the worse. Assigned to transport a toy cat for a birthday celebration, she loses it when agitated magpies attack her. To salvage the situation, Jiji must masquerade as the missing toy while Kiki embarks on a quest through the woods. With the help of a painter named Ursula, Kiki locates the lost toy and ingeniously replaces it with Jiji. For a while, everything aligns favorably in Kiki's life; her delivery service flourishes, and she experiences a sense of contentment.

Kiki, Growing Up, and Change

Kiki receives an invitation from Tombo to attend a party, and she agrees to go. However, while on her way to the event after making a delivery, she gets caught in a heavy rainstorm. As a result, she falls ill and is unable to make it to the party. Feeling guilty, she decides to apologize to Tombo later. During their conversation, Kiki finds a common interest with Tombo as they bond over his aircraft. However, she becomes intimidated by his group of friends and abruptly leaves. The mounting pressure of her delivery workload starts to weigh heavily on Kiki, causing her to feel depressed. In addition, she realizes that she can no longer hear her cat, Jiji, speak and she loses her ability to fly on her broomstick. Consequently, Kiki is forced to close down her delivery service. Feeling down, she comes across news about an airship that has crashed and observes Tombo clinging to a rope hanging from the wreckage. Summoning just enough of her flying ability, Kiki manages to save Tombo from falling and subsequently decides to reopen her delivery business.

A commonly held misconception about Studio Ghibli's films is that they are merely light and pleasant, lacking in real stakes or conflict. To counter this view, one could recommend that the person watch Grave of the Fireflies. However, it should be noted that all of Studio Ghibli's movies delve into deeply political themes and feature plenty of conflict. The conflict is often internal, which may lead to the mistaken belief that these films are solely comforting. Many people find it easier to grasp a conflict between two opposing characters. When there is a clear villain for the hero to battle and defeat, the conflict becomes undeniable.

Kiki's Delivery Service not only revolves around internal conflict but also explicitly states this objective. While searching for a city to set up her shop, Kiki encounters a rude and condescending young witch. This witch boasts about her experience instead of offering guidance to Kiki, who could have used some help. In a typical film, this young lady would reappear later as an antagonist, leading to clashes between her and Kiki in the same city. However, in this film, the witch never shows up again. The heart of the story lies not in Kiki's rivalry with another witch but in her insecurities, loneliness, and struggles to adapt to the changing world. Although the witch's remarks may have added to Kiki's problems, they are not the root cause; the challenges originate from within.

Kiki's struggle revolves around contradiction, as is the case for everyone seeking life changes. Striking a delicate balance between taking risks and finding comfort lies at the heart of Kiki's internal conflict. As a witch, Kiki aspires to surpass expectations and establish a thriving independent life in the city. The novelty of this endeavor is precisely what drove her to set off on her journey earlier than her parents anticipated. However, this new environment brings with it a feeling of isolation. Kiki yearns for the familiarity of her old friends and family, and wishes she could rely on her parents for support. Although her delivery business becomes successful, fulfilling her initial objective, the demands of managing a popular enterprise overwhelm her. Kiki has a desire to mature rapidly, but soon learns that the workload involved is not quite as enjoyable as she had imagined.

Kiki's sense of purpose and her battle with depression arise from her disillusionment with her newfound life. It's not that she failed to achieve her goal; on the contrary, she succeeded, but this success failed to bring her happiness. Her magical abilities are slowly dwindling because being a witch no longer holds any meaning for her. The objective of starting a magical service in a new city has been accomplished by Kiki, yet it only brings her misery. After all, what value does an identity hold if it fails to provide fulfillment? From her perspective, change has shattered her existence.

Previously, without any conscious effort, I possessed the ability to fly. Now, I find myself attempting to introspect and discover the way I once accomplished it.

What brings magic back into Kiki's life is her rediscovery of herself, despite the changes she has undergone. Saving Tombo's life changes her perspective, as she realizes that her presence in the city was crucial in rescuing him. Kiki understands that change can be bittersweet, but it can also lead to beautiful and significant experiences. While she still misses the people she left behind, the new relationships she has formed hold meaning as well. Change is not only necessary but also constant. By the end of the film, Kiki no longer sees her life as a downward progression. Although her new life in the city may not fulfill all her desires, she accepts that it will eventually change again, and that's alright.

In Kiki's Delivery Service, the film teaches that the beauty of life lies in appreciating what it is now, rather than comparing it to the past. Many movies would have Kiki reunited with Jiji when she regains her magic. However, this film chooses not to take that easy route. Kiki and Jiji will never have the same level of understanding again, but it doesn't matter. They still love each other, and Jiji is happy in his new life with another cat. Although change can be intimidating, something doesn't become beautiful simply because it is permanent. In fact, it is the fleeting nature of a moment that gives it meaning. To make new friends and undergo self-discovery, the old must give way to the new.

Editor's P/S

Kiki's Delivery Service is a classic Studio Ghibli film that explores themes of growing up, loneliness, and the struggle to adjust to change. The film follows Kiki, a young witch-in-training, as she embarks on a journey to discover a suitable city for honing her magical skills. Along the way, she faces various challenges and obstacles that force her to grow and mature as a person.

One of the key themes in Kiki's Delivery Service is the importance of accepting change and embracing the present moment. At the beginning of the film, Kiki is excited to start her new life as a witch, but she also feels anxious and uncertain about what the future holds. As she settles into her new home and starts her delivery service, she begins to make friends and form connections with the people around her. However, she also faces setbacks and disappointments, such as when she loses her ability to fly or when she is unable to attend a party due to illness. Through these experiences, Kiki learns that change is a natural part of life and that it is important to embrace the present moment and make the most of it.