Review of Kiki`s Delivery Service

Introduction

There is a scene in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, where Tuco goes into a shop to buy a gun, but not being satisfied with what`s on offer, proceeds to create one of his own preference with the best components of the guns on display. I wish I could do the same with DVDs, picking and choosing the best aspects of a particular region and combining them to make my ideal disc, the extras of Region 1, the PAL transfer of Region 2, the soundtracks of Region 3. Unfortunately it`s not so easy to dismantle a DVD, even harder to re-mantle it afterwards. I have to settle for the disc that best suits my needs, something that has prompted me to make my first ever Region 4 purchase.

I was a temporary owner, more a renter really of the Region 2 release of Kiki`s Delivery Service. Touchstone a.k.a. Disney hold the rights to most of Studio Ghibli`s catalogue in the UK, and they have made a right balls up of the release of some of these discs, especially if you like to watch these films in the original language. The UK Region 2 release of Kiki only has English HOH subtitles that mirror the Disney dub version. In some cases, this wouldn`t be much of a problem but in Kiki`s case Disney made significant changes to the script, inserting new dialogue that shifted the film away from the original intent. It`s enough of a change that even with my meagre 20 word Japanese vocabulary (watching all that anime had to be good for something) I can notice when something is awry. Anyway, with a little bit of research, and a gleeful glance at the current exchange rate, the Region 4 version of Kiki`s Delivery Service popped through my letterbox. In my quest for the features I required though, something had to give.

Kiki is a young witch who has come of age. At the age of 13, all witches are expected to leave home for a year and train in magic, as well as serve a community that has need of their services. She decides to leave home on the night of the full moon with her cat Jiji. She isn`t too skilled though, with her only real talent one of flying, and she`s still a little shaky at that. Still she and Jiji make their way to the city, although coming from a small village, the impersonal nature of city dwellers comes as a shock. The police don`t look too kindly on flying either. It`s hard for Kiki to find a niche in a city that doesn`t appear to need a witch`s talents, but it`s when she meets, a bakery owner named Osono that she realises that she has an aptitude for delivery. The kind-hearted baker gives her a roof over her head and lets her operate her delivery service from the bakery. Kiki also attracts the attention of Tombo, a young boy with a passion for flying. But Kiki`s powers begin to fade when she needs them most, especially her ability to talk to Jiji and more importantly her flying prowess.

Video

One of the reasons I opted for Region 4, was that I wanted a PAL disc. Sure enough, the disc I received was indeed a PAL disc, however the 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is an NTSC-PAL one, so the film runs at the full theatrical length without any speed up. The image is pretty clear and sharp, although not as sharp as the UK R2 transfer. It certainly isn`t cause for complaint, with the magical world of Miyazaki`s creation brought to vivid and colourful life, unblemished by age or print damage. The animation is smooth and fluid, and the transfer does it justice for the most part.

However, there is one problem though. In scenes where there was originally Japanese script, Kanji on screen, these scenes have been replaced with English lettering. This most notably affects the opening and closing credits, although there are a few short scenes in the film that are also affected. The footage for these scenes is taken from an inferior print, so all of a sudden the resolution drops to around VHS quality for a second or so. It mars the credit sequences certainly, but doesn`t really affect the film for long periods. When it does happen it is noticeable though. This isn`t a problem with the R2 by the way.

Note that unlike many other Australian DVDs, Kiki`s Delivery Service is coded Region 4 only, and to play it you`ll need a multi-region player.

Audio

No DD 5.1 tracks with the Australian release, just DD 2.0 English and Japanese. This isn`t so much of a problem with the Japanese Stereo track, as on the R2 the 5.1 is little more than a glorified stereo itself. Then again if you were after the English dub, you wouldn`t be looking at the R4 anyway. The dialogue is clear and Joe Hisaishi`s music is a joy to listen to, and complements Kiki`s magical world perfectly. Thankfully there are two subtitle tracks here. The English HOH reflects the English dub, while the literal English translation serves the original Japanese track. It still bears its Disney roots though, translating coffee as hot chocolate to protect the sensibilities of Western children.

The translated subtitles are absolutely essential when you realise that the Disney dub version alters the film fundamentally. This isn`t a reflection on the voice actors, who give fine performances, but the fact that Disney altered the script, added extra dialogue and changed the songs. The English version has additional music where the Japanese version has silence, magic in the English dub has to have an accompanying sound effect (just in case audiences didn`t realise that a witch flying on a broom isn`t magical), worst of all Disney doesn`t like ambiguity, so the ending has been changed slightly.

Features

The extras aren`t all that different from the Region 2, but the presentation is a whole lot better. Gone is that luminous pink sleeve, and the R4 gets a reversible sleeve that is a whole lot more pleasant on the eyes. Inside the case, you`ll find a booklet listing the other Studio Ghibli releases, as well as a chapter list.

The disc`s menu design also is a straightforward still from the film, with the options listed quite plainly. It`s an improvement over the Disney ultra-cute menus that grace the Region 2. There is also a jacket picture that displays when the disc isn`t spinning.

You`ll also find the original trailers for Kiki`s Delivery Service, presented in 4:3 and lasting 7½ minutes in total.

Ursula`s Painting lasts 2½ minutes and offers a closer look at the painting featured in the film.

There are also trailers for Princess Mononoke, Laputa: Castle In The Sky, Spirited Away and Grave Of The Fireflies.

Finally there are the feature length storyboards. This is something in common with both Region 1 and 2, but only in the Region 4 disc is this implemented satisfactorily. The Region 1 offers the storyboards on a second disc, while Region 2 has the storyboards on the second layer of the disc. The Australian release presents the storyboards as a multi-angle featurette, making it easy to compare the storyboards to the feature, to watch them with either language or subtitle track.

Conclusion

I arrived pretty late to the works of Studio Ghibli, having seen Spirited Away for the first time earlier this year. It was an experience that made me eager for more, motivating my purchase of Kiki`s Delivery Service. It`s a film that doesn`t disappoint, telling a heart-warming, magical and breathtaking tale, without once resorting to the saccharine, cynical, contrived emotionalism that I have come to associate with Disney.

It`s a gentle coming of age story, as Kiki follows tradition and leaves home to perfect her skills as a witch. The big city in which she decides to settle is large and impersonal, initially daunting, but she rises to the challenge when she meets Osono, the baker. Osono takes a liking to Kiki and she helps her set up her aerial delivery service. In Kiki, Hayao Miyazaki perfectly captures that age when children are becoming adults, where they have boundless confidence, although it is easy to be disheartened, Fortunately for Kiki, with every setback there is also a positive, with the friends she makes and the success she achieves. There are some wonderful characters, most notable Jiji, the sardonic cat who has a comment for every situation. Tombo is the boy Kiki meets, and who is fascinated by flight and not least by Kiki`s broomstick.

As per usual for a Miyazaki film there is a little social commentary, and the representation of the city as an unfriendly entity that lacks community is gently done and understated for the most part. There are no witches in the big city, indeed people are surprised to see Kiki, and find her warm greeting odd in a place where people are used to ignoring each other. When Kiki abilities begin to weaken, it could be because of the impersonal nature of the city, but it could also be her confused feelings for Tombo, or just a lack of confidence. The film never tries to answer the question, leaving it to the viewer to judge.

When it comes to picture and sound, there are better versions out there, although were it not for the lower quality credit sequences, the region 4 version`s picture would almost match the region 2. What makes the Region 4 preferable is that you get the translated subtitles, essential when the Disney dub so drastically alters the film`s dialogue, music and sound effects. The fact that it is a PAL disc is lessened slightly by the NTSC to PAL transfer, but it does have the benefit of being the sole English language release that implements the feature length storyboards as a convenient multi-angle complement to the film. Best of all, the disc`s presentation is sheared of the utter tweeness of Disney`s fripperies.

Hayao Miyazaki`s films have a gentle beauty that is almost heart breaking. They are proof if any is required that magic still exists, wonder can still be experienced and pure unadulterated joy is still possible. Kiki`s Delivery Service doesn`t have any eye-candy, there`s no action, no song or dance moments, and no moments of high drama. It`s a simple, tender and sweet story of a young girl`s adventures and journey of self-discovery. If you want to see the director`s vision, then the original language version is indispensable, and this Region 4 disc is an ideal way to experience it (Until the day that consumers can order their ideal disc made to measure that is). I learn now that Disney have a live-action version of Kiki in the pipeline. Buy this disc before they can sully the original film any further. Essential anime.