We’re are back with part two of BIRD PROTOCOL’s celebration of Japanese cinema with a really wholesome and thoroughly enjoyable film about a witch, growing up, and the gig economy. So, grab your broom, give the cat some pancakes, and let’s fly off on another delivery with “Kiki’s Delivery Service”!
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” tells a sweet coming of age tale about a young witch striking out on her own in a city by the sea with her talking cat Jiji, an insanely kind baker, a kid who is horny for flight, a couple of grandmothers, a maximum chiller dog, and a painter who talks to birds. That sounds wild but trust us… it is so wholesome. This movie is mesmerizing, whimsical, heartfelt and so, so fun. Of course, we couldn’t talk about this movie without having a conversation about its writer and director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Miyazaki spearheaded multiple critically and culturally adored films from 1979 to the present day and his style is without a doubt one of the most unique and individual in the pantheon of cinematic Japanese animation.
We start off with a gush about Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and then go right into 1989's “Kiki’s Delivery Service”. We discuss the film's story, the amazing artwork and animation style, the film’s themes, and the overwhelming joy we feel watching this movie. We break down what makes this film (and many of the other Ghibli films) so wonderful and what gives them such longevity. This movie is a treat for the eyes that has some real emotional depth to it without ever being overly preachy or leaning too hard on any generic conventions. Plus, some good old ranting about delivery drivers, "the grindset", cyclists, the upcoming Ontario elections, the gig economy, and more semi-related nonsense.
This leads to a larger conversation on anime as a whole because anime has quietly become one of the bigger influences on North American culture and the works of Miyazaki brought the discourse on anime to a higher level both academically and critically. So, we take some time to talk about some other notable anime films, television shows like “Dragon Ball”, the history of anime, and its place in popular culture today. This was an awesome film to rewatch and we recommend you check it out along with all the other amazing Ghibli films if you’re looking to dip back into the work of Japanese animation.
We close out with a gush about the return of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Kendrick Lamar and his excellent new album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”. To nobody's surprise... It’s a masterpiece.
We’ll be back next week with Takashi Miike’s “Ichi the Killer”!
STREAM “THESE THINGS HAPPEN” by ANXIETY WEEKEND:
https://soundcloud.com/cemetery_sound/anxiety-weekend-these-things-happen?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
STREAM “WHEN I FEEL THE LIGHT” by ANXIETY WEEKEND:
https://soundcloud.com/cemetery_sound/anxiety-weekend-when-i-feel-the-light?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
STREAM “HOOK THE BARBER 50/WENDIGO” by DR. MEATSSS:
https://soundcloud.com/cemetery_sound/sets/dr-meatsss-hook-the-barber-50wendigo?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
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