Hayao Miyazaki’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service” is more than a charming coming-of-age story. It’s a poignant exploration of the clash between tradition and modernity in a rapidly changing world. Through nuanced characters, evocative settings, and symbolic events, Miyazaki critiques the pitfalls of modernization while celebrating the enduring value of tradition.
A World in Transition: Setting the Stage for Conflict
Kiki’s journey begins in a quaint village steeped in tradition, where witchcraft is a fading practice. This starkly contrasts with the bustling port city she chooses for her year of independent training. The city, with its factories and consumerism, represents the encroaching influence of modernity. This juxtaposition immediately establishes the central conflict of the film: a young witch trying to find her place in a world that seems to have little use for her old-fashioned skills.
Kiki flying over the city in Kiki's Delivery Service
Kiki: Embodiment of Tradition in a Modern World
Kiki, with her traditional attire and strong work ethic, embodies the values of the past. Her initial struggles to integrate into the city highlight the challenges of preserving tradition in a modern environment. She encounters indifference and even rudeness, particularly from a modern girl who epitomizes the self-absorbed consumerism Miyazaki critiques. This encounter underscores the growing disconnect between generations and the erosion of respect for traditional values.
The Significance of Flight: More Than Just Magic
Kiki’s ability to fly is symbolic of her connection to tradition and her own self-confidence. Her temporary loss of flight, coinciding with a crisis of identity, emphasizes the fragility of tradition in the face of modernity’s pressures. It’s only by reconnecting with her inner strength and embracing her unique identity that Kiki regains her powers, highlighting the importance of staying true to oneself.
Nature vs. Civilization: A Recurring Miyazaki Theme
Miyazaki reinforces the film’s central theme through the contrasting imagery of nature and civilization. Kiki’s eventual retreat to the countryside to recover her powers underscores the restorative power of nature and its connection to tradition. This echoes themes found in other Miyazaki films like “My Neighbor Totoro,” where nature is a source of both solace and spiritual renewal.
Technology’s Triumph and Tradition’s Resilience
The climax of the film, featuring a runaway airship, offers a powerful commentary on technology’s fallibility. The airship, a symbol of modern progress, ultimately fails, while Kiki’s traditional magic saves the day. This scene suggests that while modernity offers advancements, it’s crucial to remember the enduring value of traditional skills and knowledge.
A Hopeful Coexistence: Finding Balance in a Changing World
Despite the film’s critique of modernity, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” ends on a note of optimism. Kiki ultimately finds acceptance within the city, suggesting that tradition and modernity can coexist. The final scene, with Kiki flying alongside Tombo in his homemade airplane, symbolizes a harmonious balance between the old and the new. This hopeful ending emphasizes the importance of embracing progress without discarding the valuable lessons of the past. Miyazaki’s masterpiece reminds us that true progress lies not in rejecting tradition but in finding a way for both to thrive.
