Miyazakis fourth directorial effort comes as an adaptation of the childrens novel by the same name. He was working on a different feature during the making of Kiki and it was relegated to a different director and animation team. However when Miyazaki viewed a draft of the film he was displeased and swiftly took control of production. Kikis Delivery Service is about a young witch in training going through the typical yet critical period of preadolescent learning. Kiki as per the traditions of witches in her world packs her broomstick radio and cynical cat Jiji on what she hopes is an idyllic journey to selfactualization. Shes portrayed as wandering and socially inexperienced making her one of the many young spry Ghibli girls on the cusp of adolescence. Kiki like many excitable young boys and girls wants to live in a romanticized city with a beautiful view of the sea. She has her idealized view of the witch fantasy and she is adamant about materializing it. Her first encounter with the city is a candid reality check she stumbles on her broomstick and almost crashes into an alien 20thcentury European setting starkly contrasting her rural village. This contrast is a staple in Miyazakis films the interactions between myths old worlds and nature with modernism technology and industry. She is stopped by a police officer who inquires about her parents and her residence Kiki runs away in fear and settles next to a bakery. A woman who had just left that bakery forgets her babys pacifier and the owner Osono rushes to return it but the woman is many miles away by that point. Kiki offers to use her flying powers to return the pacifier and in return Osono hires her for the delivery service. Immediately we are introduced to a far more downtoearth and realistic presentation of the city. Kiki has to work clean and make connections with kids her age to establish her presence and fulfill the purpose of her training. The romantic and picturesque visualization is shattered for a far more pragmatic one. Moreover Kikis selfactualization does not just come in the form of meeting her financial and basic needs but through social flourishing. Kiki meets a young boy named Tombo. He is almost just as excitable as she but Kiki has a snotty and introverted attitude when interacting with anyone her age. She is put off by Tombos casual introduction befitting of a city boy. This is yet another idealization that is broken when Kikis first encounter with a boy her age is not in line with her aestheticized worldview. After many trials and tribulations Kiki begins to open up to Tombo and their relationship blossoms. The film caps off with an exciting spectacle as Kiki experiences her lowest point in the loss of her flying magic a representation of her festering selfdoubt and insecurity. However shortly after meeting the freespirited artist Ursula she reacquires it and saves Tombo from a dirigible crash. The ending is grand and spectacular which slightly contrasts with the economical and realistic picture the movie paints of Kikis growth. However it remains consistent with the themes of the film that selfactualization leads to the manifestation of personal dreams. Ans its earned when considering the struggles and emotional development she achieves on her short yet arduous journey of selfdiscovery.