English Title: Kiki’s Delivery Service
Studio Ghibli
Starring: Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Kiki (voiced by Minami Takayama) is a young witch setting out for her one-year training period in a new town where she hopes to hone her special talent, whatever it may be.

Cinema Cat: Kiki’s constant companion and familiar is a small black cat named Jiji (voiced by Rei Sakuma and by Phil Hartman in the English dub version).  Kiki can understand Jiji when he speaks to her.

Jiji plays a major part in the film, being constantly by Kiki’s side.

Jiji doesn’t suffer snobs and likes a good meal but is wary of strangers.  He also has a habit of bristling his fur when nervous or excited.

Cartoon Kitty Cameos: Also appearing in the film is a long-haired white cat named Lily who catches Jiji’s eye.

At the end of the film we see several kittens which are obviously Jiji and Lily’s.

There is also another black cat seen briefly riding on another witch’s broomstick.  Jiji finds this cat to be too stuck up for his taste.

Final Mewsings: Striking out on your own is easier with a cat companion.

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