Kiki's Delivery Service (novel)
Kiki's Delivery Service is a children's fantasy novel written by Eiko Kadono and illustrated by Akiko Hayashi. It was first published by Fukuinkan Shoten on January 25, 1985. It is the basis of the 1989 Studio Ghibli anime film of the same title and of the 2014 live action film also of the same name.
The book won numerous awards in Japan. Encouraged by this and by the success of the film, Kadono has written five more novels, over a period of several years, and created a book series. The most recent was published in May 2017.
Synopsis
The book follows Kiki, a young witch. Her mother is also a witch, but her father is not. Kiki is now thirteen and must spend a year on her own in a town without other witches. She must use her magic abilities to earn her living. She is accompanied by her cat Jiji.Development
Title interpretation
The word takkyūbin in the Japanese title is a trademark of Yamato Transport, though it is used today as a synonym for takuhaibin. The company not only approved the use of the trademark — though its permission was not required under Japanese trademark laws — but also enthusiastically sponsored the anime film version of the book, as the company uses a stylized depiction of a black cat carrying her kitten as its corporate logo.Translations
Non-Japanese versions of Majo no Takkyūbin were not published until 2003 when the book became available in English, Italian, Korean and Chinese. The Swedish and Indonesian editions were published in 2006. The French version was released in 2019.Differences in title
Not all translations of the book follow the original title. Some include the name of the central character.- Kiki's Delivery Service,, named for the English dub of the Studio Ghibli film
- Kiki, consegne a domicilio,,
- 魔女宅急便,,
- Kikis Expressbud,, translates as Kiki's Fast Delivery
- Titipan Kilat Penyihir
- Kiki la petite sorcière
English edition
Related media
Film adaptations
The book was adapted in 1989 as an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Disney was also interested in its own live-action take on Kiki in 2005 with Jeff Stockwell writing the script and Susan Montford, Don Murphy, and Mark Gordon as producers, but no developments have emerged since then.A live-action film adaptation of the same novel and with the same name starring Fuka Koshiba was released on March 1, 2014. The film is based on the first 2 novels and have figure skater turned actress Fuka Koshiba playing Kiki premiered in Japan on March 1, 2014.
Novel sequels
| Title | Release Date | Notes |
| Majo no Takkyūbin 2: Kiki to Atarashii Mahō | June 30, 1993 |
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| Majo no Takkyūbin 3: Kiki to mō Hitori no Majo | October 20, 2000 | |
| Majo no Takkyūbin 4: Kiki no Koi | March 10, 2004 | |
| Majo no Takkyūbin 5: Mahō no Tomarigi | May 9, 2007 | |
| Majo no Takkyūbin 6: Sorezore no Tabidachi | October 7, 2009 | |
| Majo no Takkyūbin Tokubetsu-hen: Kiki ni Deatta Hitobito | January 25, 2016 | |
| Majo no Takkyūbin Tokubetsu-hen 2: Kiki to Jiji | May 25, 2017 |