5 Recommended Anime Series and Movies like Kiki’s Delivery Service
Anime is now one of the most popular contents all over the world. Many children not only in Japan but also worldwide have grown up feeling familiar to Studio Ghibli movies which are loved by those after becoming an adult. In many family-friendly films, Kiki’s Delivery Service stands out for its quality and simplicity.
For Studio Ghibli fans, children and their parents, here is the list of 5 best anime series and movies like Kiki’s Delivery Service, which consists of other similar Ghibli movies and the latest anime series. You will like these titles, if you are a Kiki’s Delivery Service lover.
About Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki’s Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) has been loved by both adults and children all over the world since it was released in Japan in 1989. It is known as the first full-length movie directed by Hayao Miyazaki and based on the existing novel written by someone else. The fantasy adventure anime movie is adapted from the same-titled novel series written by Eiko Kadono and published in 1985.
Kiki’s Delivery Service tells the growing-up story of a 13 years old girl named Kiki. The story begins when the unmatured witch leaves home for her independence with her pet black cat Jiji. She visits the unfamiliar towns, sees new friends and faces her personal problems. In addition to the human drama, there are beautifully drawn scenes of the towns inspired by Europe.
5 Recommended Anime Series and Movies Similar to Kiki’s Delivery Service
1. The Secret World Of Arrietty
The Secret World Of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ), which is also known as The Borrower Arrietty, is one of the most recommended anime movies if you like Kiki’s Delivery Service. The modern Studio Ghibli fantasy anime was released in 2010, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. It is also based on English novel The Borrowers written by Mary Norton in 1952.
The Secret World Of Arrietty is set in a modern world, where tiny people live hiding from human beings. It follows a 14-year-old girl named Arrietty, who lives with her family under a human’s house in secret borrowing a piece of food and other various items. One day, she meets a 12 years old human boy named Sho, the owner of the house.
2. Whisper of the Heart
Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば) is a popular Studio Ghibli romance anime movie, which is highly recommended for Kiki’s Delivery Service’s fans to watch. It was released in 1995 based on the manga written by Aoi Hiiragi, directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, who played an important role as the animation director of the other Ghibli work Grave of the Fireflies.
Whisper of the Heart presents a pure love of teenagers focusing on two main characters: Shizuku Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa. Shizuku discovers a mysterious antique shop named Chikyuya owned by Shiro Nishi by chance, and then she becomes better acquainted with Jiro’s grandson Seiji Amasawa. She tries to do her utmost for completing a novel while Seiji makes efforts to become a violin maker.
3. Mary and the Witch’s Flower
For fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service and any other Studio Ghibli movies, Mary And The Witch’s Flower (メアリと魔女の花) should be picked out here. The fantasy anime film was released in 2017, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi as a member of Studio Ponoc, who worked in Studio Ghibli and directed two films: The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There.
Mary And The Witch’s Flower centers on a young red-haired girl Mary, who takes a wander into the country of witches as a witch for only one night. In this anime, you can see many scenes that are inspired by some Studio Ghibli movies that the director respects.
4. A Whisker Away
A Whisker Away (泣きたい私は猫をかぶる) is a recent fantasy anime movie released in 2020, which has been exclusively distributed on Netflix worldwide. It was created by a Japanese animation studio Studio Colorido, which is also famous for Penguin Highway.
A Whisker Away revolves around a junior-high school girl called Muge, who falls in love with Kento. She gets a magical mask that enables her to transform herself into a cat and have a unique experience contacting him in the similitude of a cat.
5. Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
If you look for some new anime series similar to Kiki’s Delivery Service, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (魔女の旅々) is one of the greatest options for you. The fantasy adventure was broadcasted with 12 episodes in 2020, adapted from the original light novel published since 2016.
Set in a fictional world in medieval times, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina follows a talented young witch named Elaina, consisting of lots of short and mid stories. She visits a variety of counties all over the world and meets unique people. You can enjoy comparing her to the protagonist of Kiki’s Delivery Service.
For more info about anime and other Japanese pop cultures, check these articles below, too!
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I'm writing by my motto: helping travelers spend their limited time experiencing something priceless in Japan. My articles won't let you down! Living in Tokyo and traveling many popular and hidden sites all over Japan, I deliver well-selected and latest tourist information to you from the perspective of “100% Japanese local”. My specific interests are island hopping, eating countless bowls of ramen, watching anime and reading manga. Enjoy Japan Web Magazine for recommended food spots, hidden gems Japanese Otaku (geek) culture, and everything about Japan :)