[Sunday Culture] Do You Know the Story of the Grown-Up 'Majo Baedalbu Kiki'?

Ghibli Animation 'Manya Baedalbu Kiki'
Based on a 6-Volume Novel... Also Depicts Scenes of Home Education

"Jiji, I want to live in this town!"

Are you familiar with the Japanese Studio Ghibli animation Kiki's Delivery Service? It is a work depicting the growth story of Kiki, a witch with short hair who flies around on a broomstick. Kiki carries a talking cat named "Jiji," and the cat "Daijin" in Makoto Shinkai's Suzume no Tojimari is said to be a character inspired by Jiji, which has brought renewed attention to it. The soundtrack alone is so well-known that everyone recognizes it, even in Korea.

But did you know there is also a story about Kiki as an adult, not just the young girl Kiki? The original novel of Kiki's Delivery Service often becomes a hot topic on Japanese portal sites, and this week, related posts have again attracted people's interest. Today, we bring you a story about the original novel of Kiki's Delivery Service, focusing on Kiki as a 30-year-old witch.

In fact, Kiki's Delivery Service is originally a six-volume children's novel series. Studio Ghibli's animation covers the story up to the second volume out of the six.

In volume 3, we see Kiki at age 16. She continues her delivery work in her original town. Tombo, the bespectacled male protagonist who showed great interest in Kiki in the film, goes on to attend a distant school. Since they cannot see each other face-to-face, they keep in touch through penpal letters. While Tombo approached Kiki in the animation, at this time, Kiki also developed feelings for Tombo and liked him.

Time passes, and Kiki turns 20, when she meets a dress designer. Kiki becomes fascinated by the dresses he creates, and he shows affection toward her. However, the more this happens, the more Kiki realizes that her love for Tombo remains unchanged. Eventually, Kiki rejects the dress designer by saying, "If I get married, please make my wedding dress."

Kiki's pure love ultimately bears fruit. She marries Tombo at age 22. They even have fraternal twins. The final sixth volume tells the story of these twins. The girl Nini and the boy Toto appear. Since Toto is a boy, he cannot become a witch, but he still wants to be one. On the other hand, Nini, like Kiki once did, must become independent to become a witch, but due to her very lively personality, she shows little interest in becoming a witch. This causes deep concern for her mother, Kiki.

Eventually, Kiki sends both children on their witch training upon their 13th birthdays. At this time, Kiki is over thirty years old. Since the children have distinctly different personalities, they leave home carrying different worries. Toto ultimately does not become a witch but embarks on a journey to find a similar way of life on his own, while Nini undertakes her training to find her own reason for becoming a witch. The original story ends with Kiki respecting her children's choices.

It is fascinating to see Kiki, once only a little girl, now involved in parenting. Because the original is a solid coming-of-age novel, fans of Kiki's Delivery Service still consistently request a sequel.

I also sometimes revisit this animation when I need strength. Watching Kiki face various trials and tribulations and overcome everything on her own without anyone's help gives me courage. I hope you enjoy your favorite movie and relieve the fatigue of the week on a lazy weekend.