The saddest moment in the hit Studio Ghibli film Kiki's Delivery Service actually never happened in its source material. Kiki's Delivery Service is arguably one of director Hayao Miyazaki's most popular films. While it may not top most fans' lists, the story centering on a young witch gaining independence and making a name for herself is a charming coming-of-age story. This is only heightened by the film's characters. Kiki is a lovable protagonist with her can-do attitude and dedication to her craft. Meanwhile, her cat Jiji won the hearts of many moviegoers because of how cute he is. The two are practically inseparable throughout the film...that is, until things go downhill for the young witch.

Midway through the film, Kiki begins to lose her powers. The stress of her work as a delivery person catches up with her and ultimately affects her ability to fly. This causes her to shut down her business until she gains her powers back, but it only furthers her depression. What's worse though is what happens between her and Jiji. For the majority of the film, Kiki and Jiji are inseparable and had the ability to talk to each other. Now, the two have lost this connection. Kiki can no longer understand him as he spends more time with a local white cat. It's a sad moment because it was the last symbol of Kiki's ties to witchcraf. However, the surprising truth is that this never happened in the story's source material.

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In the original novel by Eiko Kadono, Kiki never loses her powers. The book actually follows the young witch throughout her year in her new town as she goes on various misadventures to learn more about her independence. There are certainly moments where she begins to doubt herself, but it never comes to a point where she's no longer able to fly or speak to Jiji. This moment, as well as the blimp accident that served as the catalyst to have Kiki get her flying abilities back, was a new direction taken by director Hayao Miyazaki to explore different themes but maintain the spirit of the source material.

Miyazaki's Big Kiki Change Was Inspired by a Brief Moment in the First Chapter

Kiki's Delivery Service

While the entire second half of the relatable Kiki's Delivery Service is different than the original book, this take on the story didn't just appear from nowhere. In the story's first chapter, Kadono wrote that Kiki would sink lower in the sky whenever she was distracted. Her family would need to put bells in the trees to let them know that Kiki was losing her focus. This fits in line with the film as the stress from her delivery service job is likely what caused Kiki to lose her powers. Kadono also explains how she wasn't able to speak to Jiji anymore in the film as well. At the end of the first chapter, she states that as a young witch learns to be on her own, the two would eventually part as they each find new companions. The film shows this very thing happening as Kiki can no longer speak to Jiji around the same time he finds companionship with the white cat next door.

Even though one of the film's most defining moments was never in the book, Kiki's power loss is still one of the best parts. It has an important analysis of burnout that has been treasured by fans as one of Kiki's Delivery Service's ultimate life lessons. Kiki's Delivery Service will always be one of Studio Ghibli's best films regardless of how different it is from the novel, but the book itself is still a charming read that gives readers more insight on the titular character's determination.

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