Kiki's Delivery Service

In my opinion, the most memorable moments from Kiki's Delivery Service are:

1. The granddaughter's dismissive, thankless attitude to her grandmother's pastry that Kiki delivers to her. This is built up to have a very strong emotional impact because of Kiki's bonding with the grandmother and her subsequent journey through the storm.

2. Jiji still only being able to meow at the end. It's unexpected, strange, and de-assuring, as has been pointed out in class discussion.

3. Kiki preparing to fly; her hair rippling upward and the determined look on her face, plus the absence of sound in this moment. Miyazaki creates a cyclical structure by doing this at the beginning of the film as an introduction and at the end for the climax. It works very well.

I've also noticed something of a trend in Miyazaki's heroines - they each seem to have one 'mystical' special talent or ability which turns out to be directly useful in that film's story.

1. Nausicaa can communicate with animals. (Of course, Nausicaa has lots of abilities, which I suspect has to do with Nausicaa being such an early film by Miyazaki.)

2. Sheeta has the Laputan jewel and the ability to use it.

3. Mei and Satsuki can see the Totoros.

4. Kiki can fly.

Also, speaking of Nausicaa, this is a travesty. It's rather shockingly horrible.