A young witch, her black cat and a broomstick gliding over rooftops. That gentle world has charmed audiences for decades, and now it is set to return in an entirely new form. Kiki's Delivery Service, known both as Hayao Miyazaki's celebrated film and as the book that came before it, is being brought to the screen as a live-action television series. According to TrendKia, three big names are joining forces to make it happen: BBC Studios, UK production company Wheel In Motion, and Japan's Kadokawa Corporation.
Where The Story Comes From
This tale stretches far beyond Miyazaki's film. Its true origin lies in a six-book series by Japanese author Eiko Kadono, whose first volume is named after its heroine. At the heart of it is Kiki, a 13-year-old witch trying to find her footing in a new town, where she sets up her own delivery service and begins forging fresh friendships. That tender coming of age journey is exactly what makes the story so endearing, and it has long been regarded as one of the most underrated examples of the genre.
The Writer And The Episode Plan
The series is currently in development. Writing duties have gone to Irena Brignull, previously a co-scribe on The Boxtrolls and The Little Prince. As things stand, at least to begin with, the BBC's Kiki's Delivery Service is planned as ten half-hour episodes, primarily adapting the first of Kadono's Kiki novels.
What The Makers Are Saying
In a statement accompanying the announcement, BBC Studios Kids & Family's Grainne McNamara shared her excitement. “We are thrilled to be part of a collaboration to bring Kiki’s Delivery Service to life for a new generation on a global stage,” she said. Wheel In Motion's Alexi Wheeler described it as a dream realised, adding: "Bringing this beloved story to a new audience as a live-action series is a dream come true and an absolute honor.”
For Kadokawa's director of international co-productions, Takeo Kodera, the project carries special meaning. He sees this new version as the ideal way to mark the fantasy book series' recently celebrated 40th anniversary. “We cannot imagine a more exciting tribute to the landmark 40th anniversary of this classic book series than this partnership,” Kodera said. “The UK creative team has absorbed the spirit of Kiki through their close collaboration with Ms. Kadono and the results will enchant family audiences everywhere.”
What We Still Don't Know
Plenty of questions remain open. There is no word yet on who will star in this first live-action take, nor any confirmation of when it will reach screens. Crucially, it is also unknown who will play and voice Kiki's all-time fictional feline companion Jiji, a character who is central to the story's charm. Even so, the prospect of this lesser cited book series, and in turn Miyazaki's beautiful 1989 ode to adolescence and self-discovery, being carried further into the mainstream and introduced to a whole new audience is genuinely exciting news. Until more details arrive, there is little to do but revisit the original film.
