Kiki's Delivery Service - Plot

Plot

As is tradition for witches, when they turn 13, they must leave home on the night of a clear, full moon to begin their full-year of training. That day comes for young Kiki who, along with her black cat Jiji, hops on her broom and sets off to begin a new life. Kiki and Jiji eventually arrive in the coastal city of Korikio, where Kiki makes new friends, such as a bakery store-owner named Osono, an aspiring artist named Ursula, and a boy named Tombo.

As per her training, Kiki starts a “high-flying delivery service” which proves successful at first, until Kiki loses her power to talk to Jiji, as well as losing her ability to fly, which leaves her in a depression. Ursula tells Kiki that the possible reason for her losing her powers is because she isn’t believing in herself enough, and that she needs to find a reason to be content with herself, in order to fly.

The Spirit of Enlightenment, a dirigible, lands in Koriko and Tombo and a group of friends interested in flying are invited onboard to ride in the blimp. Things go awry however when a strong gust of wind causes helium to leak out of the blimp, which in turn, leaves the blimp dangling perilously in the air. Kiki watches the events unfold on TV, and notices that Tombo is hanging on for dear life on a rope that is attached to the blimp. Taking a friendly street sweeper’s broom, Kiki regains her flying ability, and navigates herself to the clock tower, where the blimp has crashed. She is eventually able to save Tombo from certain death. Kiki writes a letter to her parents explaining the success of her training and business, and while she does feel homesick at times, she loves it in Koriko and ultimately decides to stay there.