This week's Hyde Park Pick: Kiki's Delivery Service

Hayao Miyazaki's charming coming-of-age story follows 13-year-old witch Kiki as she leaves home to spend a year living independently, as tradition dictates for young witches. Armed with little more than her flying broomstick, her loyal black cat Jiji, and a determination to make her way in the world, Kiki starts a delivery service in a bustling seaside city.

What I love most about Kiki's Delivery Service is how gently it captures the ups and downs of growing up. Kiki's journey isn't about defeating villains or saving the world. Instead, it's about finding confidence, discovering your place in a community, and learning that it's okay to struggle sometimes. As a parent and someone who works with young audiences, I find its message about self-belief and resilience just as meaningful now as when I first watched it.

The film's beautiful hand-drawn animation is packed with detail, from cosy bakeries and winding streets to sweeping views of the city from Kiki's broomstick. It's a world you'll want to spend time in, and one that Studio Ghibli fans return to again and again.

Whether you're discovering Kiki for the first time or revisiting an old favourite, this is a magical, heartwarming adventure that reminds us all that growing up can be daunting, but it's also full of possibility.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is showing at HPPH from Fri 28 Aug. You can find times and tickets here.