SRP $29.99 1.85:1(16:9) DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 BUENA VISTA

WhWhile parents of little boys and girls rush to buy the newest Harry Potter release on dvd, there’s also another great option in the realm of fantasy and witches with “KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE.” 

Director Miyazaki has two other animated releases from BUENA VISTA at the same time, and they’re all great.  Kiki is a young witch, who, together with her black cat, “Jiji,” embarks on an adventure for an entire year to realize her full potential.  While boarding with a young baker and his wife, she starts a delivery service using her magic broom. 

In addition to many wonderfully cute and funny moments, there’s even a little innocent romance, as Kiki meets and becomes attracted to an intelligent boy who has built a flying device powered by a bicycle! 

While the film is tastefully made for the entire family, the romance is handled in a mature and sensitive fashion. It’s exactly as it should be, and handled perfectly.  But, then, everything about this film feels perfect! 

BUENA VISTA has preserved the film’s correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhancement.  The image is wonderful! This is a very colorful film, and the imagery is rich in every instance.  Contrast is also fine, although the blacks are noticeably deeper in the two other releases from Miyazaki, just released.

BUENA VISTA is offering the Japanese version with a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix. There are plenty of separation effects, but this isn’t as aggressive as Miyazaki’s other films that were just released.  The effects are focused towards the front soundstage, with little surround involvement, save for music.   

While we generally prefer the original mixes to foreign films, the English dubbed version is excellent!  Kirsten Dunst is just one of the talents here, and all are perfectly cast.  The English mix is in Dolby Digital 5.1 as well, and while the effects are noticeably different than in the original version, it’s still a lot of fun. 

As with the other releases, John Lasseter introduces this film.  

There’s a great segment, “BEHIND THE MICROPHONE,” in which Dunst and the great Phil Hartman speak to their involvement here. 

There are several trailers as well, explaining how the Japanese marketed the film.  Several trailers for other BUENA VISTA releases are also offered. 

The 2^nd disc of this 2 disc release, offers the “complete storyboards” to the film, with the option of either Japanese or English Dolby 2.0 surround tracks.