One of the Best Studio Ghibli Movies Is Getting a TV Remake

The pantheon of Studio Ghibli movies is something special. It spans across decades and genres, turning plenty of animated characters into household names. And now, one of them is getting a new life… on television.

On Tuesday, it was announced that a live-action Kiki’s Delivery Service television series is in the works, through a three-way partnership between BBC Studios Kids & Family, the U.K. production company Wheel in Motion, and Japan’s Kadokawa Corporation. Irena Brignull, whose credits include The Boxtrolls, Skellig, and The Little Prince, is attached to write the series, which is being developed as ten half-hour-long episodes. It will follow 13-year-old witch Kiki as she leaves home and relocates to the port town of Koriko, where she sets up a delivery service and forges new friendships.

“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,” Grainne McNamara of BBC Studios Kids & Family said in a statement.

“Bringing this beloved story to a new audience as a live-action series is a dream come true and an absolute honor,” added Alexi Wheeler of Wheel in Motion.

“We cannot imagine a more exciting tribute to the landmark 40th anniversary of this classic book series than this partnership,” said Takeo Kodera, director of international co-productions at Kadokawa. “The U.K. creative team has absorbed the spirit of Kiki through their close collaboration with Ms. Kadono and the results will enchant family audiences everywhere.”

What Is Kiki’s Delivery Service Based On?

The story of Kiki’s Delivery Service originated from the 1985 novel of the same name, written by Eiko Kadono and illustrated by Akiko Hayashi. It later spawned eight sequels, with the most recent one, titled Majo no Takkyūbin Tokubetsu-hen 3: Keke to Hanbun Majo, being published in 2022. For the majority of the world, Kiki’s Delivery Service is most well-known for Studio Ghibli’s 1989 animated film adaptation, which was written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. An English dub of the film, which starred Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Matthew Lawrence, and Debbie Reynolds, was produced by Disney in 1997 and has become beloved in the decades since.

Kiki’s Delivery Service has also been adapted into a stage musical three separate times, in 1993, 2016, and 2017. The story was also adapted into a live-action film in 2014, starring figure skater-turned-actress Fūka Koshiba. This new project, which is set to be based on the first book in the series, will mark the first time that the story is being adapted for television. It is unclear which network or streaming service the show might end up on.

“Kiki is about to set off on another adventure into a new world,” added Kadono. “I’m confident this will be a great show. I can’t wait to see the series come to life.”

“Kiki is one of fiction’s great girl characters and I’m thrilled to be part of bringing her to life in this new adaptation,” said Brignull. “Embodying the magic that exists in re-invention and human connection, she shows us what’s possible when you venture boldly and big-heartedly into the world to find a sense of purpose.”

(featured image: Studio Ghibli)

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