by Fans who read the original work are moved.
Magmix’s article, ” Did Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service Marry Tombo? The Shocking ‘Afterward’ Story That Anime Fans Don’t Know About,” has garnered a lot of attention. Many readers seem to have been deeply moved by the details of Kiki’s life up to the age of 35, which weren’t depicted in the anime.
The original article introduced a surprising development from Eiko Kadono ‘s original novel, Kiki’s Delivery Service, that wasn’t revealed in the anime. The story follows the epic life story of Kiki, a witch who sets off on a journey at age 13, marries Tombo at age 22, and ultimately emerges as the mother of twins at age 35.
One reader who read the original novel commented, “I recently read the entire novel and it was fascinating.” While initially apprehensive because the Ghibli film was so good, he said, “My understanding deepened. After reading it, I felt like I could appreciate the film even more deeply.” He also commented, “I was overwhelmed with emotion when I saw Kiki become a mother in the original novel.”
The same reader expressed respect for author Eiko Kadono, saying, “She’s always stylish, and I love her senior fashion leader, artist-like vibe.” He also praised the film’s ending, saying, “I really liked how she became independent, flew away freely, found her favorite town, and tried to live strong despite her failures.” Another reader who resonated with many readers was the way Kiki’s growth was viewed as adolescent.
One reader related to her own experience, saying, “When Kiki could no longer fly her broom properly or talk to Jiji the way she used to, I thought that was the epitome of adolescence.” She compares Kiki’s experiences of “being able to have fun without thinking about anything and feeling like she could do anything” to those of adolescence, and of “becoming concerned about the words of friends and those around her and having more and more things not go well” with her changes, demonstrating deep empathy for the work’s universal themes.
