The animated works of Studio Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki stand on their own without need for any sort of embellishment. Simple in presentation but full of heart, the very idea of remaking any of them isn't likely to make any of his fans happy. And yet, for a couple of weeks rumors had been surfacing of a live-action remake of his 1989 classic, Kiki's Delivery Service. Those talks have now been confirmed, and it will be Shimizu Takashi directing, best known for the J-horror franchise Ju-On (aka The Grudge).
Kiki's Delivery Service was based on the 1985 novel by Eiko Kadono, but it didn't achieve its current heights of popularity until Miyazaki's 1989 film. Japanese figure skater Fuka Koshiba is in talks to take on the title role, a 13-year old witch who spends a year alone in the big city, using her broom-flying skills to meet people and earn a living. Takashi's version will not only include the story we're all familiar with, but include elements from the second novel, Witch's Express Home Delivery 2: Kiki and Her New Magic.
So why would Studio Ghibli allow one of Miyazaki's greatest films to be remade in such a way, and by a director who is likely to add a darker atmosphere to it? It's not really up to them, as they don't own the rights to Kadono's novels. It'll be interesting to see how the film fares in Japan where Miyazaki is cherished above all others in his field. [Twitch]
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