Fly high with ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ tonight

Fans of Japanese anime have one last chance to see one of the great Hayao Miyazaki's films, 1989's "Kiki's Delivery Service," at 7 tonight. A dubbed version of the film, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will screen at three area theaters: the two Regal Cinemas locations at Northtown Mall and at Coeur d'Alene's Riverpoint Stadium, also at AMC River Park Square.

"Kiki's Delivery Service" tells the story of a young trainee witch who takes advantage of her flying ability to open a delivery service. When she temporarily loses that ability, she rediscovers it when she finds her true purpose.

Here are some critical comments:

Steve Rose, The Guardian: "The film becomes a benign guided tour of femininity … gently broaching universal coming-of-age issues such as independence, insecurity, and even - more boldly than any Western children's movie would contemplate - sexuality."

J.R. Jones, The Chicago Reader: "The characters are gently and warmly rendered, and a climactic action sequence involving an unmoored dirigible hints at the stately grandiosity of Miyazaki's masterpiece 'Howl's Moving Castle.' "

The screening is part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2019. The next feature in the series is "My Neighbor Totoro," which will screen Aug. 25, 26 and 28.