40 Years Later, Kiki’s Delivery Service Officially Gets First-Ever Live-Action Remake

Four decades after the debut of Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, the witchy novel that inspired the Studio Ghibli masterpiece of the same name, is finally getting its first live-action television series. Per Variety, BBC Studios Kids & Family recently revealed a three-way production between BBC Studios, Kadokawa Corporation, and Wheel in Motion, set to bring the beloved franchise to life like fans have never seen before.

The newly announced Kiki’s Delivery Service live-action TV series is already in development, according to the Variety report. More details about the show, including several official comments, were also shared upon the announcement of the upcoming TV adaptation of Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Kiki’s Delivery Service Finally Reveals First Live-Action TV Series in Franchise History

The BBC Studios announcement marks an exciting new era for fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service, popularized worldwide by Studio Ghibli’s landmark adaptation of the children’s fantasy novel originally published in 1985. The recently revealed adaptation will be the first live-action TV series in the history of the Kiki’s Delivery Service franchise.

Kadano’s story became a global sensation after Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service premiered in Japan in 1989. It was crowned the highest-grossing film in Japan the year it was released, and this upcoming production creates another opportunity for Kiki’s Delivery Service to make history.

BBC Studios, Japan’s Kodakawa Company, and Wheel in Motion’s U.K.-based production company have combined forces to develop the new series. The TV adaptation is reportedly planned as a 10-episode series with each episode running 30 minutes, which would mean three times the Kiki’s Delivery Service compared to the Studio Ghibli movie’s 102-minute runtime.

Studio Ghibli’s iconic adaptation of Kiki’s Delivery Service, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, yielded over $41 million at the box office on a budget under $7 million and continues to generate merchandise sales over 40 years later. The movie’s English dub, produced by The Walt Disney Studios and released in 1997, propelled the franchise to even greater success.

Not only does the new Kiki’s Delivery Service series have big shoes to fill, but it also needs to avoid the letdown of the 2014 live-action film adaptation. This live-action production, led by Japanese horror director Takashi Shimizu, carries a low IMDb rating of 5.7/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter score of 50% from viewers.

However, official comments from members of the three studios involved in the upcoming show’s production indicate that Kiki’s Delivery Service fans have nothing to worry about. Grainne McNamara of BBC Studios Kids & Family shared that, “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.”

Another statement from Wheel in Motion’s Alexi Wheeler adds that “Bringing this beloved story to a new audience as a live-action series is a dream come true and an absolute honor.” These comments from McNamara and Wheeler echo fan excitement for the future of the latest reimagining of Kiki’s Delivery Service.

The director of international co-productions at Kadokawa, Takeo Kodera, reflects on the franchise’s history in his comments following the series reveal. “We cannot imagine a more exciting tribute to the landmark 40th anniversary of this classic book series than this partnership,” said Kodera. “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,” Kodera adds.

The writer for the upcoming series, Irena Brignull, says, “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. Brignull adds, “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.”

It’s already apparent that a lot of care is going into the production’s development at these early stages, giving Kiki’s Delivery Service fans an exciting new chapter to look forward to together.