The music playing on her radio is cheery. The heroes start out isolated from others, and their separation from the world persists throughout their films, lingering even when they do find company. https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Tombo_Kopoli?oldid=116461. It’s a continued realization of her own loneliness, which hits harder when her alienation means she and Jiji can no longer communicate in human words. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. Kappei Yamaguchi Kiki’s sadness affects her magic so she can no longer fly, but the separation with Jiji comes from something else entirely. Miyazaki himself has said in the art book for the film that Jiji represents an immature side of Kiki, and by the end of the film, she no longer needs him. Finding your way is lonely. She’s excited for the journey ahead, for a chance to grow up. But in the context of exploring loneliness, Jiji represents more than just Kiki’s childish side. Tombo is a slender 13-year-old boy. Supporting character Around 13 Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. “I make friends, then suddenly I can’t bear to be with any of them,” Kiki tells Jiji. Armed with her mother’s broom and her familiar Jiji, Kiki lands in a new city full of new people and establishes herself as the resident witch. She has the kindness of Osono the bakery owner, the advice of plucky artist Ursula, and tentative friendship from Tombo. She meets friendly faces and forms connections. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He also wears glasses and a black leather jacket. But in Spirited Away, Chihiro is forcibly separated from her parents, and winds up in a strange spirit world. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Seperating from a close family unit and making your way in a new place is lonely. Kiki's Delivery Service To celebrate the arrival of the Japanese animation house’s library on digital and streaming services, we’re surveying the studio’s history, impact, and biggest themes. She doesn’t come from loneliness — she comes from a place of love and connection. He constantly hounds Kiki but soon she opens up to him. Male When Kiki arrives in her new city, the citizens don’t take too kindly to her, a hint that this journey won’t be as smooth and victorious as she might have thought. Relationships evolve, especially ones from childhood. Species In Howl’s Moving Castle, Sophie is cursed by a witch and leaves her hat shop to trek to the Wastes. It’s part of growing up, but it’s still painful and scary. The profound loneliness of Kiki’s Delivery Service, Amazon Studio Ghibli’s fourth feature-length film follows a young witch named Kiki who, per witch tradition, leaves home at age 13 to complete her training. He has light brown hair and brown eyes. Eddie Frierson. This is especially true in works like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, where two characters bond through shared experiences and a deep emotional connection, but must part ways at the end. Tombo Kopoli is a character in Kiki's Delivery Service. By the end of the movie, Kiki still hasn’t entirely recovered from these feelings — while she’s able to fly on her broomstick once more, she loses the bond she has with her familiar Jiji. A behind-the-scenes look at Miyazaki’s coming-of-age classic. After her transformation, the loneliness she’s built around her fits more snugly on her now 90-year-old physique. He represents her childhood, the bonds she had with her family in her youth, a comfort she can always return to when things get particularly difficult. By the end of their movies, the characters have found connections with others, but because we know the depth of their original loneliness, these relationships take on more meaning. Gender Her coworkers are offscreen, and it’s clear she doesn’t fit in with them. After she enters the city, he is automatically fascinated with Kiki, and develops a crush. Kiki talks to the customers who hire her for delivery services. Kiki leaves home because of witch tradition, but unlike other Ghibli heroes, she jumps at the idea — even skipping a planned camping trip with her father because she’s so excited. 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