Desert Island Dispatch: ‘I used to be able to fly’

The first time I ever saw a Studio Ghibli movie, I was on vacation. My parents had separated and we went on a rare holiday to visit family in Northern California. At some point that week, my uncle turned on “Kiki’s Delivery Service” for his three daughters and, when asked, I said I’d never seen a Ghibli film before — my younger cousins were shocked, but promised I would love it. Turns out, I did. And I still do.
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” tells the story of a young witch who leaves home and sets out to make a life for herself and her talking cat Jiji by starting a flying delivery service in the city. At 8, I loved all things fantasy and adored it, seeing myself in Kiki, but also wanting to be her: I wanted to go out and see the world, to have adventures of my own.