Kiki's Delivery Service (Live-Action)

[Jake Lipson]

I smell Disney trying to cash in on Harry Potter here. From <a href=http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=8221 target=blank>ComingSoon.net</a>:

Variety reports that Kiki's Delivery Service, a Japanese series of books that was turned into a hit film by Oscar-winning animation helmer Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away), is becoming an English-language film at Walt Disney Pictures.

Screenwriter Jeff Stockwell (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys) has been hired to write the new "Kiki" screenplay based on Eiko Kadano's books. The first was published in English last year. Studio Ghibli's 1989 animated version featured the voice of Kirsten Dunst as Kiki.

The story follows 13-year-old witch Kiki who moves to the city with her talking cat Jiji where she lands a job in the local bakery. But Kiki's powers are not refined, and the adventures and scrapes she gets into show she has a lot of growing up to do.

Personally, I don't know if this is such a good idea. Depending on how much Miyazaki strayed from the books (I've not read them so can't comment there) it could be interesting to see a more book-oriented adaptation, but Miyazaki's film is just so good there's nowhere for this one to go but down. Kiki is something that I think works really well in an animated world but might not translate quite as successfully to live action. But the 101 Dalmatians remake was decent enough, so we'll see where this goes.

[toonaspie]

I smell Disney trying to cash in on Harry Potter here. From <a href=http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=8221 target=blank>ComingSoon.net</a>:

Prsonally, I don't know if this is such a good idea. Depending on how much Miyazaki strayed from the books (I've not read them so can't comment there) it could be interesting to see a more book-oriented adaptation, but Miyazaki's film is just so good there's nowhere for this one to go but down. Kiki is something that I think works really well in an animated world but might not translate quite as successfully to live action. But the 101 Dalmatians remake was decent enough, so we'll see where this goes.

At Disney it's not about whether or not it's a good idea, it's about whether or not its profitable. And in Disney's eyes they tend to think anything they make can be profitable. If Miyazaki or the woman who writes the Kiki books wants to sue them along the line well then Disney will just have to endure it.

[Jake Lipson]

If Miyazaki or the woman who writes the Kiki books wants to sue them along the line well then Disney will just have to endure it.

Oh, I'm sure they got the rights to do it from either Miyazaki or the author before they initiated the project, so there will be no suing, but I'm not sure it'll be an interesting film creatively. And though they don't seem to think so, wheather or not it's a good film is usually (not always, but usually) perportional with wheather or not it's a financial success. So, we'll see what happens.

[castleinthesky]

No, Disney does not to be messing around with Ghibli movies. Unless Ghibli gives the ok. I will probably not be happy. Disney could most possibly destroy this movie. Disney could do a good job, yes, but a bad job is much more likely. Just leave the film/book alone.

[Ciaobelli]

I'll say it once more, DISNEY NEEDS ORIGINAL IDEAS, NO REMAKES SEQUELS CRAP!!!

[boss]

Disney could most possibly destroy this movie.

This is what many people are worryed about, they need people there that care about the storys/art and not just about the $$$ profits

[orestes.]

I hope they don't botch it up either.

I would rather they stay away from making any of the Ghibli movies into live action remakes but if any I would have wanted to see Kiki just because I think it could do very well and not be overblown with special effects.

If they get the right cast and director it could be amazing but I don't know if Disney can really pull it off right. I'm not very confident.

[Disneykid]

Considering Kiki's my favorite non-Disney or Pixar animated film, period, my reaction to this is very mixed. On one hand, it'd be fascinating to see Kiki translated into live-action, especially if it's more true to the book than the animated film was (I haven't read the book, but I hear Miyazaki drastically changed it to the point where the author was furious with him). On the other hand, though, Disney could easily tarnish the story to make a quick buck, thereby disgracing both the book and animated film. I really don't know how to feel about this until I see a trailer, or at least some promo stills.