As the novel is based on a fictional northern European country, Miyazaki and his team traveled to locations such as Visby, Sweden, to research its landscape. Miyazaki initially worked as producer, but took over directing from Sunao Katabuchi as he became more involved in the project. Production began near the release of My Neighbor Totoro (1988).
In 1987, Group Fudosha asked Kadono's publishers for the rights to the novel to be made into a film by either Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. The story follows Kiki, a young witch who moves to the port city of Koriko with her cat Jiji and starts a flying courier service. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Yamato Transport and the Nippon Television Network, and stars the voices of Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma and Kappei Yamaguchi.
'Witch's Express Home Delivery') is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film written, produced and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on the 1985 novel by Eiko Kadono. Kiki's Delivery Service ( Japanese: 魔女の宅急便, Hepburn: Majo no Takkyūbin, lit.
