“Kiki’s Delivery Service” (魔女の宅急便), Original Japanese Animage Promotional Poster 1989, “66 KIKI’S FACES”, First-Release Period, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) S220
This is an original Japanese B2 promotional poster issued in 1989 as a special supplement to the October 1989 issue of Animage magazine, celebrating Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便).
Importantly, this is not a standard theatrical-release poster distributed to cinemas by Toei. Japanese specialist retailer Surugaya specifically catalogues this exact design as a B2 poster supplement from Animage, October 1989, published by Tokuma Shoten, with an issue date of 10 October 1989.
The distinction is worth making. Kiki’s Delivery Service had received its original Japanese theatrical release on 29 July 1989, distributed by Toei, so this poster was produced only a little over two months later and belongs firmly to the film’s original 1989 first-release period. It is therefore best understood as an original contemporary promotional / magazine poster, rather than a later revival or modern decorative print.
Poster design
Known as the “66 KIKI’S FACES” design, the poster takes a wonderfully unusual approach to promoting the film.
Rather than using the principal painted theatrical artwork, the entire composition is constructed around 66 individual images of Kiki, arranged in an exceptionally precise grid of 11 rows of six frames.
Each image captures a different expression, movement or emotional moment: Kiki appears happy, uncertain, exhausted, curious, irritated, thoughtful, determined, embarrassed and delighted, creating an almost encyclopaedic visual study of the character.
At various points she is joined by Jiji, her black cat, while other frames incorporate her broom, the bakery, Koriko’s streets, interiors and the brilliant blue skies that form such an important part of the film’s visual identity.
Across the top, enormous blue lettering announces:
66 KIKI’S FACES
while the bottom is anchored simply by the elegant pink Japanese title:
魔女の宅急便
— Kiki’s Delivery Service.
The generous cream margins and rigid photographic grid give the poster a surprisingly modern, editorial quality, almost resembling a contact sheet or animation reference board rather than conventional film advertising.
The “66 Kiki’s Faces” concept
What makes the design particularly clever is that it celebrates not merely the character of Kiki, but the quality of Studio Ghibli’s character animation.
Viewed individually, each frame is a tiny fragment from the finished film. Viewed together, they demonstrate just how much of Kiki’s personality is communicated through subtle changes in her eyes, mouth, posture and gestures.
The poster effectively becomes a visual catalogue of Kiki’s emotional performance.
That is particularly appropriate to a film in which the heroine’s internal development is as important as its fantasy narrative. Kiki begins the story enthusiastic and fiercely independent, but gradually encounters loneliness, work pressures, self-doubt and the temporary loss of the confidence that defines her identity as a witch.
The 66 images capture that emotional range remarkably well.
Animage and Studio Ghibli
The poster’s association with Animage is itself historically interesting.
Animage, published by Tokuma Shoten, was deeply connected to the environment from which Studio Ghibli emerged, and the magazine devoted extensive coverage to Miyazaki’s films throughout the 1980s.
This particular poster was supplied as a magazine supplement, not sold independently as a cinema poster.
For collectors, that distinction arguably makes the piece more interesting rather than less: it is a genuine piece of 1989 Studio Ghibli / Tokuma-era printed ephemera, created at precisely the moment Kiki’s Delivery Service was establishing itself as one of Ghibli’s defining films.
Film background
Based on the novel by Eiko Kadono, Kiki’s Delivery Service was written, produced and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, with music by Joe Hisaishi.
The film follows 13-year-old Kiki, who leaves her family home as part of the traditional training undertaken by young witches. Accompanied by her black cat Jiji, she settles in the seaside city of Koriko and begins earning a living by establishing a flying delivery service.
What initially appears to be a gentle fantasy adventure gradually develops into a remarkably perceptive story about independence, work, loneliness, confidence and growing up.
Studio Ghibli records the film’s original Japanese release as 29 July 1989, with distribution by Toei.
Original 1989 first-release-period collectible
This is therefore an important distinction for the listing:
It is not a later reproduction and it is not a later anniversary poster.
It is an original Japanese printed poster from 1989, issued by Tokuma Shoten through Animage just months after the film’s original theatrical premiere.
Its correct provenance is:
Animage magazine supplement / promotional poster — October 1989.
That makes it a genuine contemporary first-release-period Kiki collectible, while avoiding the inaccurate suggestion that it was one of Toei’s official cinema-display sheets.
It is approximately 37 years old.
Condition
Very Good+.
The poster retains excellent colour saturation and extremely strong overall presentation, with Kiki’s red bow, the blue skies, interior colours and large blue 66 KIKI’S FACES typography remaining bright and attractive.
As expected for an Animage magazine supplement, the poster retains its original period fold structure from the way it was issued, clearly visible on both the front and reverse.
There is also light age-related handling, minor creasing and subtle paper wear, but no major loss affecting the individual images or principal typography.
The reverse remains clean overall, and the poster is complete.
Despite the original folds, the design retains excellent impact and once professionally framed will display very well.
We have fully taken the condition into account when pricing this example.
Please review the front and reverse photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.
This is an original 1989 Japanese Animage magazine supplement poster issued contemporaneously with the film’s original theatrical release. It is not a reproduction or modern reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
