{"product_id":"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","title":"“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","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 promotional poster issued in 1989 as a special supplement to the October 1989 issue of \u003cem\u003eAnimage\u003c\/em\u003e magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e, celebrating Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKiki’s Delivery Service\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (魔女の宅急便).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImportantly, this is \u003cstrong\u003enot a standard theatrical-release poster distributed to cinemas by Toei\u003c\/strong\u003e. Japanese specialist retailer Surugaya specifically catalogues this exact design as a \u003cstrong\u003eB2 poster supplement from \u003cem\u003eAnimage\u003c\/em\u003e, October 1989\u003c\/strong\u003e, published by \u003cstrong\u003eTokuma Shoten\u003c\/strong\u003e, with an issue date of \u003cstrong\u003e10 October 1989\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distinction is worth making. \u003cem\u003eKiki’s Delivery Service\u003c\/em\u003e had received its original Japanese theatrical release on \u003cstrong\u003e29 July 1989\u003c\/strong\u003e, distributed by \u003cstrong\u003eToei\u003c\/strong\u003e, so this poster was produced only a little over two months later and belongs firmly to the film’s \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal 1989 first-release period\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e It is therefore best understood as an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal contemporary promotional \/ magazine poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than a later revival or modern decorative print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as the \u003cstrong\u003e“66 KIKI’S FACES”\u003c\/strong\u003e design, the poster takes a wonderfully unusual approach to promoting the film.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than using the principal painted theatrical artwork, the entire composition is constructed around \u003cstrong\u003e66 individual images of Kiki\u003c\/strong\u003e, arranged in an exceptionally precise grid of \u003cstrong\u003e11 rows of six frames\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach image captures a different expression, movement or emotional moment: Kiki appears \u003cstrong\u003ehappy, uncertain, exhausted, curious, irritated, thoughtful, determined, embarrassed and delighted\u003c\/strong\u003e, creating an almost encyclopaedic visual study of the character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt various points she is joined by \u003cstrong\u003eJiji\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the top, enormous blue lettering announces:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e66 KIKI’S FACES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewhile the bottom is anchored simply by the elegant pink Japanese title:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e魔女の宅急便\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKiki’s Delivery Service\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe generous cream margins and rigid photographic grid give the poster a surprisingly \u003cstrong\u003emodern, editorial quality\u003c\/strong\u003e, almost resembling a contact sheet or animation reference board rather than conventional film advertising.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe “66 Kiki’s Faces” concept\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes the design particularly clever is that it celebrates not merely the character of Kiki, but the \u003cstrong\u003equality of Studio Ghibli’s character animation\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViewed 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster effectively becomes a visual catalogue of \u003cstrong\u003eKiki’s emotional performance\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 66 images capture that emotional range remarkably well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnimage and Studio Ghibli\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster’s association with \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnimage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e is itself historically interesting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnimage\u003c\/em\u003e, published by \u003cstrong\u003eTokuma Shoten\u003c\/strong\u003e, was deeply connected to the environment from which Studio Ghibli emerged, and the magazine devoted extensive coverage to Miyazaki’s films throughout the 1980s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular poster was supplied as a \u003cstrong\u003emagazine supplement\u003c\/strong\u003e, not sold independently as a cinema poster.  \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor collectors, that distinction arguably makes the piece \u003cstrong\u003emore interesting rather than less\u003c\/strong\u003e: it is a genuine piece of \u003cstrong\u003e1989 Studio Ghibli \/ Tokuma-era printed ephemera\u003c\/strong\u003e, created at precisely the moment \u003cem\u003eKiki’s Delivery Service\u003c\/em\u003e was establishing itself as one of Ghibli’s defining films.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFilm background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the novel by \u003cstrong\u003eEiko Kadono\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eKiki’s Delivery Service\u003c\/em\u003e was written, produced and directed by \u003cstrong\u003eHayao Miyazaki\u003c\/strong\u003e, with music by \u003cstrong\u003eJoe Hisaishi\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film follows \u003cstrong\u003e13-year-old Kiki\u003c\/strong\u003e, who leaves her family home as part of the traditional training undertaken by young witches. Accompanied by her black cat \u003cstrong\u003eJiji\u003c\/strong\u003e, she settles in the seaside city of Koriko and begins earning a living by establishing a flying delivery service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat initially appears to be a gentle fantasy adventure gradually develops into a remarkably perceptive story about \u003cstrong\u003eindependence, work, loneliness, confidence and growing up\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudio Ghibli records the film’s original Japanese release as \u003cstrong\u003e29 July 1989\u003c\/strong\u003e, with distribution by \u003cstrong\u003eToei\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal 1989 first-release-period collectible\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is therefore an important distinction for the listing:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot a later reproduction\u003c\/strong\u003e and it is \u003cstrong\u003enot a later anniversary poster\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese printed poster from 1989\u003c\/strong\u003e, issued by Tokuma Shoten through \u003cem\u003eAnimage\u003c\/em\u003e just months after the film’s original theatrical premiere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts correct provenance is:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnimage magazine supplement \/ promotional poster — October 1989.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat makes it a genuine \u003cstrong\u003econtemporary first-release-period Kiki collectible\u003c\/strong\u003e, while avoiding the inaccurate suggestion that it was one of Toei’s official cinema-display sheets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is approximately \u003cstrong\u003e37 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster retains \u003cstrong\u003eexcellent colour saturation and extremely strong overall presentation\u003c\/strong\u003e, with Kiki’s red bow, the blue skies, interior colours and large blue \u003cstrong\u003e66 KIKI’S FACES\u003c\/strong\u003e typography remaining bright and attractive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs expected for an \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnimage\u003c\/em\u003e magazine supplement\u003c\/strong\u003e, the poster retains its \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal period fold structure from the way it was issued\u003c\/strong\u003e, clearly visible on both the front and reverse. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is also \u003cstrong\u003elight age-related handling, minor creasing and subtle paper wear\u003c\/strong\u003e, but no major loss affecting the individual images or principal typography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse remains \u003cstrong\u003eclean overall\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the poster is complete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the original folds, the design retains excellent impact and \u003cstrong\u003eonce professionally framed will display very well\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have \u003cstrong\u003efully taken the condition into account when pricing\u003c\/strong\u003e this example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review the front and reverse photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an original 1989 Japanese \u003cem\u003eAnimage\u003c\/em\u003e magazine supplement poster issued contemporaneously with the film’s original theatrical release. It is not a reproduction or modern reprint.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57250917187962,"sku":null,"price":135.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-09-10T072126.092.jpg?v=1788993705","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/kiki-s-delivery-service-%e9%ad%94%e5%a5%b3%e3%81%ae%e5%ae%85%e6%80%a5%e4%be%bf-original-japanese-animage-promotional-poster-1989-66-kiki-s-faces-first-release-period-b2-size-51-73-cm-s220","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}