“Kiki’s Delivery Service” (魔女の宅急便), Original Japanese Awards Commemoration / Encore Release Movie Poster early 1990, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) K250A
This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in early 1990 for Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved Studio Ghibli classic Kiki’s Delivery Service. Importantly, this is not the standard 1989 first-release “flying” poster, but a very rare post-release encore / awards commemoration variant, issued after the film’s major critical and commercial success. It is the first time we have ever had this rare variant in stock.
Film background
Released in Japan in 1989, Kiki’s Delivery Service was directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on the novel by Eiko Kadono, with music by Joe Hisaishi. The voice cast includes Minami Takayama as Kiki, Rei Sakuma as Jiji, Kappei Yamaguchi as Tombo, and Keiko Toda as Osono. Set in the charming seaside city of Koriko, the film follows thirteen-year-old witch Kiki as she leaves home for a year of independent training and gradually finds confidence, friendship, and purpose through her delivery service.
Today, the film stands as one of Studio Ghibli’s most loved works: a warm and deeply human coming-of-age story whose appeal has only grown with time.
Poster design
This beautiful design uses the celebrated “flying over Koriko” key image: Kiki rides her broom high above the coastal city, with Jiji in her satchel and white seabirds sweeping across the composition. The wide aerial view of the harbour town gives the poster exceptional visual depth, while the elegant pink title at the top preserves the refined late-1980s Ghibli aesthetic.
What makes this example especially important is the awards text printed along the lower margin, which distinguishes it from the regular theatrical version. These lines commemorate the film’s awards success and identify the poster as a later theatrical “encore” issue, printed in early 1990 after the film had already established itself as a major success.
The bottom text references accolades including:
- Mainichi Film Concours Animation Film Award
- Japan Academy Prize Special Award
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Excellent Film Award
- Other notable commendations and selections
This is precisely why the poster is so scarce. The standard 1989 “flying” poster was printed in far larger numbers for the main release, whereas this awards commemoration / encore variant appears to have been produced in a much smaller run for a later victory-lap theatrical circulation.
Rarity and significance
This is a genuinely rare Kiki variant, considerably harder to find than the more familiar standard release styles. Collectors will know the better-known campaign types: the bakery style, and the standard “flying” style. This poster belongs to a much scarcer category: the post-1989 awards / encore version of the flying design.
That makes it especially desirable for serious Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki collectors, as it captures a very specific moment in the film’s original Japanese release history—after its success had already been confirmed.
Condition
Excellent / Close to Near Mint. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
Authenticity
This point is important. Many later official and unofficial reproductions of Kiki’s Delivery Service posters circulate in the market, including Ghibli shop reprints and modern decorative copies. This example is an original Japanese theatrical B2 printing from the early 1990 awards commemoration / encore campaign.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 36 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
