Beloved Ghibli classic Kiki’s Delivery Service getting live-action series

A fresh version of Kiki’s Delivery Service is on its way, stirring quiet buzz among longtime admirers of Studio Ghibli’s charm – BBC now shaping a real-life take close to four decades since the tale first found hearts. While animation once carried the magic, human faces will step into those moments next, building quietly behind studio doors where ideas stretch beyond sketches into cloth, movement, and skybound brooms made real.

According to industry reports from Variety, BBC Studios Kids & Family is partnering with UK-based Wheel in Motion and Japan’s Kadokawa Corporation to adapt Eiko Kadono’s original novel into a 10-episode live-action television series, each episode running around 30 minutes and focusing primarily on the first volume of the book series.

Starting strong, this effort ties into the four decades since Kadono first wrote her book. Success could open doors – season one might lead to more stories down the line.

Out front on the project sits writer Irena Brignull – her past credits include The Boxtrolls and The Little Prince – who’s shaping the remake. She sees fresh energy in reviving Kiki, calling the witch a standout among young female leads in stories meant for younger audiences. Growth shows up clearly here, along with finding your way alone and what it means to matter.

Though plenty still see Hayao Miyazaki’s animated take as the one true version, the tale has already hit real-life cameras once before. That earlier try arrived in 2014, led by director Takashi Shimizu, yet stirred little excitement among viewers.

Previous Live-Action Attempts

It took years for Hollywood to get anywhere close, even with past tries – like one tied to Disney – that went nowhere. That old project fizzled out, yet another sign of how slow things moved toward a real live version.

A fresh UK-driven project might catch attention through its mix of cultures. Yet the backdrop stays true to a European mood, shaped long ago by Nordic coastal looks.

Right now, there’s still no set date for when it might come out. Yet even without that detail, people are once again curious about how Kiki’s Delivery Service could work as a full-length live-action film.