Kiki’s Delivery Service takes a dose of witchcraft and pairs it with the mundaneness of an Amazon drone delivery service. Which is to say it’s a fantastic premise with the right amount of drama to make for a compelling watch. To accompany such a backdrop, the composer once again shows off his magical touch at blending the magical with the ordinary. With that, Hisaishi’s airy waltzes and soft, murmuring solos brings the story of a young witch to life in the Kiki’s Delivery Service OST.

Hisaishi’s strength as a composer lies in his ability to write a soundtrack that takes you through the story. The leitmotif provides the core for Kiki’s Delivery Service. We get that in the whimsical, down-to-earth “On a Clear Day…”. The quaint flute solo paints the movie’s pastoral atmosphere, then quickly grows to include a procession of exuberant instruments. The optimism is sustained further in “Departure’s” quiet, loving air that hints at the dab of trepidation for the road ahead.