As I exited Alamo Drafthouse on that bright winter’s afternoon, Kiki’s Delivery Service yanked THE END OF EVANGELION’s title of my top Japan’imated film of all time. (They’ve since shared shifts.)

In the meantime 2017 had become a season of the witch as magical chicks on floating sticks had become a recurring theme of Streaming-time; Izetta provided military service, Mahou Tsukai Tai! (both versions) provided many laughs after two decades of curiosity, and Flying Witch offered serene glimpses of the Japan-burbs before a reprisal of Madoka Magika went darkside. 

During that summer’s OTAKON I ran into several awesome Kiki cosplays and I scribbled this scene on the Amtrak back; a tender farewell to one of the best OTAs ever and a salute to that wonderful character.

[Artwork: 12-22-2022 2:47PM; Autodesk SketchBook on Android and iPad OS; original lines 8-13-2017 10:XXP; Shot: Kyoto, Japan]