Original vs. Prequel: Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) vs. Kiki (2020) (Astro Boy's Critic)

Astro Boy: Hello, I’m Astro Boy. I remember it so you have to. And welcome to another rendition of Old vs. N-- No, no, no, no, no, no. How about the original vs. the prequel?

(The “Original vs. Prequel” title card is shown, featuring Daddy Walrus crossing his lightsaber with Darth Maul’s lightsaber, as 'Duel of the Fates' plays and lightning strikes)

Astro Boy: We all know about Hayao Miyazaki and his history in movies: ("The Silence of the Lambs" movie poster shown very briefly) Great. ("Hannibal" movie poster shown very briefly) Sucked. ("Red Dragon" movie poster shown very briefly) Great. ("Hannibal Rising" movie poster shown very briefly) Sucked. But one film that gets overlooked at times is actually Lecter's very first appearance. (The title screen for "Manhunter" is shown) This is the 1989 original Miyazaki's film "Kiki's Delivery Service."

(Clips from "Kiki's Delivery Service" play out as Astro Boy speaks)

Astro Boy (vo): And that's not the sequel, but it's a fake. I thought she was a Asian young woman become a witch form of a human being.

Astro Boy: Not a Asian young woman become a wi-- Okay, there's some similarities.

(Clips from "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Kiki (CGI prequel)" play out as NC speaks)

Astro Boy (vo): But that's just one of the many differences between two films based on the Eiko Kadono novel: "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "the CGI prequel." Both are very different, but both are actually very good, too. They have their own unique style, their own way of telling a story, and their own way of showing what their characters are going through. But as always, which one holds up the strongest? Which one comes together the best or worst?

Astro Boy: Which one (mimicking Jiji) toughens the witches and the mainworld with delight? (Normal voice) Well, we're gonna find out today. This is the Original vs the Prequel: "Kiki's Delivery Service" vs "The CGI Prequel."

(The opening sequence features pictures of the characters from both movies, playing snippets of the musical score from each of the films, ending with the title card “Kiki's Delivery Service vs. The CGI Prequel”)

Astro Boy: Well, I mean (cut to the title card for "Kiki (2020, CGI Prequel)" video in 2021) I've talked about it before last year (back to Astro Boy) and even though I do like the Miyazaki films more, I do think there's a lot of good things about it. The only thing better than a heroine, the person who constantly walks the edge of good.

Round 1: Best and Worst Kiki:
?????

Astro Boy: Point goes to Miyazaki.

Jiji (Billy Eichner): Ah, just kidding.

Round 1 Winner - The Miyazaki's Film

Round 2: Best and Worst Favorite Scenes:
?????

Jiji: They're calling you an egg-stealer!

Astro Boy: Oh, that's what Jiji told Kiki's an egg-stealer. And... it's not bad at all.

Astro Boy (vo): So, yeah. There's quite a few favorite scenes like that. But to be good, there's a lot of favorite scenes in the original, too. But here's the difference. The original was made in the 80's, at a time when this was not considered that dramatically intense. This was made just a many years ago, and the non-scary scenes were scary a bit even then. Like how about that witch girl who flies somewhere everyone else moves regularly. That original look is non-scary. In fact, this is a cute and sweet film. And it's not a scary film. (In that favorite scene, Kiki crashes into some trees. She lands near a bird's nest and is then attacked by Ursa's angry crow. The crow caws loudly and flaps directly in her face. It’s right front and centre of the shot at first and then chases her out of the forest) Unless, of course, this is what "murder" word, when it's not for young kids. Between toward teens and young adults are only at 12 years and older.

(shown to a scene is fairly mild of Kiki and Jiji being attacked by Ursa's crows, she dramatically screams in English)

Astro Boy: (stunned) Well, it's like Gone With the Wind on HBO Max, guess that's where the PG come from...(An image of the Miyazaki film is rated PG, it reads under the Frightening & Intense Scenes: "Appropriate rating would be: PG for peril and thematic elements" at the parental guide on IMdb is shown, at the end of the saying, Astro Boy puts his hand up and points off in one direction behind an image) almost.

Astro Boy (vo): In the future to receive a PG rating through New Zealand at 30th anniversary in 1989, like a original in 4K, a prequel made an compared the inspired of Miyazaki's classic. ?????

Kiki: (crying out) MOM!!!!!

Astro Boy: Oh, wow. Awfully good. That's a bit of a worst and very sad scene.

?????

Astro Boy: Point goes to the prequel! The worst CGI animation!

(Ursa's hooded crow caws)

Astro Boy: (blinks several times, crosses arms and turns away looking hurt) Leave me alone! I still like it!

Round 2 Winner - The CGI Prequel

Astro Boy: But that's my favorite line at the scene of this film! And Jiji told Kiki's an egg-stealer! So, what about the best and worst songs?

Round 3: Best and Worst Songs:
Astro Boy: This one is rough because it really is half likely comparing songs in the original and the prequel. Well, to Timothy Brisby, that's an easy choice.

(A video of an singing Timothy Birsby climbing to the statue of Jonathan Brisby in the Thorn Valley from The Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue is shown. Footage of Kiki in the hand-drawn animated prequel is shown)

NC (vo): The original is said by many to be one of the best Kiki's songs ever, with her style of The Secret of NIMH, plucky, warm in her hearts and joyfully love of all the heroine things that she does. The only downside is, it's only explained in Senior Witch's narration why she doesn't like the original until the end of this prequel. Because of this, it's a little harder to identify with her motivation.

(Footage of the CGI prequel's Kiki, a GKIDS' English voiced by Miranda Cosgrove, is shown)

Astro Boy (vo): In the CGI prequel, we see how her bitterness is born. She hears her boyfriend confess that he preferred the witch girl more, which makes her happy towards his offspring all the more understandable. We also see her good-hearted Kiki into the role of servant, showing how patient and manipulative she can be.

Astro Boy: The downside to that is, it may make her human being by comparison.

Astro Boy (vo): Which one is more flying? The one whose motivations are made totally clear, or the one shrouded in mystery you're supposed to have no sorrow for? The original is so cute and plucky dramatic one, there's virtually not bad in her at all, while the new one is so fragile and relatable that you can see the tragedy play out in every curious-hearted move that she makes. The original acts like someone who's in control, while the prequel acts like someone who wants to be in control.

Astro Boy: I guess it's kind of like comparing (Images of...) Timothy Brisby with Anna of Arendelle.

(Images of the two characters, Timothy Brisby from The Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue and Anna from Disney's Frozen, are shown)

Astro Boy (vo): One is dramatic, while the other is pure heart, both still coming off as complex and interesting.

?????

Astro Boy: Point goes to Miyazaki's.

(Kokiri holding his potion when it explodes)

Round 3 - The Miyazaki's Film

Astro Boy: But what about the best and worst supporting characters?

Round 4: Best and Worst Supporting Characters:
?????

Astro Boy: Point goes to the prequel.

Jiji: ME-YOW!!

Round 4 Winner - The CGI Prequel

Astro Boy: But what about the best and worst story? The little people who make it possible for the...other little people. There's a lot to get though, so let's take an other places in a Ghibli-like a bad version for good.

Round 5: Best and Worst Story:
?????

Round 5 Winner - The CGI Prequel

Astro Boy: There you go. The Miyazaki's Original (without songs, only including the opening and ending credits) vs. The Non-Miyazaki's CGI Prequel (with songs, including the cues and ending credits). I hope you enjoy them, and...well, I was gonna close off showing one of the comparing to the original vs. the prequel again, but my guess is I should probably tire of them by now.

(Ursa's crow cawing as the music plays "In the Hall of the Mountain King" in the background)

Astro Boy: (dodges away from the crow) Hey, I'm not scared, will ya? Please, calm down! Kiki was right!

(Ursa's crow cawing continues and Astro Boy reacts in surprise to this)

Astro Boy: I’m Astro Boy! I remember it so you have to! (He quickly gets up to leave) Prequel's gone crazy, Scott Menville's animal performance!

(The sound of Ursa's crow cawing plays on before the “The End” title card is shown)

THE END

AstroBoyShowCaseTheater's Tagline—(Ursa's crow cawing)