Adaptation of novels made famous by Studio Ghibli opens in Japan on March 1

Majo no Takkyūbin

Website Crank In!! posted six new images from the live-action film of's fantasy novel series) on January 4. The images feature Kiki () and various other characters, including, above) and Osono (, below).The rest of the images can be found at the Crank In!! website.

Fūka Koshiba ( Iki mo Dekinai Natsu ) plays the title witch girl Kiki in the film. 16-year-old actor Ryōhei Hirota performs the critical role of Kiki's friend Tombo . Co-starring with Koshiba and Hirota is Machiko Ono ( Suzaku, Like Father, Like Son ) as Osono, the owner of the bakery where Kiki works. Hiroshi Yamamoto plays Osono's baker husband Fukuo, and Miho Kanazawa plays a woman named Saki who visits the bakery. Rie Miyazawa ( Oceans , Hana , Peony Pavilion ) plays Kiki's mother Kokiri, and Michitaka Tsutsui ( Reunion , Ballad: Namonaki Koi no Uta , Shikoku ) plays Kiki's father Okino. Additionally, Tadanobu Asano ( Ichi the Killer , Lupin III ) will play veterinarian Dr. Ishi.

Satoko Okudera ( Summer Wars , Wolf Children , The Princess and the Pilot ) is writing the script for the film.

Filming began on May 23, 2013 in a Tokyo studio, and it wrapped up in July. The film will open in Japan on March 1.

The six novel volumes of Majo no Takkyūbin follow the coming of age of Kiki with her black cat Jiji. They have sold 1.8 million copies and have been translated into eight languages, including English, Italian, Chinese, Swedish, and Korean. Hayao Miyazaki directed Studio Ghibli 's famous anime film version, which adapted the first novel volume.

Source: Crank In!!