Kiki is a brilliant example of a female character in Ghiblis films, as she is a strong protagonist that is never treated in a patronising or sexist way. The story is a tender coming of age story which treats the childhood and teenage years of a young girl wonderfully. Although her tale is often wrought with sadness (the aforementioned loss of the ability to hear her childhood friend Jiji being one of them) she remains inspirational. She begins a rebellious figure, seeking to gain her independence through her own headstrong nature. However, by the conclusion of the narrative this has dissipated and she recognises that she actually requires the assistance of her friends and family in order to grow into a truly independent woman.