Being born in Nishinari-a poor district of Japan-comes with many challenges, and for Kiki the mouse, these struggles are more about his appearance than a lack of wealth. His caring mother did all she could to build resilience in him before allowing him to take his first excursion into the outside world.Armed with her wise words and a special jacket she crafted for him, Kiki sets off one night with his brothers and sisters to explore the sights. That journey becomes the first in a series of lessons about survival as Kiki and his siblings are confronted by a gang of feral rats.Through these trials, Kiki learns valuable lessons about different personalities and the darker side of life on the streets as he ventures further and further away from home. His quest for enlightenment ultimately leads him to stow away on a cruise ship bound for Australia.