How exactly is this executed? After all, in spite of modern day capitalism- implies-that-originality-is-dead, the-means-to-achieve-profit-are-inconsequential trends, this feature remains almost eerily unique to Studio Ghibli.

There are many facets to this answer, obviously -- the grappling soundtrack composed to the unique likeness of each film, the clothes and colours utilised to convey each emotion or bond- camouflaging with backgrounds to show comfort and accord, friends being attributed colours from the same kind of palette (such as the warm red and yellow of the protagonists in Ponyo), the immersing themes et cetera.

We have to keep in mind, though, that this is all being achieved through an animated medium so the fundamental problem arises in grounding all this to a reality that is perceptive to children, as whatever elements of world building are featured have to be put in deliberately.

Here is where Miyazaki’s forte lies -- in literally animating, in bringing to life. He possesses an unparalleled ability to weave real life into the tapestry of the story, through intent in the characters’ movements -- whether in the way that they run (fast paced, erratic for younger ones while a more controlled, Disney-style-straightforward approach is taken for elder characters in ‘My Neighbour Totoro’) or eat (in bouts to show desire while having intense reactions such as crying in ‘Spirited Away’). Thus, he uses each frame, each split second to add intricacy to his characters. Having a child protagonist only further justifies the enigmatic charisma and dreamy quality of these movies, and implicitly appeals to younger audiences, as essentially this is how children perceive the world- the larger functioning of which is equally if not more mysterious than the films to them. With ‘The Wind Rises’, for example - a more mature delving into the consequences of war and how passion finds itself ingrained in the larger wheels of capitalism, most people would not consider animation to be the most accurate medium to portray a biopic. Miyazaki, though, has spun the story in such a way that more than his life, we understand the character through his dreams and aspirations.