What if WW1 never happened?

[commissarmoody]

Oh that sounds very interesting.

[Atheling]

cool shit! 
links?

Yep, that has actually peeked my interest in computer type games that has laid dormant since 1991!!! 

Darrell.

[maxxon]

but also, if You watch the movie carefully, You will notice slight discrepancies between the style of the apparent era, the 50ies - 60ies cars, TV, clothing etc, but the fact that they still have passenger biplanes and are developing zeppelins.

I own the movie and have seen it quite a few times.

It's set in a fantasy world (err, the witches might be a clue?) that has a mishmash of elements from the real world. Just like, say, Laputa. I don't think they ever make a reference to anything specific in the real world. Koriko is a made-up city.

Maybe the "war never happened" was a major point in the original book, but I really could not see it in the movie. Unlike, say, Porco Rosso where WWI and the growing fascist movement are major themes. Porco also uses real names of places, countries etc.

[former user]

well, I saw it very clearly, and the discrepancies made me research it, and there it was a perfect explanation.
So it is not my invented subjective opinion, but a general aknowledgement that Miyazaki uses alternate history as a starting point to establish his magical worlds, where magic actually fulfills a narrative function and is not a per se establishment (as in high fantasy).
You could at least aknowledge that there are substantial arguments to support the view I presented. This is not an exchange of opinions, but You simply ignoring points I am referencing because "You did not see it, so it isn't there".
And this is no basis for a discussion....

But suit Yourself, everyone is entitled to their own view.

[maxxon]

well, I saw it very clearly, and the discrepancies made me research it, and there it was a perfect explanation.

I'm sorry if I insulted you, that was never my intention.

I agree that Kiki's world borrows elements from the real world. Whether it's alternate history or alternate earth is hard to determine, because the movie isn't about the world, it's about Kiki.

I truly do not know if the setting was constructed on a specific premise or if it's just a hodge podge thrown together because it looks cool. I did not find it important to the enjoyment of the film.

[former user]

I'm sorry if I insulted you, that was never my intention.

nobody was insulted  
just a bit irritated at Your style of argumentation...