Kiki's Delivery Service: More World-Building Than You Think!

Okay, so I just rewatched Kiki's Delivery Service, and even though on the surface it's a cute witch-girl story, I'm telling you, there's some serious world-building going on under the radar. First off, the whole 'witch tradition' thing? That's HUGE. They just drop it casually that young witches have to leave home at 13 and find a place to live for a year? That's insane! What's the failure rate on that?! I need a whole backstory on the witching council or whatever governs this stuff. Seriously, imagine the implications. Is there a magical social safety net? Do some witches just... fail? Are there witch-vagrants?? And then there's Koriko. I LOVE the aesthetic – this pseudo-European seaside town that feels both familiar and fantastical. The architecture, the people, even the food, it all feels so lived-in. You get the impression that magic isn't exactly commonplace, but it's accepted. People are surprised by Kiki, but not terrified. That's a really carefully considered balance to strike. Plus, the scene where she delivers the herring and pumpkin pot pie to the old lady and gets sick from the rain? So relatable! And then the baker helps her out, I just love that town dynamic. Maybe it's just my sci-fi brain always looking for the bigger picture, but I feel like Miyazaki (I looked it up lol) really created a fleshed-out world in Kiki's Delivery Service. It's not just about a girl learning to be independent; it's about exploring a culture where magic exists, what roles witches play, and how their traditions function within regular society. I'd watch a whole series just set in that world, exploring different kinds of witches and other magical folks. Anyone else feel that way? Or am I just overanalyzing a kids' movie... nahhhh.