An unusual aspect of The Wind Rises is its focus on the life of a real person. Many Studio Ghibli films can be considered as products of the fantasy genre, and have highly fictional stories, events and characters. In stark contrast, the story of Jiro Horikoshi is not only true, but depicted onscreen in a truthful and almost solemn tone. For Japan, Horikoshi is an influential figure who brought about success in a time defined by failure. His aircraft designs were revolutionary and took the island nation to the forefront of aviation technology. Though a key message in the film is that planes are to be used to advance mankind, Horikoshi's designs were in fact used for war - a war which Japan lost. Nevertheless, the story of Jiro is one which can inspire many, and the biographical nature of The Wind Rises shows the human factor in a dark period of Japanese history. Jiro's mentors in the film are also based upon real life characters. Giovanni Caproni, an Italian count and aircraft designer, appears throughout as a wise and humorous sage. In the dream sequences he leads Jiro towards success, whilst also offering advice and guidance. Another character, Hans Castorp, is based upon the protagonist of Thomas Mann's novel The Magic Mountain. These references and more create a sense of dynamism within the film, as if the characters are acting outside of their fictional worlds.
