Tilt shift lens

Alright, to preface the question I am about to ask I should let you all know that I am not the type that is content knowing that something just does something, I want to know why.
I tried looking the answer up, but the explanations I found didn't tell me why. So here goes.

I get that tilt shift lenses make scenes look like they are miniture. But why does it do that? And also, what is it about the image that makes it look miniture? I suppose it's the angle?

Cool link, thanks!
 (Suzie, look at figure #2. It should explain it. )

I'll be nice and give you the simple version too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilt-shift_miniature_faking

Susie,

Sorry that I just got to this!  The answer here is not to confuse what a tilt/shift lens does.  These are not specific to miniatures.  These are really "perspective control" lenses.  They have two of the movements (tilt and shift) that are available on view cameras.

Perspective control can be used to prevent "keystoning", the effect where a photo of a tall building appears to get smaller the higher it goes.  It can also be used to control the plane of focus and the planes of the front and rear borders of DOF.  You often see this effect in "Lens Baby" pictures.

Ed