animal companions

Consistently features animals as central characters and emotional anchors, from the fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox to the dog in Isle of Dogs, treating them with the same narrative depth as human protagonists.

Explores the profound and often unsettling relationships between humans and animals through documentaries and fiction, examining how animals shape human identity and philosophy.

Weaves animal companions throughout his films as spiritual guides and sources of unconditional loyalty, most notably in Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle, where bonds transcend language.