childhood independence

His films repeatedly feature young protagonists discovering courage and self-reliance through adventure, most notably in Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.

He explores children's resilience and imagination as tools for independence in dark, fantastical settings, particularly in Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water.

Her films intimately examine how young people assert autonomy and identity, especially in Tomboy and Portrait of a Lady on Fire which explore self-discovery and breaking free from constraints.