mentorship and transformation

His films consistently explore how characters transform through encounters with wise mentors and magical worlds, most notably in Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.

His recurring focus on the relationship between teachers and students, particularly in The 400 Blows and Small Change, examines how mentorship shapes human development and redemption.

His films like Midsommar and Hereditary explore dark psychological transformations and the corrupting influence of false mentors on vulnerable protagonists.