His films weave magical realism with dark explorations of power dynamics, from fascist regimes to supernatural hierarchies in Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water.

He creates surreal worlds where hidden power structures and enchantment collide, revealing how desire and control operate beneath everyday reality in works like Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks.

His animations explore the seductive enchantment of power and its corrupting influence, contrasting wonder with the moral complexities of control in films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.