protection of the innocent

His films consistently center vulnerable protagonists facing systemic evil, from the child survivors in Schindler's List to the hunted innocents in War Horse.

His animated works repeatedly feature young, innocent protagonists navigating corrupted worlds, exploring their resilience and moral awakening in films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.

Her films deeply examine childhood trauma and the violation of innocence through fragmented, intimate narratives in works like You Were Never Really Here and We Need to Talk About Kevin.