The film centers on the relationship between Taki and Maki. It lacks explicit depictions of same-sex intimacy or non-cisnormative identities, maintaining a heteronormative framework.

Maki subverts traditional archetypes by serving as a highly capable, combat-proficient agent. She operates on equal footing with her male counterpart, driving the plot through her agency.

The narrative uses the tension between Earth and the Black World as a metaphor for racial diversity. This explores themes of xenophobia and the social exclusion of the 'other'.

The setting critiques the stability of social structures through moral relativism. It presents a world where the distinction between human and monstrous is obscured by subjective morality.

Body horror and physical transformations serve as metaphors for physical alterity. However, these depictions often lean toward the grotesque rather than granting characters agency over their conditions.