The film does not feature LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-heteronormative identities. The central relationship focuses on curiosity between Arrietty and Sho without explicit orientation markers.

Arrietty serves as a highly capable female protagonist driven by agency and resilience. She avoids the damsel in distress trope, acting as the primary driver of her own survival.

The setting is a culturally specific, relatively homogeneous Japanese domestic environment. It lacks racial intersectionality but uses the Borrower subculture as a metaphor for marginalized groups.

The narrative critiques consumerism by showing Borrowers repurposing discarded human objects. This highlights a sustainable relationship with the environment compared to the wasteful dominant human society.

Sho is depicted with physical fragility and a preoccupation with mortality. The film handles his condition with nuance, focusing on his emotional state rather than using him for pity.