If you just watched the movie and would like a little background on the storyline and themes, then you have come to the right place.
This is a review of Porco Rosso, a Japanese animated film from 1992, crafted by the Legendary Hayao Miyazaki and released by Studio Ghibli.
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- Release Date: 1992
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Language: English dub
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- Production Company: Studio Ghibli
Porco Rosso: Behind the Voice Actors
Japanese Voice Cast:
- Shūichirō Moriyama as Porco Rosso / Marco Pagot
- Akio Ōtsuka as Donald Curtis
- Akemi Okamura as Fio Piccolo
- Tokiko Kato as Madame Gina
- Sanshi Katsura as Mr. Piccolo
- Mahito Tsujimura as Ferrarin / Ferrari
- Tsunehiko Kamijō as Capo / Boss
- Reizō Nomoto as Mamma Aiuto Gang Members
- Osamu Saka as Additional Voices
- Yuu Shimaka as Additional Voices
English Voice Cast (2005):
- Michael Keaton as Porco Rosso / Marco Rossolini
- Cary Elwes as Donald Curtis
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Fio Piccolo
- Susan Egan as Madame Gina
- David Ogden Stiers as Mr. Piccolo
- Tom Kenny as Ferrarin
- Brad Garrett as Capo / Boss
- Bill Fagerbakke as Mamma Aiuto Gang Members
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Additional Voices
- Frank Welker as Additional Voices
What is Porco Rosso About?
You might be asking, what is Porco Rosso about? Well, Porco Rosso is a 2D animated film that introduces us to Porco, an ex-WWI seaplane pilot from the Italian Army turned bounty hunter pig. Yep, that’s right, a bounty hunter pig. You might also be asking, what does Porco Rosso mean? Porco Rosso means “Red Pig” in Italian.
In the bustling city of Milan, Porco, an experienced pilot with a mysterious past, finds himself challenged by the brash American pilot named Curtis after a daring aerial encounter leaves Porco’s red plane in shambles. With the help of his mechanic Piccolo and his spirited engineer daughter Fio, Porco sets out to repair his beloved aircraft. Along the way, they face obstacles including the pursuit of the Italian secret police and an unexpected ambush by pirates.
His job? Defending ocean liners and planes from airplane pilots. So, If you’re into quirky characters and aerial adventures, this movie is a short but sweet watch.
Where to Watch
Right now, you can watch Porco Rosso on the Max Amazon Channel or Max. You are able to stream Porco Rosso by renting or purchasing it on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu.”
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Where and When does Porco Rosso Take Place?
The movie is set in Italy at a time between World War I and II. This interwar period saw economic depression, fueling the rise of fascist movements across Europe.
Italy, under Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, embraced fascism post-World War I, influencing other dictators. When asked if he would join the Italian army again, Porco states “I’d rather be a pig than a fascist.” As you may have guessed Porco Rosso is full of antifascist sentiment.
The film was inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s childhood, as his father, Katsuji Miyazaki (born 1915), was the head of Miyazaki Airplane. The company specialized in producing rudders for fighter planes throughout World War II. Though Hayao was against war, he was fascinated with airplanes and enjoyed drawing them.
Porco Rosso and Gina
My favorite scene was when Porco’s crush, Gina, takes us back to a time when Porco wasn’t a pig but a young man named Marco Pagot. The scene unfolds as Gina recalls their teenage years, soaring through the skies on the Adriano plane.
In this breathtaking scene, you get to see a glimpse of their history—carefree flights, endless horizons, and true friendship. As Gina reminisces, a subtle blush forms on her cheeks. Gina’s realization of why she loves Porco was captured in that blush.
How did Porco Rosso get cursed?
To understand how Porco Rosso got cursed and why Porco is a pig, we need to understand the war story that Porco tells Fio.
As night falls, Fio decides it’s storytime. And who better to tell a tale than Porco himself?
Porco recounts a memory of his World War I days. Porco’s pilot friend, Bellini, just married Gina. But, as fate would have it, tragedy struck. Their squadron was ambushed, and every pilot met their end, except for Porco.
In a desperate attempt to escape the attackers, Porco dives into a cloud, and blacks out. When he regains conscience, something surreal unfolds. The plane seemed to be flying by itself and out of the clouds rose his fallen comrades, including Bellini, heading towards what seems like an endless line of thousands of planes eerily heading the same direction. Porco calls this site “a strange band of white.”
Porco tells Fio he believes he should’ve been the one to die that day, not Bellini. And ever since, he’s been living under a peculiar curse—a curse that turned him into a man with a pig head.
Fio ensures Porco that he is a good person and she is ‘glad that he is still around.’ She then proceeds to kiss Porco goodnight. He blushes.- end of scene.
So, How did Porco Rosso become a pig? There may be many factors.
I believe that Porco’s personal guilt of having lost his friend Bellini, mixed with working for a fascist government is what caused the curse.
It is almost as if he cursed himself. He may also be guilty that he could not protect Bellini from his fate, and that Gina lost her new husband as well.
Additionally, his pig form may have come from the term “fascist Pig,” where Porco felt like he was forced to work for a fascist government, leading to mixed emotions of shame and self-doubt. There is also the famous line he spoke that could explain it- “I’d rather be a pig than a fascist.”
Another reason could be a statement that Miyazaki has made- “When a man becomes middle-aged, he becomes a pig.” I do not entirely know what this is referring to, but it could mean that Porco became discouraged with humanity and his role in the army which caused him to be cursed as a pig.
Hilarious Moments
Now, I have to talk about these funny moments in the movie, because they made me laugh.
- Pirate Charade
Fio’s shows off her persuasive skills by convincing the pirates that they’re all honorable and respectable seaplane pilots. She does this in order to stop the ambush on the island. The pirates then move their heads in agreement in a comical way. I was yelling at the TV saying “No they aren’t! Those pirates just tried to kill you!”
- Crowd Control Gone Wrong
In a scene that goes from rowdy to chaotic, one pirate decides he’s had enough of the loud crown. He decides to unload a hail of bullets on the crowd, turning it into a frenzy.
- Awkward Clapping
Before the epic plane flight, the head pirate insists that everyone claps their hands to comply with his authority. In unison, the entire group of pirates and reporters awkwardly claps. It is a bizarre and funny start to the impending showdown.
- Placing Bets and Dramatic Exit
A bold pirate places a money bag bet on a chair before the plane fight scene, only to make a swift exit, yelping off the platform. Classic comedic chaos ensues.
- Butler’s Hilarious Departure
You may not have noticed this one, bit Gina’s butler steals a scene with a funny exit. After handing Gina the phone that delivers the news that Porco’s plane crashed, he walks away with hands in the air. He seemed to be embodying a mix of dramatic flair and amusement. I laughed at his antics.
Porco Rosso: My Take
I really enjoyed Porco Rosso. Miyazaki’s 2D animation and style wins again in this masterpiece. I can’t get enough of movies that came out in the ’80’s and ’90’s, and this move definitely has a late ’80’s vibe.
One thing you can’t ignore in this movie in the glaring sexism and sexist remarks from Porco. He really earned that ‘sexist pig’ title. However, in the end, Fio’s plane making skills showed him up and he had a change of heart and perspective.
The visuals in this movie were stunning and those funny gags from the pirates had me chuckling all the way through!
Recommendation
I would recommend this movie to audiences who enjoy drama with a mix of comedy. While Porco Rosso offers moments of humor and charm, it also delves into deeper themes that may resonate more with adult viewers. As such, it may not be suitable for younger children due to its inclusion of mature themes.
If you have already seen Porco Rosso, what where some of your favorite funny scenes? How do you think Porco Rosso got cursed? Let me know if the comments below.
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