Movie Info
Movie Name: Porco Rosso
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Genre(s): Animated/Drama/Action/Adventure/Romance
Release Date(s): July 18, 1992
MPAA Rating: PG
Porco and Fio’s relationship is a little creepy…
Porco Rosso was a hero of World War I, but he thinks he failed his squadron who perished during the war. Surviving, Porco finds himself cursed to look by a pig and now serving as a bounty hunter pilot. Porco finds himself hunted and in danger as he faces off against American pilot Curtis for life of his young co-pilot Fio and the love of Gina.
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso (紅の豚 or Kurenai no Buta aka Crimson Pig) started out as a short film for a Japanese airline. The movie expanded into a full length picture and followed Kiki’s Delivery Service in 1989. The movie received positive reviews and like most of Miyazaki’s films gained a cult following.
Take to the skies with Porco!
I’ve seen all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, and Porco Rosso was the last of his movies I got to see. While it isn’t my favorite of his films, it is a strong entry in a strong career.
Porco Rosso is often cited as being a “real” story. It has real locations and set-ups but Porco himself is a fictional character. I find a lot of the story rather a non-story. It is just a series of adventures and not much of a cohesive tale (other than everyone wants to capture Porco). The movie feels like an excerpt of Porco’s life. The movie might have benefited from a more streamlined story.
Fight for your right to party!
The movie however does look fantastic. Hayao Miyazaki has such style and Porco Rosso is perfect for his style. The movie has the great flights of Porco’s dogfights and it is combined with the lush Mediterranean setting. It is a feast for the eyes and a great example of how high Japanese animation can soar when done well. Generally I prefer the fantasies of Miyazaki, but this film is closer to fantasy (for me) than reality since it feels like a weird suped-up world surrounded by flying (kind of like Tailspin).
Porco Rosso is good though it isn’t my favorite film of Miyazaki (that is still reserved by Princess Mononoke). The movie really was intended to be an excerpt of Porco’s life and Miyazaki planned a sequel. He ended up retiring after his other plane saga The Wind Rises, but he has said he is writing a sequel to be directed by one of his protégés. Hayao Miyazaki followed Porco Rosso with Princess Mononoke in 1997.
