Porco Rosso

I share a love of flying with Hayao Miyazaki, so I was really looking forward to Porco Rosso, especially since I had no idea what to expect besides a pig pilot. And the result? Well, let's just say that this animated film has one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen – that WWI flashback is just beautiful. And the rest of it is worth it too. The alternation of genres, the storytelling where what would otherwise stand remains sort of in the background and hidden in hints, the really great animation of the aerial combat, the surrealism and the unadulterated emotion at just the right time. And the ever-present wisdom: better to be a pig than a fascist. (16/07/2023)

Visually, Porco Rosso does not deny Miyazaki's signature, but story-wise I found the film very different from other works of the "Japanese anime master". Instead of fantasy, a kind of absurdity was in the foreground all the time, especially in the character of Porco. Instead of the magical moments I am used to in other Miyazaki films, Porco Rosso is a film about flying and machismo - or in this case, "piggishness". Thanks to Porco and his curse, the film brimmed with a special touch and featured more than one humorous reference. I was most struck by the scene with the pilots, reminiscent of a kind of "Milky Way", accompanied by almost magical music. This is definitely a noteworthy film! (05/01/2021)

I much prefer Miyazaki's more supernatural storytelling. I kept waiting for something, some impulse to grab me, but it didn't happen this time. So far, in all of Miyazaki's films, I've found something to grab me by the heart, unfortunately that doesn't happen here. It's not a bad film at all, there's a lot of flying, there's love, there's a curse. I'd say this one is aimed more at an older audience than children. A better 3 stars also for the realistic ending. (09/05/2010)