Studio Ghibli is one of the world’s leading animation studios, known for its stunning hand-drawn animation, moving stories, and unforgettable characters. Among his vast catalog are lesser-known works that remain underappreciated masterpieces waiting to be discovered. One of these titles is Porco Rossoreleased in 1992 under the direction of Hayao Miyazaki.
Despite its release over three decades ago, Porco Rosso has become more meaningful and relevant than ever before. While the film remains true to Ghibli’s signature style and themes, it stands out for its unprecedented exploration of a disillusioned man’s struggle to reconcile his past, his identity, and his purpose in a post-war era.
Porco Rosso is Studio Ghibli’s most underrated masterpiece
Porco Rosso is set in the Adriatic Sea during the late 1920s and early 1930s, a time when Europe was still reeling from World War I and fascism was rising in Italy. Faced with rising political tensions, economic difficulties and rapid advances in aviation, Porco, a former talented pilot known as Marco Pagot, retreated into self-imposed exile.
The film balances this historical weight with moments of Ghibli’s signature sense of adventure and whimsical elements, most notably through Porco’s appearance as an anthropomorphic pig. Porco Rosso is one of Studio Ghibli’s most mature films, centering on a complex protagonist with heavy themes and political undertones, which sets it apart from the studio’s other films.
Working as a freelance bounty hunter, Porco battles countless hijackers until he is challenged to a race by ace American sky pirate, Donald Curtis. With the help of his longtime friend, Gina, and a spirited young mechanic, Fio, he repairs his plane and prepares for an aerial showdown that will test more than just his flying skills.
With a rich setting and backdrop, Miyazaki’s film is immensely introspective and thoughtful. Although sometimes playful, it also takes time to confront Porco’s disillusionment, pride and ideals in an imperfect and ever-changing world. The story is full of symbolism, making it one of the studio’s most rewarding and memorable creations to date.
Porco Rosso themes are timeless and universal
With Porco Rosso Set in Europe between World War I and World War II, a period of political instability and the rise of fascism, the film captures something few animated films do. Italy, in particular, was reshaping itself after the devastation of World War I, affecting countless lives and leading Porco, a once-famous fighter ace, to seek solitude.
The film doesn’t shy away from his past as an aviation pilot, embracing it and showing the beauty of flight without losing the weight of Porco’s past and the historical period. The aftermath of the war is at the heart of the story, told through flashbacks and dreams of Porco’s lost friends who gradually reveal why he chose to impose his own exile.
Porco’s appearance as a pig serves as a visual metaphor for this disillusionment and desire to exist outside of a corrupt system.
Porco’s personal trauma and survivors’ guilt make him reluctant to fully engage with those around him, leading to a deeper sense of alienation related to his isolation. Yet the bonds he maintains and forges throughout the film, particularly with Fio, slowly pull him back, while Gina remains a hopeful link to his humanity.
Exploring the fear of losing oneself to past trauma, as well as the struggle and desire for connection, Porco Rosso the themes remain both timeless and universal, addressing audiences of all generations. Along with the film’s balance of humor, adventure, and melancholy, the narrative effectively creates an experience that viewers cannot forget.
Studio Ghibli’s film is a rejection of authoritarianism
During Porco Rosso At this time, the shadow of Mussolini’s Italy looms over the film without eclipsing the central narrative surrounding Porco. However, the rise of fascism remains a constant underlying presence in the film, exemplified by Porco’s refusal to join the Air Force and his desire to retain his personal freedom.
Coupled with Porco’s disillusionment with nationalism and the symbolism beneath his pig-like appearance, Miyazaki clearly speaks out against authoritarian systems and fascist regimes through the protagonist. Despite his past as a former ace, Porco chooses independence over ambition and recognition within the regime, favoring his personal ethics over blind nationalist loyalty.
“I’d rather be a pig than a fascist.”
-Porco Rosso/Marco Pagot
Porco’s appearance as a pig serves as a visual metaphor for this disillusionment and desire to exist outside of a corrupt system. He consciously chooses to reject any participation in injustice, and his voluntary exile is proof of his commitment to these ideals. His stance against growing fascism in Italy is not performative but rooted in his ethical and moral code.
Although they aired over 30 years ago and took place almost 100 years ago, these themes remain relevant and discussed today. Porco Rosso reminds viewers that opposing oppressive systems takes courage and conviction, and that disengagement can sometimes be a moral act if it means moving away from corrupt regimes.
Porco Rosso’s legacy endures even decades later
Porco RossoThe exploration of moral integrity, resistance to authoritarian pressures, and the enduring cost of war reflects Hayao Miyazaki’s anti-war, anti-nationalism, and anti-fascism ideology. Porco’s insistence on living by his own moral code, even when the world around him pressures him to conform to it, remains increasingly relevant in modern society.
Porco’s experiences as a World War I ace reveal the true cost of conflict and the emptiness of nationalist glory. By distinguishing Porco from other characters, visually and physically, who embrace glory, ambition, or even aggression, the film makes it clear that Porco’s strength comes from his refusal to participate in systems that prioritize narrow ideologies over humanity.
Porco Rosso remains an enduring Ghibli film due to its universal themes, historical context, and deep exploration of war, political pressure, and morality. The film encourages audiences to think about the consequences of action and inaction, while showing that moral integrity can survive broken ideologies, whether authoritarianism or the senselessness of war.
Miyazaki’s 1992 film remains one of the most underrated masterpieces Studio Ghibli has ever made, even more than 30 years later. Porco Rosso is a film that everyone must watch at least once in their life for its powerful themes, complex protagonist and beautiful symbolic storytelling.
- Release date
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July 18, 1992
- Runtime
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93 minutes
