When talking about Studio Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki, fans usually mention movies such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, or Princess Mononoke. These movies are well-known for their stunning animation, engaging characters, and rich thematic storytelling. But one movie in Miyazaki’s filmography that is not often given the credit it deserves is Porco Rosso (1992).
Unlike Ghibli’s more commercially successful films, Porco Rosso has a distinctly mature tone, addressing the issues of trauma, self-hatred, survivor’s guilt, and romance in a way that many viewers, especially younger audiences, fail to grasp upon first watch. Let’s explore what makes the film one of Miyazaki’s most moving films, despite its underappreciation.
Porco Rosso: A Studio Ghibli masterpiece overlooked
At its core, Porco Rosso is a movie about a man grappling with his past and his own self-worth. Marco Pagot, an Italian World War I fighter pilot, is somehow changed into an anthropomorphic pig. Although the film never directly explains this change, it is most commonly understood to be a metaphor for his survivor’s guilt.
Marco, now referred to as Porco Rosso (‘Red Pig’), has banished himself to a life of isolation, fighting with planes in aerial battles as a bounty hunter while keeping human attachments to a minimum. His transformation into a pig represents his own perception of himself, as he believes he doesn’t deserve to be human because he lived and his friends did not.
Much like Rick Blaine in Casablanca, Porco puts up a cynical, detached front, but deep down, he remains a man of integrity. His sense of guilt stops him from being able to consider himself a hero anymore, yet his actions continuously prove otherwise.
Another major character in the film, Gina, the owner of the Adriatic Hotel, is perhaps one of the most underrated characters in the history of Studio Ghibli. She has lost three husbands, all pilots who died in the war, but she still retains her optimism in love and hope. She is resilient, warm, and graceful despite her painful past.
Her love for Porco in the movie is also unique because she sees the best in him that he does not see in himself. She waits patiently for him to realize his worth, but she never pushes him to change. Her unwavering dedication and inner strength render her one of Miyazaki’s most grown-up female leads, but she never quite gets the center spot like other Ghibli heroines such as Nausicaä or Chihiro.
The subtlety of Hayao Miyazaki’s storytelling
Unlike other fantasy-based films made by Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso makes its point in understated, character-driven moments instead of grand, heavy-handed statements. There are no magical beings or life-changing moments, rather the film shows a man wrestling with his demons in a world that continues to move forward without him.
The film also explores themes of political disillusionment, as Porco makes it clear that he doesn’t want to be a part of the rising fascism in Italy. “I’d rather be a pig than a fascist,” he famously declares, reinforcing his rejection of both societal expectations and his own humanity. His exile is not just from the world but from himself.
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While the film may be less accessible to younger audiences than Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle, it is arguably Miyazaki’s most emotionally charged and thematically rich film. For those who have overlooked it or dismissed it, it is worth revisiting with fresh eyes.
The film has an emotional depth that resonates deeply with those who have experienced loss, regret, and efforts at redemption. It is not a children’s movie, it is rather an artwork about what it actually means to coexist with the ghosts of the past while trying to find a path forward.
Porco Rosso is currently available to watch on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
