Porco Rosso, or Crimson Pig, is the alias of a high flying bounty hunter who
also counters air pirates for a fee. Porco used to be an ace air force pilot
named Marco, but a spell turned him into a pig.
Porco is loved by two women: the beautiful socialite Gina, and the feisty
mechanic Fio. Ultimately, Porco has to go up against the suave American pilot
Curtiss for his honor, his pride, and his loved ones.
Review: Porco Rosso
Animation master Hayao Miyazaki
("Kiki's Delivery Service", "Spirited Away") dazzles us with Porco Rosso, a nice little peek in the life of an airborne bounty hunter who just
happens to be a pig.
Porco Rosso movie was created in cooperation with Japan Airlines, whose purpose was
to come up with an inflight movie which passengers could enjoy without having
to think too much. Bearing this in mind, I can say that they have successfully
achieved their goal. Porco Rosso is nothing more or less than just that --
straightforward entertainment.
Porco Rosso anime does not really have a structured plot. Porco does as he pleases
and inevitably gets himself into various scrapes and situations along the way.
He rescues some schoolchildren from pirates, unwittingly bets his cute female
mechanic against his rival pilot in a dogfight... that sort of thing.
What you see is what you get, albeit I felt there was a general lack of
development with regards to Porco himself. It's only vaguely explained how he
got transformed into a pig, and until the end we never know what happens to
his flourishing love life.
Does he end up with Gina? Does he ever turn back into a man? Like I mentioned
earlier, what Miyazaki presents to us is but a glimpse into a world endowed
with many possibilities... where having a talking pig for a pilot is about as
natural as breathing air.
For me, the visual aspect is where Porco Rosso excels the most. It's actually
the first time I've seen female characters in a Miyazaki movie which can be
considered pretty, as most of Miyazaki's film characters are usually either
children or extremely plain-looking people.
The airscapes, landscapes, and seascapes all seem so boundless and serene that
I felt as if I was in another world while watching Porco Rosso Crunchyroll. Each scene was nothing
short of a stunning awe-inspiring spectacle.
While Porco Rosso Studio Ghibli did provide a pleasurable viewing experience, I was not too
keen on its somewhat loose storytelling approach. Its simplicity can work for
or against its favor, depending on what the viewer is looking for. Perfect for
some uncomplicated entertainment, but hardly anything else beyond that.
Miscellanies: Porco Rosso
I got the official R3 Porco Rosso DVD released by IVL way before this was released in the
US.
Porco Rosso (Kurenai no Buta) | |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 1 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Jul 18, 1992 |
| Producers | Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| Rating | G - All Ages |
| Themes | Historical, Military |
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