Porco Rosso

About Porco Rosso

Here is what Porco Rosso (紅の豚) is about, retold in plain terms: an action, adventure and comedy anime by Studio Ghibli (1992). What the story covers: Take flight with "Porco" Rosso, a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry.

Soon after, when "Porco" —whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by an unexplained spell— infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to "get rid" of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. It is in the air where the true battles are waged.

As an action title, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Akio Ootsuka as Donald Curtis and Shuichiro Moriyama as Porco Rosso. If you count yourself among viewers who like fast, high-impact fights, put it on your list. With 1 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by Studio Ghibli, so the studio's house style defines how Porco Rosso looks and moves on screen. Within the action category, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. A 7.8/10 score points to a dependable, well-liked series. On the casting side, Akio Ootsuka voicing Donald Curtis gives the lead role a recognizable voice. Released in 1992, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.