How can something be so profound, sometimes dark, and comforting to watch simultaneously? Well, the answer can be easily found in the distinct visual delight of Studio Ghibli films. Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial vision has different things to offer to varying age groups. While a child might see wonder in the beautiful setting of Howl’s Moving Castle, an adult would appreciate that of course, but they’d be able to see the symbolisms of life through Sophie and Howl’s character arcs.
In this way, Miyazaki fills the world of Studio Ghibli with both wonder and meaning. While all his movies are universally entertaining like that, Porco Rosso was much more focused on an adult audience. For this reason, Miyazaki believed that the movie would fail. However, what ended up happening defied Miyazaki’s expectations.
Porco Rosso Defied Hayao Miyazaki’s Expectations with its Success
Studio Ghibli’s Porco Rosso was released in 1992 and was a financial success with a rough estimate of around $ 44 Million at the Box Office. In an interview with Animerica Magazine, Hayao Miyazaki was asked about the financial success of Porco Rosso. Miyazaki shared that he had told everyone that the movie would not do well. And, its success came as a surprise to him.
When the interviewer asked him about his minimal expectations, Miyazaki explained he believed that animation is usually aimed at children. So, it was the content of the film that made him feel like it wasn’t for all age groups, and hence it would not do well.
Morever, as a producer I still think Porco Rosso is too idiosyncratic a film for a toddlers-to-old-folks general audience. That it turned out to be a hit was an unexpected stroke of luck. It’s actually kind of disturbing.
Anybody who is familiar with the film would understand why Miyazaki called it disturbing. However, the film has the classic Studio Ghibli essence that makes Miyazaki’s works so popular among fans. It’s one of the favorite films for many fans, and they believe it’s an underrated gem that doesn’t get nearly enough attention as it should.
Porco Rosso is an Underrated Gem
With a pig as the protagonist, Porco Rosso is not as subtle as other Ghibli films, it’s more out there with some of its darker elements, like the atrocities of the war and the complications of Porco’s romantic relationship. The way Porco’s experiences always weigh him down is unnerving but portrayed realistically nonetheless.
While Miyazaki calls the movie’s success a stroke of luck, it has resonated with many fans who find it everything from funny to deep. Porco as a protagonist is memorable and an icon, with his one liners. He’s not entirely perfect, and has many flaws but he’s undoubtedly very likable. Miyazaki’s incredible research on Italian aviation was incorporated in different aspects of the movie.
From the landscape to the aircraft, the movie could be seen as a homage to early Italian Aviation. In hindsight it might have been a good thing that the movie wasn’t catered to children, as it feels brutally honest with some scenes. And for the same reason, it stands out among the many films created by Hayao Miyazaki.
Porco Rosso is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
