Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lesser-known Miyazaki has heavy themes, cartoon violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Porco Rosso
What's the Story?
PORCO ROSSO (voiced by Shūichirō Moriyama in the original version and Michael Keaton in the English dub) was a World War I flying ace who became half-man, half-pig after his compatriots were killed in battle. He's now a jaded, womanizing bounty hunter who rescues ships and babies from the attacks of bumbling pirates across the Adriatic Sea, while ignoring the romantic overtures of cocktail singer Gina (Tokiko Kato/Susan Egan). When Porco's plane is shot down by Donald Curtis (Akio Ōtsuka/Cary Elwes), a cocky American fighter pilot who joins forces with the pirates -- and when the fascists take over Italy -- Porco takes his plane to the mechanic, where Fio (Akemi Okamura/Kimberley Williams-Paisley) fixes the plane and encourages Porco to fight Curtis for honor's sake.
Is It Any Good?
This is more than just beautiful anime portraying lots of cartoon violence between characters who border on war film stereotypes; it has a third dimension. Porco Rosso makes parodic references to flyboy films of the past, featuring figures such as the sultry cocktail singer, the comedically cocky American fighter pilot, the spunky tomgirl who fixes airplanes, and even Porco himself as the anti-hero hero. At the same time, the consequences of warfare are critically examined. Unable to commit or settle down, Porco later reveals the story of his transformation: He "quit being human" after seeing the horrors of combat and now lives as half-man, half-pig. It's through Porco that viewers experience the deep hurt and depth of feeling of those who fight.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about heroism. What does it mean to be a hero? What are the ways Porco Rosso is and isn't heroic? Who else is heroic?
What is the movie's message about how war affects places and people? What are the consequences of warfare for those who fight it? How is violence portrayed in this movie?
Are there any stereotypes in this movie? How are men and women represented differently?
How do the characters demonstrate courage, humility, integrity, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 16, 1994
- On DVD or streaming : February 22, 2005
- Cast : Cary Elwes , Greg Ellis , Michael Keaton
- Director : Hayao Miyazaki
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Pirates
- Character Strengths : Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and some mild language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate