This is the first film of Studio Ghibli's that I've seen and I think it is still my favourite. It is just a stunning and beautiful film about a pilot pig vigilante and his escapades in an Italy turning into despotic fascist state. It is just really beautiful.

While I didn't find this to be one of Miyazaki's best films as many people thought, it was still awesome. What's really weird is that it tells the story of a pilot who was turned into a pig. That's about it. The fact that he's a pig really has little relevance on the story. It's actually completely realistic besides that. It's not like he uses his snout to save the day or he summons pigs in battle or something. He's a pig and that's it. Yes, I do finally realize it was meant to be a joke on the term "When pigs fly".Of all the Miyazaki movies, this one may be the funniest. While not an outright comedy, it really did seem to have more jokes than any of the other movies. That's why I love this guy for always experimenting with different genres. The animation and character designs are as gorgeous as ever. I was weirded out by how short this movie was, as Miyazaki's films are some of the longest animated movies ever made. Still, it didn't need to be long and that was another factor in how unique it was. ***1/2

Throughout his filmmaking career, the perfection with which renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has managed to express the serious themes in his films without ever taking away its childlike sense of wonder is the very reason why he's the best animation filmmaker of all time & one of the greatest storytellers to have set foot in the world of cinema.Set in 1930s Italy, the story of Porco Rosso follows the adventures of its titular character; a World War I veteran who now earns his living as a freelance bounty hunter & has been cursed to look like an anthropomorphic pig. When his plane is shot down by an American rival who was hired by airborne pirates, Rosso gets his plane repaired to get back at his rival.Written & directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso features all his trademarks from pigs to aviation but it's the feminist themes that manage to stand out most in this picture & is wonderfully illustrated. There are moments when its hand-drawn animation is spellbinding to look at, pacing is finely controlled, background score is truly heartwarming & the voice cast chips in nicely.On an overall scale, Porco Rosso is another fascinating addition in both Miyazaki's & Studio Ghibli's repertoire and is a fine blend of quality direction, smart script, gorgeous animation, rich characters, vibrant themes & pleasing music. The drama stays light-hearted throughout its runtime, the themes touch on deeper issues than depicted yet its joyful atmosphere makes it a cinema that viewers of all ages can enjoy. Thoroughly recommended.

This is another brilliant movie from Hayao Miyazaki. He creates a beautiful world where Adriatic sea is controlled by Air Pirates. Where you can have your own hideaway island. Where you get around using your own seaplane. At it's core this is children's cartoon. It's very bright both in terms of atmosphere and colour. Maybe this is what made me like it so much as an adult. Watching this movie brought me back to my childhood when I used to dream of adventure. The movie is beautifully animated, full of humour and eccentric characters. There is a little love story. There is a little coming of age story. The plot is pretty straightforward but very consistent. Overall, an amazing movie, go see it.