History Anime / PorcoRosso

Creator/HayaoMiyazaki's {{homage}} to the early days of aviation and cinema, ''Porco Rosso'' (''''Kurenai no Buta''　/　紅の豚,''1992) tells the story of a renowned Italian fighter pilot, a veteran of the First World War who has been mysteriously transformed into a pig. During TheRoaringTwenties, Porco Rosso (Shūichirō Moriyama), the 'Red Pig', makes his living as a mercenary, flying a crimson seaplane and doing battle with pirates. Things really start to get interesting for Porco when the pirates, tired of having their butts handed to them by a pig, hire Donald Curtis (Creator/AkioOtsuka), a famed American aviator, to take him down. Pursued by the Fascist military he deserted years ago, Porco gains a teenage sidekick, Fio Piccolo (Creator/AkemiOkamura), and takes the fight to the pirates. What follows is an epic journey of self-discovery and general badassery in the great Ghibli tradition. It's got all the hallmarks of a Miyazaki movie; strong women, flying machines, air-pirates and an undertone of the supernatural.

Creator/HayaoMiyazaki's {{homage}} to the early days of aviation and cinema, ''Porco Rosso'' (''''Kurenai no Buta''　/　紅の豚,''1992) tells the story of a renowned Italian fighter pilot, a veteran of the First World War who has been mysteriously transformed into a pig. During TheRoaringTwenties, Porco Rosso (Shūichirō Moriyama), the 'Red Pig', makes his living as a mercenary, flying a crimson seaplane and doing battle with pirates. Things really start to get interesting for Porco when the pirates, tired of having their butts handed to them by a pig, hire Donald Curtis (Creator/AkioOhtsuka), a famed American aviator, to take him down. Pursued by the Fascist military he deserted years ago, Porco gains a teenage sidekick, Fio Piccolo (Creator/AkemiOkamura), and takes the fight to the pirates. What follows is an epic journey of self-discovery and general badassery in the great Ghibli tradition. It's got all the hallmarks of a Miyazaki movie; strong women, flying machines, air-pirates and an undertone of the supernatural.

* AlternateHistory: Seems to be at play here, as the majority of the film appears to be set in a fictional analogue to the short-lived [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_of_Fiume Free State of Fiume]] (now [[UsefulNotes/{{Croatia}} Rieka, Croatia]]) shortly before its annexation by UsefulNotes/FascistItaly. They appear to give refuge to Porco and [[DieselPunk seemingly grant huge leeway to air piracy]] (to the extent that it is viewed as ''entertaiment''), have a blue-yellow-blue tricolour for a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_ensign civil ensign]], their Fascist movement has a love for green and purple, and they have [[FictionalCurrency a lizard in a military uniform on their money]].

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: A man in his mid-thirties being with a seventeen year old may seem weird to modern viewers, especially given that this film does take place in the relatively recent past, but it's accurate for the time period. Before women entered the workforce in World War II out of necessity and stayed working afterwards, it made sense for girls to marry older men. Since they couldn't work, it offered them financial stability they wouldn't find in a man their own age. With the high child mortality rate, the earlier you started having kids, the better you chance you had at having kids who'd make it to adulthood and since your husband is financially stable, you don't have to wait to start having them.

* CoolHat: Porco Rosso's out-on-the-town clothes include a natty fedora.

* NoEndorHolocaust: The duel ends up bringing both planes above a crowd, and [[MoralDissonance neither Porco nor Curtis apparently see a problem]] with maintaining the fight over an area packed with innocent spectators. Tons of property damage ensues, but somehow the stray gunfire only hits inanimate objects.

* StayInTheKitchen: Despite Fio (a) rebuilding and improving a one-of-a-kind plane (b) under the noses of the secret police (c) standing up to every armed pirate in the Adriatic [[spoiler:(d) going on to be a major industrialist]], Curtis thinks of her as just a StandardHeroReward.

* AcePilot: Porko was called the "Ace of the Adriatic" and Curtis is also known for his prowess in combat flying.

* ArmsDealer: Porco purchases ammo from one; both comment that their illegal enterprises (bounty hunting and arms dealing) will be largely unaffected by an upcoming change in government. But there's NoHonorAmongThieves as the ammo Porco purchases is defective and causes his gun to jam at a crucial moment.

* AlternateHistory: Seems to be at play here, as the majority of the film appears to be set in a fictional analogue to the short-lived [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_of_Fiume Free State of Fiume]] (now [[UsefulNotes/{{Croatia}} Rieka, Croatia]]) shortly before its annexation by UsefulNotes/FascistItaly. They appear to give refuge to Porco and [[DieselPunk seemingly grant huge leeway to air piracy]], have a blue-yellow-blue tricolour for a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_ensign civil ensign]], their Fascist movement has a love for green and purple, and they have [[FictionalCurrency a lizard in a military uniform on their money]].

* TheMafia: The pirates are all gun-toting Italian. They're even reluctant to hire Curtis, an American, as it would be "embarrassing" until one of them reveals that Curtis has an Italian ancestor.

* PluckyGirl: Fio.

* BadassMustache: Porco Rosso has one.

* AlternateHistory: Seems to be at play here, as the majority of the film appears to be set in a fictional analogue to the short-lived [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_of_Fiume Free State of Fiume]] (now [[UsefulNotes/{{Croatia}} Rieka, Croatia]]) shortly before its annexation by UsefulNotes/FascistItaly. They appear to give refuge to Porco and [[DieselPunk seemingly grant huge leeway to air piracy]], have a blue-yellow-blue tricolour, their Fascist movement has a love for green and purple, and they have [[FictionalCurrency a lizard in a military uniform on their money]].

* SocietyMarchesOn: During the film's time period a man in his mid-30s pursuing a 17-year old girl would not have been seen as strange, but obviously today that wouldn't look too good.

Miyazaki had expressed interest in making a sequel. He planned to set it in the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar, and Porco would have been older. However, nothing has come out of it and has likely been shelved.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Inverted, surprisingly enough. While the seaplane pilots all share in a general air of male chauvinism, the Mamma Aiuto gang's ''boss'' doesn't participate. When the collected pirates are all stunned by Fio's presence, he keeps his head.

* AlternateHistory: Seems to be at play here, as the majority of the film appears to be set in a fictional analogue to the short-lived [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_of_Fiume Free State of Fiume]] shortly before its annexation by Fascist Italy. They appear to give refuge to Porco and [[DieselPunk seemingly grant huge leeway to air piracy]], have a blue-yellow-blue tricolour, their Fascist movement's has a love for green and purple, and they have [[FictionalCurrency a lizard in a military uniform on their money]].

* AlternateHistory: Seems to be at play here, as the majority of the film is set in [[{{Ruritania}} a monarchy in the Adriatic]] that, although Italian-speaking and in the process of [[DayOfTheJackboot a Fascist takeover]], is ''not'' part of Fascist Italy proper. They appear to give refuge to Porco and [[DieselPunk seemingly grant huge leeway to air piracy]], whereas Fascist Italy (as well as the native Fascists) wish to arrest the former and crack down on the latter. This is further evidenced by the nation's blue-yellow-blue tricolour and its Fascist movement's love for green and purple, which make Yugoslavia or Greece equally unlikely locales. Also, they have [[FictionalCurrency a lizard in a military uniform on their money]].

** See UnfortunateName as to why naming your gang Mamma Auito isn't the best choice you could have made. Let's just say it doesn't exactly strike fear into enemies' hearts.

* UnfortunateNames: When your gang's name (Mamma Aiuto) means "Help me, Mommy!", you're not going to get much respect.