Comments

Uncharacteristic of Miyazaki? Oh on contrary, this film is Miyazaki formula all the way through. The female lead, the love of planes, the pacifist messages, these are all themes found in most, if not all, of Miyazaki's films. Sophia even looks like Nausicaa from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and the planes are reminiscent of those in Castle in the Sky. I also love this film, but I just had to point out that this isn't too different from other Miyazaki films. Same themes, same story telling style that we all have come to love. Not his best, Nausicaa, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke take that prize IMO, but Porco Rosso is still a VERY good film.

All of Miyazakisan's other works are set in either Japan or in an otherwise unidentifiable location. And they take place in either "the present" or an otherwise unidentifiable time. Porco Rosso is unique in that it is set in a specific place that is not Japan - the Northern Adriatic - and in a specific year that is not "the present" - 1929 or shortly after. More importantly, there are no spirits in the story, and the only element of magic - the protagonist has the head of a pig - is not actually critical to the story. The use of a mask, a disguise, or an alternate identity is a common plot element that could have carried the story just as well. Unlike Miyazakisan's other works, the airplanes in Porco Rosso are not imaginary craft, but are based on actual airplanes of the period. In essence, the historical and geographical settings are real, and with only minor changes, the story could have happened in the real world. I could go on, but I'll end by mentioning that of all Miyazakisan's works, this contains the most autobiographical elements and does not present a moral.