Similarly to the Catbus, Porco Rosso is (on paper, at least) a character that just shouldnt work. Hes an Italian pig that flies an airplane in between the two World Wars and is loved by the ladies. Pretty ridiculous as a concept, certainly. And yet he completely succeeds as a character. Porco Rosso is one of Ghiblis most underrated films, and its fun factor is almost entirely down to just how bizarre and hilarious its central character is. The inventiveness of those at the helm of Ghibli never ceases to amaze, especially given how frequently those inventions pay off. Porco Rosso has become a symbol of that adventurous nature.
