Porco Rosso Christian Review and Parents’ Guide

Can Christians watch Porco Rosso? Is Porco Rosso clean and family-friendly?

This Porco Rosso Christian review and parents’ guide examines the film’s content, themes, and spiritual elements to help parents determine whether it is appropriate for their children.

Is Porco Rosso safe for Christians?

With wisdom and discernment, mature Christians may enjoy the entertaining story.

What is the age rating for Porco Rosso?

Porco Rosso is rated PG. We recommend the film for mature children and adults, as the film delves into some topics such as death, honor, and curses that younger children may find difficult to comprehend.

Common Sense Media recommends Porco Rosso for ages 10 and up, and overall, we agree with this guideline.

Is Porco Rosso appropriate for kids?

Porco Rosso may be appropriate for older children. We recommend that parents prescreen the film before showing it, as it is a bit more mature than Studio Ghibli’s G-rated films.

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Synopsis: What is Porco Rosso About?

Porco Rosso follows Marco, also known as Porco, a man who was mysteriously turned into a pig. He’s a skilled seaplane pilot and bounty hunter, and many people want to take him down, including the arrogant American pilot, Curtis.

After a fight with Curtis, Porco’s plane is severely damaged—and he has to go to his Italian mechanic to fix it for a rematch with Curtis. However, there is a warrant out for Porco in Italy.

As Porco prepares for his rematch with Curtis, he must also confront his past failures, his identity, and the changing political climate around him.

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Porco Rosso Christian Review

Porco Rosso, also known as Kurenai no buta, is a 1992 Studio Ghibli film directed by the renowned creator Hayao Miyazaki, who is also responsible for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Ponyo, among other renowned films from the studio.

At first glance, Porco Rosso may look a bit bizarre in style. After all, the main character looks like a pig, which feels more like Animal Farm than a whimsical masterpiece.

But don’t let the cover deceive you. Porco Rosso is actually a really good film. As of June 2026, the film boasts a 96% Tomatometer score, which is a higher Tomatometer score than Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (91%), My Neighbor Totoro (94%), Ponyo (91%), Princess Mononoke (93%), and even Howl’s Moving Castle (88%).*

I personally really enjoy the film more than I expected; it’s very humorous, and the English dub features English actor Cary Elwes (Wesley from The Princess Bride) utilizing an American southern accent.

The film is not perfect, though. In contrast to most of the other films I’ve reviewed, the story is a little harder for me to wrap my head around. I’m not entirely sure why; perhaps it’s because I’ve only watched it twice, or maybe it’s the film itself, but either way, I really do enjoy Porco Rosso.

Porco Rosso Tone & Humor

Porco Rosso contains quite a bit of fighting, but the tone is very lighthearted. Screenrant notes that “[w]hile the film handles heavy themes, it’s largely a light-hearted adventure.“

When pirates kidnap little girls, the girls get excited and make silly commentary. They’re extremely nonchalant about being kidnapped. Plus, Porco ensures that the pirates can repair their plane. Helping your enemies is not something you’d see in a high-stakes, no-nonsense rivalry, and Porco’s rivalries are far from that.

When little schoolchildren are kidnapped, the kidnappers wonder if they have to bring all of them along (there are 15). One of them says they do, because “it’s not nice to separate them from their friends.” This quote is not only humorous, but it also lessens the villain’s villainy. Moments like this make the pirates feel more comedic than threatening, despite their criminal behavior.

Of course, there are certainly stakes: the threat of arrest, Curtis’ attempts to shoot Porco down, the threat of pirates, etc., but even the more serious stakes are often lightened.

Porco Rosso’s Setting: Italy & Fascism

Porco Rosso is set in Italy after the First World War, and much of the film takes place along the Adriatic. Porco is a former World War I pilot who fought the Austro-Hungarians.

Between World War I and World War II, fascism rose and fell in Italy, so it’s no surprise that fascism would appear in the film.

On the surface, Porco Rosso‘s “beauty is on the inside” message may seem simple. But it’s deeply effective. What the film says is that courage and goodness cannot be separated from one another. And that fighting for a system with cruelty as its foundation—such as fascism—cannot be courageous or good. No longer a soldier, Porco may wear a mask of deformity but, as he so eloquently puts it, “I’d much rather be a pig than a fascist.” (source)

Although fascism is certainly a concern in Porco Rosso, personally, I think they could have gone a bit deeper into the history, but perhaps that would have weighed the story down and made it less accessible for younger audiences.

Either way, even though the film is aimed at families, it’s certainly not just for children.

Despite Porco Rosso’s PG Rating, It is Not Just For Kids

Porco Rosso contains some serious themes and the occasional piece of questionable content, although it is generally aligned with its PG rating. Screenrant argues that Porco Rosso’s themes “are better grasped by an adult audience.” This is certainly a valuable observation. Not only is the setting historically complex, but the themes are mature, too.

Screenrant observes:

 Porco Rosso may be directed at all ages, yet its mature exploration of regret, survivor’s guilt, and the pursuit of freedom is what makes it so powerful and emotionally resonant. Porco’s values and morals, while often cynical, are rooted in his desire to live on his own terms. (source)

Yes, Porco may be rated PG, but in many ways, adults will appreciate this film more than children.

On Medium, Ardra Mahatma notes,

When one is watching Porco Rosso, a masterpiece in storytelling by Studio Ghibli, it can often be divided into two segmentations, one that is understood by the child and one that is analyzed by the adult. (source)

This is both a beautiful and accurate observation. As someone with an English degree and experience in literary and film analysis, there are still many things I am learning about the film, and my comprehension continues to grow.

Porco’s morality is questionable, and he can be very selfish, but despite his flaws, he is a decently likeable character.

Porco’s Character in Porco Rosso (Spoilers)

“If you make money from war, you’re scum, but if you can’t make money from bounty hunting, you’re an idiot.”

Porco’s morals are somewhat questionable. He is a bounty hunter, and notes that, for pigs, laws are not meaningful.

He may be into pornography (this is mentioned in the subtitles, not the English Disney dub audio), and he has a habit of judging people based on their sex. He also escapes the police when they go after him because they have a warrant for his arrest. Apparently, he once ditched the air force, which is one reason the police are after him.

But he does have good qualities, too.

Before he became a pig, he experienced something rather supernatural. While attempting to get away from his enemies, Porco finds himself in a bright and mystical place where his comrades, including his friend, are flying high in the sky in some sort of heaven-like location. Porco tries to take his friend’s place so he can return to his wife, but he’s unable to save his friend. This is certainly a haunting moment for Porco, and there is a lot to unpack. However, his desire to take his friend’s place does show a level of respect, camaraderie, and self-sacrifice that conflicts with his flaws.

Porco claims to “only fly for myself” and “only look out for myself.” He also says, “I’m a pig. I don’t fight for honor. I fight for a paycheck.”

But this isn’t completely true. Near the end of the film, he chooses to fly for Fio Piccolo, his mechanic and friend, to protect her from an unwanted marriage.

Plus, he doesn’t fly for the fascist regime even though, most likely, it would have come with benefits (and I assume a paycheck).

So his statements, although a powerful glimpse into Porco’s values, are not all-or-nothing. One that is, however, is his observation that he’d “rather be a pig than a fascist.”

He refuses to fly for the Italian air force and refuses to become the person he hates, which is rather admirable.

Religion in Porco Rosso (Spoilers)

Although religion is not central to Porco Rosso, there are a few religious references. For example, characters pray to God before a meal.

Also, Porco loses his friend, who is shown flying in some sort of heavenlike location. Porco and Fio have a conversation about this experience, bringing up an interesting perspective about God:

Fio: “God was telling you it wasn’t your time yet.”

Porco: “You think? Seems to me he was telling me I was a pig and maybe I deserved to be all alone.”

Fio: “You can’t believe that! You’re a good person.”

Porco ultimately insists that the people who were good died. On one hand, Fio seems to have some faith that Porco survived for a reason, and biblically, we know that God has a plan for us. However, Fio is wrong that Porco is good. As we discussed in our review of Tales from Earthsea, no human (other than Christ on Earth) is perfect. We all make mistakes and fall short of the glory of God, and Mark 10:18 (NIV) teaches that “…No one is good—except God alone.”

Gina’s Character in Porco Rosso (Spoilers)

Gina is a beautiful and talented singer. She and Marco* are old friends, and she cares deeply for him.

She’s experienced loss—she’s been widowed three times by pilots—so she doesn’t support Marco’s more reckless choices. She’s sought after by Curtis, Marco’s archenemy, as a wife.

She’s very kind and helpful, and tries to go after Marco when she hears his plane went down. She tries to talk him out of going to Italy for his mechanic, because there is a warrant for his arrest. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), he doesn’t listen to her.

Gina loves Marco even though he’s now a pig.

Gina is a wonderful example of what true love looks like. 1 Corinthians 13 (NIV) explores a Biblical concept of love:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Gina’s love for Marco is constant. It never fails (v.8), even when Marco turns into a pig. She wants to protect him (by encouraging him to avoid visiting his mechanic due to a warrant and by warning him about the arrival of the Italians). She’s certainly not a perfect example of 1 Corinthians 13, but she cares deeply for Marco and stands by him throughout everything.

*Gina still refers to Porco as Marco, his real name, so we will be using Marco for this section.

Fio’s Character in Porco Rosso

“Thank you for trusting a woman.”

Fio is a talented mechanic. She is Piccolo’s granddaughter, but since she’s both young and a female, Porco isn’t immediately sold on the idea of allowing her to fix his beloved plane. However, she proves herself, and Porco gives her the job.

Fio’s determination, skill, hard work, and perseverance are admirable qualities. She takes her job very seriously and, despite the danger, insists on going with Porco so that she can make adjustments to the plane if needed.

She’s one of my favorite Studio Ghibli heroines by far. She’s hilarious, adorable, and reminds me of the concept found in Colossians 3:23 (NIV):

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

As previously stated, Fio takes her work very seriously and works as hard as she can, which is a very Godly way to go about work.

(Spoilers) Fio even agrees to marry Curtis (an undesirable choice) to help Porco.

Porco Rosso English Dub

Porco Rosso has an excellent English dub created by Disney.

Michael Keaton stars as Porco Rosso. Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Psych) voices Donald Curtis, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley voices Fio Piccolo.

Susan Egan (Hercules, Spirited Away) voices Gina, and David Ogden Stiers (Beauty and the Beast, Spirited Away) voices Grandpa Piccolo.

Other voices include Frank Welker (My Neighbor Totoro), Tress MacNeille (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Tales from Earthsea), Debi Derryberry (Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Boy and the Heron, Princess Mononoke), and Bradley Pierce (Whisper of the Heart, The Cat Returns).

For a full list of the Porco Rosso English dub cast, click here.

FAQs for Porco Rosso

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Porco Rosso Parents’ Guide (Christian Review)

Sex, Romance, and Nudity in Porco Rosso

• Lover mentioned.
• Girls call out to Porco, and he calls them sweethearts.
• Little girls take off their shirts; they hang out in their bloomers.
• Gina is very popular with men. They blush.
• A woman asks Porco to share a rescue story with her, and he says he will tell it when they are alone together.
• A couple of girls at the nightclub have low-cut dresses. Not overly detailed.
• A woman blows a kiss to Porco.
• Curtis apparently proposed to Gina. She’s been widowed three times by pilots.
• Rosso mentions beautiful women in Milan.
• Porco suggests that Curtis is sexier than he is.
• Porco thinks that a lack of sleep messes with Fio’s complexion.
• Grandpa Piccolo warns Porco not to touch Fio, but he’s not interested. She apparently tires him.
• Fio tells Porco that she loves him (it’s not in a romantic context).
• Two characters in a cartoon film (that Porco watches in theaters) embrace and kiss.
• Porco calls himself “a known womanizer” and emphasizes that he and Fio would be alone and how he just has a tent. He is trying to discourage her from going with him.
• Porco notes that Fio’s butt is small, but she claims it’s “bigger than it looks.”
• “Cute girl.”
• Gina imagines falling in love with a certain man when he visits her in her garden.
• A girl’s dress flies up, and a boy blushes. She has undergarments on/bloomers, so it’s not explicit.
• Gina believes love is different in her country and in Curtis’ country.
• The pirates think Fio is pretty and cute.
• Curtis calls Fio “beautiful,” “darling,” and holds her hands.
• Curtis wants to marry Fio, and she becomes the prize for a match with Porco.
• Curtis allegedly loves Fio.
• Fio takes off her clothes, staying in a tank top and shorts. Some belly/back visible. Not explicit.
• Fio wonders if she should kiss Porco to help him turn back into a human. Porco pushes her to save her kiss, and she says, “Don’t you like me?”
• Fio kisses Porco on the cheek, and he blushes.
• A few men are shirtless in the water. Another has on a bathing suit.
• Womanizer. Talking about love and girls liking Porco, and how Curtis falls in love frequently.
• Porco finds out that Gina likes him and he blushes.
• Fio kisses Porco.

Violence, Gore, and Frightening Scenes in Porco Rosso

• Little girls are kidnapped by pirates; the pirates are rather dopey, and the girls do not seem scared.
• Porco’s airplane has mechanical issues.
• Characters shoot at each other’s planes. It’s not super intense, and although one group’s plane is seriously damaged, it doesn’t sink. The presence of little girls who are excited about the whole thing helps minimize the violence/intensity.
• Curtis kisses Gina’s hand and tries to win her over.
• Pirates shoot guns.
• A cartoon in a theater portrays some old-style cartoon violence.
• Porco and Fio are followed by the Fascist Secret Police.
• A car chasing Porco crashes.
• The secret police shoot at Porco, and he has to fly an untested plane away from them.
• The pirates swarm Porco at his hideout. They have weapons.
• The pirates want to turn Porco into bacon.
• Some shoving.
• Fio slaps Curtis in the face with Porco’s bills.
• Planes explode and crash.
• Mention of “dead meat.”
• Sea pirates shoot into the crowd to silence them.
• A sea pirate throws a grenade. It hits someone on the head, and then everyone scatters before it explodes.
• A pirate kicks all of his friends out of a picture, causing a bit of chaos.
• Porco and Curtis shoot at each other.
• Porco hits Curtis with a piece of metal.
• After Porco and Curtis run out of ammo, they start using pistols and throwing random things at each other.
• Porco and Curtis fight in the water and hurt each other’s faces. They keep punching each other. Their faces are very disfigured with bruises, scratches, and lumps.

Language in Porco Rosso

For some reason, some of the dialogue is occasionally hard to make out. Additionally, the subtitles vary from spoken dialogue. For example, d*mn sometimes occurs in the captions, and if it occurs in the dialogue, it’s hard to make out.

• “Lazy butt.”
• “Fio’s big butt.”
• “Drat” or “rat.” It’s hard to make out.
• Someone says either “dang it” or “d*mn it.” It’s hard to make out.
• “What the heck is this?”
• “Pig” frequently used as an insult.
• “Shut them up.”
• “Jerks/jerk” on multiple occasions.
• “Idiots”/”Idiot.”
• “Stupid pig” said multiple times.
• “Shut up” said on multiple occasions.
• “Lying cheapskates.”
• “American flyboy.”
• “Stupid curse.”
• “Scum.”
• “Losers.”
• “Sissy”/”sissies.”
• “Babies.”
• “Hell” (sounds kinda like “huh”).
• “You idiot” said on multiple occasions.
• “Chicken.”
• “Pig-headed.”
• “You jerk.”
• Someone calls Porco “crazy.”
• “Man, this movie stinks.”
• “Woman.”
• “You are crazy.”
• “Fool” or iterations of.
• “That stupid pig.”
• “That stupid kid.”
• “That stinking pig’s guts.”
• “Cowards.”
• “Morons” said on multiple occasions.
• “You big liar.”
• “What on earth possessed you?”
• “I’m just a stupid little girl.”
• “For crying out loud.”
• “Trash.”
• A character says something like “shuhh” which sounds pretty close to “sh*t” but most likely it is not the latter.
• “What a show off.”
• “You stupid cowboy.”
• Comparing someone to a girl as an insult.
• “You crazy pig.”

Substances in Porco Rosso

• Porco has alcohol and cigarettes on his table.
• At a nightclub, people drink and smoke.
• Porco smokes and drinks at the nightclub.
• Elderly ladies talk about needing poker money.
• An old alcohol bottle lies on the sidewalk.
• Gina has “a longstanding bet.”
• Mention of gamblers.
• Betting occurs.
• Gina offers free drinks at her place.
• Alcohol appears often.

Spiritual/Miscellaneous Content in Porco Rosso

• Porco has some sort of curse on him. Gina asks when he is going to break it.
• Porco mentions how, for pigs, laws are not meaningful.
• “Thank God.”
• Characters pray to a God who seems like the God of the Bible.
• Mention of fascism. Political posters/graffiti involving fascism are shown too.
• Mention of purifying hearts through the sky and ocean.
• “God was telling you it wasn’t your time yet.”
• Discussion of death and God.

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Conclusion: Porco Rosso Christian Review

Porco Rosso is a very fun and humorous Studio Ghibli film (it may be the funniest Studio Ghibli movie), but it deals with fascism, identity, and other mature themes and concepts that make the film less accessible to younger kids than Ponyo or My Neighbor Totoro.

With discernment, Christians may be able to watch the film provided they view it from a faith-based lens and use wisdom before selecting the film.

Photo credit: Porco Rosso poster courtesy of GKids Press Room. © 1992 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NN

*Scores based on data pulled in June 2026.