Porco Rosso Italian Dub ⭐ 💎
The primary reason the Porco Rosso Italian dub achieved cult status is Adriano Celentano. For non-Italians, Celentano is known as the singer of hits like Prisencolinensinainciusol and the star of The Taming of the Scoundrel. For Italians, he is il Molleggiato (the flexible one)—an icon of cool, rebellious detachment.
Warning for buyers: If you purchase the standard US or UK Blu-ray, you will get the Japanese/English track, but not the original Italian dub. To hear the "Holy Grail," you must purchase the Italian edition (EAN: 8032807051613) or stream via Italian Netflix.
The Porco Rosso Italian dub transcends the label of "dubbing." It is a reinterpretation of a masterpiece by a culture that owns the soul of the story. While Hayao Miyazaki drew the frames, Adriano Celentano gave the pig a heartbeat—a bitter, sarcastic, melancholic, and deeply romantic heartbeat.
If you have only ever watched Porco Rosso in Japanese or English, you have watched a great film. But if you watch it in Italian, with Celentano’s gravel echoing over the waves, you will realize you were watching a completely different movie.
It is the story of a man who chooses to look like a pig because it is better to be seen as an animal than to be mistaken for a hero of a corrupt world. And no one says that better than an Italian.
Final Verdict: Fondamentale. Mandatory viewing for any serious film student. Vai e guardalo subito. (Go watch it now.)
The Italian dub of Porco Rosso is often considered the "definitive" way to experience the film due to its setting in interwar Italy and the Adriatic. Key Report Details
The "Lost" Dub (1997): An original Italian dub was recorded for a 1997 home video release but was cancelled for unknown reasons.
Official Release: The film eventually received a full Italian dub that reused many of the voice actors from the unreleased version.
Cultural Fit: Fans and critics note that the Italian dialogue feels more natural than the original Japanese or English versions because of the film's deep roots in Italian geography (Venice, Milan, Trieste) and aviation history.
Theatrical Re-release: The film is scheduled to return to Italian theaters on April 25, 2026. Notable Italian Voice Cast
The Italian dub features a cast that captures the "mature yet silly" tone of Miyazaki's work: Porco Rosso / Marco Pagot: Massimo Corvo (modern version) Donald Curtis: Fabrizio Pucci Fio Piccolo: Letizia Scifoni Madame Gina: Roberta Greganti Boss Mamma Aiuto: Paolo Buglioni Ferrarin: Massimo De Ambrosis Why Fans Choose the Italian Dub
Authenticity: The film features real Italian aircraft models (Macchi, Savoia Marchetti) and local landmarks that "catch the soul" of the region in a way that resonates deeply with Italian speakers.
The Iconic Line: The famous quote "Un maiale che non vola è solo un maiale" ("A pig that doesn't fly is just a pig") is often cited as carrying more weight in its native-setting language.
Streaming Availability: The Italian dub is widely available on Netflix in many regions, including Italy and parts of Europe. porco rosso italian dub
The Italian dub of Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso (known in Italy as Il Porco Rosso) is widely considered the definitive way to experience the film due to its deep cultural resonance and historical accuracy. While the original Japanese performance is iconic, the Italian version transforms the movie from a foreign interpretation of the Adriatic to a domestic period piece. The Significance of the Italian Dub
Cultural Authenticity: Set in the 1920s Adriatic, the film's backdrop of Italian aviation history and the rise of fascism feels more immediate in Italian. Critics and viewers often note that the language bridges the gap between Miyazaki’s idealized Europe and the actual Mediterranean setting.
Linguistic Nuance: Many famous lines, such as "Better a pig than a fascist," carry a specific weight in Italian ("Meglio essere un maiale che un fascista") that captures the political defiance of the era more naturally than a translation.
Voice Casting History: The film actually has two Italian dubs. An unreleased 1997 version was produced but shelved; the widely known version was released later, retaining several key actors from the original attempt.
The "Marco Pagot" Connection: The protagonist, Marco Pagot, is named after the real-life Italian animator and friend of Miyazaki, Marco Pagot, whose family created the famous Italian cartoon character Calimero. Watching the film in Italian honors this personal tribute between creators. Why Watch the Italian Dub?
Atmospheric Immersion: The Italian voice acting captures the "breezy, postcard-perfect" vibe of the film, matching Joe Hisaishi's score which draws heavily from Mediterranean romanticism.
Character Depth: The gruff, world-weary performance of Marco in the Italian dub emphasizes his survivor's guilt and isolation in a way that feels grounded in the specific history of the Italian Air Force.
Community Consensus: Many fans on Reddit and critics at Nerdist argue that while the Disney-Ghibli English dub is well-produced, the Italian version provides an unparalleled sense of place.
The Italian dub, recorded at Technicolor SPA and released in 2010, features some of Italy’s most renowned voice actors who bring a local authenticity to the film's Mediterranean setting. Italian Voice Actor Role Significance Marco Pagot / Porco Rosso Massimo Corvo
Known for his deep, gravelly voice, Corvo captures Marco's world-weary cynicism and hidden nobility. Madame Gina Roberta Pellini
Pellini provides the elegant, melancholic tone essential for the "Lady of the Adriatic". Fio Piccolo Joy Saltarelli
Brings the high-energy, youthful determination required for the film's brilliant young engineer. Donald Curtis Fabrizio Pucci
Captures the over-the-top, bombastic nature of the American rival pilot. Mr. Piccolo Armando Bandini
A veteran actor who voices the spirited patriarch of the Piccolo family. Mamma Aiuto Boss Paolo Buglioni The primary reason the Porco Rosso Italian dub
Delivers the perfect balance of comedic menace for the leader of the sky pirates. Why the Italian Dub is Unique
Viewing Porco Rosso in Italian creates a seamless immersion that other languages can't match. Because the story is set in the Adriatic Sea and features Italian cities like Milan and Venice, hearing the characters speak the local language feels naturally correct.
Finally got around to watching Porco Rosso, and wow! : r/ghibli
The cornerstone of the Porco Rosso Italian dub is the late Michele Kalamera. For those unfamiliar with Italian voice acting, Kalamera is a legend—best known internationally as the voice of Clint Eastwood (as the Man with No Name) and, tragically, the late Michael Gambon’s Albus Dumbledore.
Kalamera did not "voice" Porco; he inhabited him. The character design by Miyazaki is cool and cynical, but Kalamera added a layer of weary, aristocratic resignation that is distinctly Italian.
Kalamera passed away in 2023, and upon his death, Italian social media was flooded with tributes to his Porco Rosso. Many Italians confessed they cannot separate Kalamera’s voice from the image of the Savoia S.21 seaplane.
The Italian dub is available on the Italian Blu-ray/DVD releases (often with English subtitles) and on Italian streaming platforms like Netflix Italy (with VPN) or RaiPlay. Some fan rips also exist online with English subs.
Final interesting nugget: In Italy, Porco Rosso is often shown in schools to teach about anti-fascism, nostalgia, and the interwar period—thanks largely to the power of its Italian dub.
Would you like a scene-by-scene comparison of a famous line (e.g., the “human pigs” speech) across Japanese, English, and Italian?
The Italian dub of the anime film "Porco Rosso," also known as "Red Pig" or "Crimson Pig," has garnered significant attention and acclaim among anime enthusiasts and film connoisseurs alike. The original Japanese version, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 1992, tells the story of Marco Pagot, an Italian World War I fighter pilot who is cursed to be a pig. The film's exploration of themes such as identity, guilt, and redemption, set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in Italy, resonated deeply with audiences worldwide.
The Italian dub, which was released in 1995, was produced by the renowned Italian film distribution company, CEI-De Agostini, in collaboration with Studio Campioli, and features the voice talents of prominent Italian actors. One of the most notable aspects of the Italian dub is its high-quality translation and synchronization, which successfully captures the nuance and emotion of the original Japanese dialogue. The voice cast, including Sergio Luzi as Marco Pagot/Porco Rosso and Renato Cecchetto as Donald Curtis, delivers performances that are both authentic and engaging, bringing depth and complexity to the characters.
One of the key factors contributing to the Italian dub's success is its faithfulness to the original film. The dub's script was carefully crafted to preserve the spirit and tone of Miyazaki's work, ensuring that the characters' personalities and relationships were accurately conveyed in Italian. This attention to detail extends to the film's musical elements, with the iconic soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi being meticulously adapted to fit the Italian dub.
The Italian dub of "Porco Rosso" has also been praised for its cultural relevance and significance. Italy is a country with a rich cinematic tradition, and the dub's release was seen as an opportunity to introduce Italian audiences to a unique and thought-provoking film that resonates with the country's history and culture. The film's exploration of fascism, in particular, struck a chord with Italian viewers, who were able to connect the narrative to their own country's complex past.
Furthermore, the Italian dub has played a significant role in promoting the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli in Italy. The success of "Porco Rosso" helped pave the way for other Ghibli films to be dubbed into Italian, introducing Italian audiences to a wide range of Japanese animation and fostering a deeper appreciation for the art form. Kalamera passed away in 2023, and upon his
In conclusion, the Italian dub of "Porco Rosso" is a remarkable achievement that showcases the country's expertise in anime dubbing. With its high-quality translation, talented voice cast, and cultural relevance, the dub has become a beloved version of the film among Italian anime fans. As a testament to the enduring appeal of Miyazaki's work, the Italian dub of "Porco Rosso" continues to be celebrated as a masterpiece of anime dubbing, one that has contributed significantly to the growth of anime fandom in Italy.
Experience the ultimate immersion in Hayao Miyazaki’s 1992 classic, Porco Rosso
, by watching it in the language of its setting—Italian. While the film was originally produced in Japanese, its deep roots in the Adriatic coast, Milan, and Italian aviation history make the Italian dub feel like a natural fit for the story. Why You Should Watch the Italian Dub
Cultural Authenticity: Set in post-WWI Italy, the film features iconic locations like the Adriatic Sea and Milan. Hearing the characters speak Italian brings an unmatched sense of realism to their interactions and the regional atmosphere.
Historical Accuracy: The story leans heavily into Italian aviation and the socio-political climate of the 1920s. The Italian language track enhances the "soul" of the region that Miyazaki captured so lovingly in his art. Dual Dubbing History:
Unreleased 1997 Dub: An early Italian dub was planned for home video in 1997 but was unfortunately cancelled for unknown reasons.
2010 Modern Dub: A new version was officially released on November 12, 2010, which is currently available on services like Netflix and has been aired on Italian channels like Rai 2 and Rai Gulp. Where to Watch
The modern Italian dub, produced by Technicolor SPA, is widely accessible:
Netflix: Many regions include the Italian audio track as part of their Ghibli collection.
Home Video: Look for Italian Blu-ray or DVD imports if you want the highest quality audio for your collection.
"A pig that doesn't fly is just a pig" hits differently when it's "Un maiale che non vola è solo un maiale." 🐷✈️
For a look at the different ways this classic has been brought to life across various languages:
The Italian dub is faithful to the original script but includes minor adaptations:
No major plot or character changes exist. The anti-fascist message remains clear — a bold choice given Italian TV censorship of the era, though the film passed without cuts.