This Early Ghibli Classic Is the Perfect Anime Partner to Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
It seems obvious that Netflix’s Pinocchio, directed by Guillermo Del Toro, is the victor by a wide margin in a year that saw an extraordinarily high number of high-profile Pinocchio films. Even as its pinewood protagonist sings, hops, and babbles his way into spectators’ hearts, the delightful film is set against a distinct background of hate and evil, serving as both a love letter to claymation and a scathing condemnation of fascist. It’s unusual to have two very different movies set in the same period attempt and succeed in this same area since it’s tough to strike a balance between the two. Pinocchio was accepted in 2022, while Porco Rosso was welcomed in 1992 by Studio Ghibli.
In Porco Rosso, Michael Keaton played the role of Marco, a guy who was cursed to resemble a pig and who flew bounty hunts in his distinctive red jet. The fact that Marco is flying over skies that are gradually being occupied by fascist Italy in the days before World War II is more pertinent. Porco Rosso and Pinocchio are both lighthearted movies with gloomy overtones, and there are more connections outside only setting and subject matter. Fans of one film would do well to consider how the other may advance their knowledge or amusement, depending on which comes first, despite the films’ apparent differences.
Pinocchio and Ghibli’s Porco Rosso are Master Classes in Animation
Any lover of anime, animation, cartoons, or movies would probably agree that Pinocchio does a great job of holding its own against any Studio Ghibli production. Among claymation films, it has some of the greatest settings and exquisite artwork. Much as Porco Rosso does with the islands in and around the peninsula, it expertly absorbs the stunning Italian landscape and filters it through an exquisite lens. Even though they highlight very distinct aspects of the Mediterranean region, both films are as as much love letters to their own styles of animation as they are to the stunning location.
However, one may see a clear connection in the ways that the films approach fascism within these highlighted sections. Both exploit the insignificant ways that people connect with one another to add to the borad posters and dodgy autos. Furthermore, the heroes of both films want to defeat the fascists, whether by song and dance in the case of Pinocchio or land and air in Porco Rosso. Both effectively show both the active and passive elements of fascism’s oppressive powers via the employment of their respective media. It occurs in significant pursuit sequences and dogfights in Porco Rosso. It’s a deft and nuanced move in Pinocchio.
Pinocchio and Porco Rosso Are Ideological Birds of a Feather
It’s quite uncommon for a film to promote fascism, so it should go without saying that Pinocchio and Porco Rosso are both solidly in the “fascist is terrible” camp. They are both focused on the complexity inside, hence they are not always straightforward in implementation. Porco Rosso and Pinocchio both show that even individuals who support fascism may not be really devoted to it or may merely be doing so to strengthen their own claims to power.
Despite their 30-year divide, Guillermo Del Toro and Hayao Miyazaki have a history of bringing humanity to monsters, and both of these films do the same thing to demonstrate that even the most vile creature on the outside is human. Saying that fascism is evil even if fascists are simply imperfect requires a fine balance, yet both films expertly handle the subject.
It’s hard to predict if Pinocchio will have a significant cultural influence. Porco Rosso often falls behind films like My Neighbor Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Similarly, Del Toro has competition from both his own impressive body of work and top claymation movies like those produced by LAIKA Studios. However, there is much to be learned by taking the time to view these films—whether for their beauty, their message, or simply for themselves—even if it’s as simple as realising that the flying pig has a little more in common with the pine puppet than it would first seem to.
This Early Ghibli Classic Is the Perfect Anime Partner to Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
- Reference Sites:
- https://animesee.com/
- https://www.crunchyroll.com/
- https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/
- https://www.cbr.com/
