In the Italian dub, the references to the Secret Police and the political pressure Marco faces feel more immediate. The translation does not soften the edges of his refusal to join the uniformed masses. When Marco says, "I'd rather be a pig than a fascist," the line lands with a heavy, historical thud. It transforms the film from a fantasy adventure into a poignant commentary on Italian history, making the dub feel like a culturally repatriated artifact.
This article explores the nuances, voice acting, and cultural impact of the Italian dub of Porco Rosso . Why the Italian Dub Matters
The primary reason the 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.
Delivered a deep, smoky, cynical performance that leaned heavily into the classic American noir aesthetic. porco rosso italian dub
Miyazaki was a huge fan of the (Italian animators who made The Lancia Bolide in 1951). He named the protagonist Marco Pagot in their honor. The Italian dub therefore feels like a tribute from Miyazaki to Italian animation history.
The Flying Pig: Why the Italian Dub of Porco Rosso is an Absolute Masterpiece
In the end, the moral of Porco Rosso is simple: Meglio vivere un giorno da leone che cent’anni da pecora. (Better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a sheep). Thanks to the Italian dub, that lion has a pilot’s goggles and a very charming snout. In the Italian dub, the references to the
voices the charmingly arrogant American pilot, Donald Curtis. Pucci’s performance brings the right amount of rivalry and bravado, making the rivalry with Porco engaging rather than purely antagonistic. 3. Why the Italian Dub is Considered Superior
The original Japanese version features the suave Shuichiro Moriyama voicing Porco. It is excellent. However, there is an inherent authenticity to hearing a disillusioned WWI veteran speak Italian. The rhythm of the language—the hurried consonants, the expressive slang, the musicality of anger and melancholy—fits the landscape of the Adriatic like a glove.
: Many regions include the Italian audio track as part of their Ghibli collection. It transforms the film from a fantasy adventure
: Most posters, newspapers, and flyers in the background are written in Italian.
Providing the voice for the elegant, melancholic lounge singer, Pellini encapsulates the timeless, romantic sorrow of Gina.
In 2010, the distribution company Lucky Red acquired the rights to the Studio Ghibli catalog and embarked on a massive project to re-release the films theatrically with brand-new Italian dubs. These new versions were overseen by Gualtiero Cannarsi, a controversial figure in the Italian anime community known for his hyper-literal translation style. The 2010 version saw a complete recast:
A Tale of Two Dubs: The 1992 Original vs. The 2010 Lucky Red Localization