I appreciate Porco Rosso's ambiguous ending. As a film that has very conventional fairy tale themes, a protagonist under a curse, love distanced by obstacles, a 'duel' over a lady, it is also wildly differing from the norm. Porco is hardly the traditional prince of the story, with his grouchy nature and unappealing features, and the other characters are equally unusual. I don't think Porco Rosso is a tale you can truly put in a box so equally I think it requires an ending which is as open to interpretation. Depending on what you infer from the hints given you can decide whether he ends up with Gina or not, whether there is that fairy tale ending.

I don't think an ending has to be clear cut to be satisfying at all - in fact some of my favourite films end with a slightly mysterious conclusion.

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Originally posted by Nausicaa_Cat
I don't think Porco Rosso is a tale you can truly put in a box so equally I think it requires an ending which is as open to interpretation. Depending on what you infer from the hints given you can decide whether he ends up with Gina or not, whether there is that fairy tale ending.

I don't think an ending has to be clear cut to be satisfying at all - in fact some of my favourite films end with a slightly mysterious conclusion.

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I like that the characters aren't just decidedly "good" or "bad" but rather living breathing people, because in real life no one you meet is going to be 100% perfect all the time and no one but satan is pure evil.

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One thing just popped into my head. IF Miyazaki-sama decides to make the sequel to Porco rosso, do you think that Marco/Porco will be a man or a pig in it? Do you want him to be a man or a pig in it? I myself hope that he'd still be a pig.

I'm pretty sure he'd have to be a pig. It wouldn't be porco rosso if he wasn't.

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"An old man like me stands no chance fighting against a high school girl in her underwear" - Oshino Meme, Nekomonogatari (Kuro)

I agree with Saddles on this. There might be little glimpses of Porco as a man, like in the original, but that would be it, I think...

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Well I know that they are going to make a sequel if the films following Ponyo are a success, making a sequel called 'Porco Rosso The Last Sortie', it will be set in the Spanish Civil War and Porco will be returning as an old pilot!!!

All I can hope for is that they are better than most sequels that I have seen...

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I wonder if maybe he'd turn into a human in the end? Hmm maybe not. Sounds a bit cliche.

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Well something has to happen because the American pilot Curtis says 'Your face it's changed' or something along those lines. So it's written in that something has happened to Porco's face. Whether it be he has become human, or the kiss just healed his face from the cuts and bruises but he still remains a pig!!!!

Oh well just have to wait for the sequel!!!!

I love the open-ended, bittersweet ending of this movie. It shows there is always room for hope, and that time always provides a solution (even though it's not the one that you originally planned for...)

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Originally posted by Heidi80

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Originally posted by Saddletank
The ending also gives me hope that Porco returned to being a man as well, since I think Gina's love will heal his scars from the war.

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Now that I think of it, doesn't Curtis after his and Marco's big fight say something like "your face". That also indicates that Marco turned into a man again. But as I said, I think the biggest point is that Marco got his Gina, whereas as a man or as a pig

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maybe the change comes from his reaction to kiss, i e he could really break the spell as soon as he wanted to.

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It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so loving what - Stephen Fry.

I believe when Fio says she never saw porco again at the end she means she never saw the pig, as right before he flies Mr. Curtiss notices his face had changed. That along with the red plane at Hotel Adriano makes me believe Gina and Marco were together finally, as he visited her in the garden, meaning she wouldn't be pictured in the end scene waiting, but rather with Marco. Truly a beautiful movie, and another great Ghibli ending. I think every ending he has is left ambiguous because the movie is about what you get from the story, not how satisfied you are that its over. These are just my thoughts, but the optimist in me believes it was a happy ending

Welcome to the Tavern, stinky-pete, Welcome.

WE hope that you'll like it here. It is a bit slow for the present, but that is mainly because of the slowdown of Ghibli releases...

Again, Welcome.

I did read it, s-p, and I like and agree with your words...

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Originally posted by leonbloy
I loved that ending.

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