Trivia

It was originally planned as a 30- to 40-minute in-flight movie for Japan Airlines. Director Hayao Miyazaki eventually expanded it into a feature-length production.

Hayao Miyazaki mentioned in a chat room that the ghost plane scene was inspired by a passage in a Roald Dahl story.

Hayao Miyazaki has stated that he prefers the French language cast (in particular Jean Reno as Porco Rosso) over the Japanese cast.

In the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013), Hayao Miyazaki called this film "foolish". When asked why, he stated that it was foolish for him to make an adult movie for children.

Originally planned as a comical in-flight short film. Due to the beginning of the Yugoslav Wars, Studio Ghibli developed the film into a feature length movie with a serious tone, while retaining the humor of the manga it was based on.

Hayao Miyazaki: [Ghibli] The name of the production studio (Ghibli) is embossed on the engine Piccolo installs in Porco's new plane.

Hayao Miyazaki: [flying] Much of the movie's action involves planes and flying.

Hayao Miyazaki: [pigs] The lead character has the face of a pig, allegedly because he was cursed.