Songs from Porco Rosso. Theme song and inserted songs.
That famous phrase, “A pig that doesn’t fly is just a pig”—haven’t a lot of people tried imitating it?
This article gathers the theme song and insert songs from the 1992 Studio Ghibli film Porco Rosso.
Listening to them, you can’t help but picture a bright red airplane soaring through the sky.
Porco, the protagonist, has this irresistible cool, rugged vibe that contrasts with his fanciful appearance.
If you’ve seen the film before, just hearing the music will make you want to watch it again!
It’s a collection packed with unforgettable classics.
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The Songs of Porco Rosso: Theme and Insert Songs (11–20)
Pikkoro Co., Ltd.Hisaishi Joe
In Porco Rosso, many working people appear, and all of them are working diligently.
Among them, the most striking is the scene featuring the people of the Piccolo Company, accompanied by a piece of music whose charming arrangement evokes the streets of Italy and the sounds of its people, enhancing the scene.
It’s a perfect track to use as background music for those hard at work.
Fio－SeventeenHisaishi Joe
This is the theme song of Fio, a 17-year-old girl who, despite her age, fearlessly stands up to Porco and cheerfully, brightly gets her work done.
She’s the granddaughter of the owner of the seaplane company Piccolo and a key character in this story.
While she’s energetic and outspoken, the song also conveys a side of her that feels the anxieties typical of a 17-year-old girl.
At the end of summerHisaishi Joe
A piece used in the latter half of the film.
The mandolin’s wistful melody and the flute’s flowing lines create a beautiful number that, true to its title, evokes the end of summer.
It conjures the bright skies and dry breezes of Italy’s Mediterranean coast, yet carries a hint of transience and melancholy.
The finish subtly suggests the nuance of a canzone.
Lost SpiritHisaishi Joe
It is included on the Porco Rosso soundtrack.
“Lost Spirit” is a number used in the latter half of the film.
The contrast between the piano’s dramatic, heartrending main melody and the soft sound of the backing strings makes for a pleasing yet somehow wistful piece.
The timbre of the strings feels like the flicker of life.
Sometimes, a tale from long ago — from Porco RossoKatō Tokiko
This is a work written and composed by Tokiko Kato herself, whose warm yet faintly bittersweet worldview evokes a deep nostalgia for days of youth gone by.
As it searches for an unseen future, it conjures scenes of passionate conversations with friends—memories many listeners will find echoing their own.
The song was included on the album “MY STORY / Toki ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi wo,” released in February 1987, and is also known as the ending theme of the 1992 film Porco Rosso.
The piano arrangement used in the film, with its striking timbre, gently lets you linger in the afterglow of the story.
With its calm melody, it’s also great to play as background music when you want to focus on work.
Marco and Gina’s ThemeHisaishi Joe
A beautiful piece that vividly brings to mind Marco and Gina’s relationship and feelings.
This one is a track from the image album.
While the piece itself isn’t used as-is in the film, many listeners will probably recognize the melody.
There’s a similar piece as the third track on the same album, but the melody is different.
If you’re a Porco Rosso fan, this might be a piece you’ll want to try playing at least once.
Songs of Porco Rosso. Main theme and insert songs (21–30)
The Age of Adventurer AviatorsHisaishi Joe
This is a waltz number from the image album that evokes a gently drifting sense of comfort.
It’s crafted into a slightly retro, nostalgic piece that conveys the breeze of the early 1900s, the era in which the film is set.
The soft melody, carried by the light, airy tone of the clarinet, fills you with a happiness that makes you want to start twirling as you listen.