Porco Rosso

The fact that I can call this the least of the films by Hayao Miyazaki that I have yet seen really means nothing because this is still a wonderful little film. It's a Japanese animated film that takes place in Italy sometime in between WWI and II. A seaplane pilot, for one reason or another, has been cursed and turned into a pig, now he's a mercenary for hire. Miyazaki seems to have a particular affection for pigs and flying, considering that in one way or another, they seem to figure prominently in most of his films. The only reason I call this the least of his film is that it seems to add up to the least -- it still manages to have his loveable, well-developed characters, beautiful animation, and his belief in the goodness of humanity, but it's not quite as "transcendent" as some of his better films. It's still perfectly enjoyable and the work of a real artist.