Kiki’s Delivery Service Meets Porco Rosso in Charming New Ghibli-Inspired Indie Game

For several decades, Studio Ghibli’s anime films have stirred the imaginations of countless filmmakers, writers and video game developers from around the globe. Recently, a Swedish Indie company announced its next major project — a cozy adventure game that is heavily inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) and Porco Rosso (1992).

Per News.JP, Swedish development studio Bloom & Gloom announced it is partnering with indie game publisher “Three Friends” to create Into the Wind, a new PC game in which the player takes on the role of a delivery person who inherits a shipping companyafter their uncle mysteriously disappears.

While trying to uncover the truth, the player is tasked with making deliveries and helping the townspeople while piloting a sentient vehicle named “Hermes” which can switch between airplane and motorbike forms. Images from the game’s official Steam page are shown below.

New Ghibli-Inspired Indie Game Combines Kiki’s Delivery Service With Porco Rosso

In addition to the game’s premise, it is also set in a place called “Santa Rosa,” which deliberately resembles the European-based Adriatic region from the anime film, Porco Rosso. The game’s debut stills depict a lavish environment filled with quaint seaside villages and beautiful coastlines dotted with trees and hills. Hermes’ default airplane model also bears a striking resemblance to the red seaplane piloted by Porco Rosso’s main protagonist, Marco Rossolini.

“It’s pretty obvious that we’re huge fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s work and Studio Ghibli, isn’t it?” stated Bloom & Gloom game director Robin Hjelte. “Porco Rosso, in particular, holds a special place in our hearts; it inspired us to create a game about ‘ freedom-loving fools’ of the sky set against the romantic backdrop of the Adriatic Sea.”

As one of Miyazaki’s lesser-known masterpieces, Porco Rosso follows the heroic exploits of an ex-WWI fighter pilot who abandons the Italian air force to pursue a quieter, less violent life as a bounty hunter. Due to the influence of a mysterious curse, Marco is afflicted with the appearance of an anthropomorphic pig. After his plane is shot down by Donald Curtis — an arrogant fighter pilot hired by Marco’s enemies — the former war hero seeks to reclaim his honor in a rematch with the help of a gifted seaplane engineer named Fio.

Into the Wind also evokes the cheerful spirit of Kiki’s Delivery Service, with gameplay that lets players take their time enjoying the sights of Santa Rosa and getting acquainted with the island’s residents. Deliveries must be handled with care, as players must be mindful of variables such as cargo weight, fuel capacity and weather conditions. Occasionally, they will also have to contend with “rough-and-tumble” sky pirates — yet another loving nod to Porco Rosso.

Studio Ghibli’s official contributions to the gaming realm are limited. In 2011, the world-renowned anime studio produced high-quality animated cutscenes for Level 5’s action-RPG, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. While the title was successful, Ghibli did not reprise its creative role for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (2018). Nevertheless, the studio’s ingenuity has an infectious quality that has influenced creators from numerous mediums.

According to Hjelte, Into the Wind is a direct “love letter” to Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki and the many other “important” works of art that have helped her company build its own creative legacy. “It’s a work that cherishes the feel of flying, the pleasant flow of time, the simple joy of it all, and the small events and dramas that unfold in the world,” she said. “We eagerly await the day when you all embark on a journey into the skies of Santa Rosa!”

Bloom and Gloom has not yet announced a release window for Into the Wind. Depending on the viewer’s geographic location, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Porco Rosso are available on Max or Netflix.