A Look Back On The Animated 'Lilo And Stitch'

TV & Film

May 2

Fresh off their Renaissance, Disney took a risk with their storytelling by diving into the lives of an alien crash-landing in Hawaii and befriending a little Hawaiian girl disguised as her pet dog. Breaking from the traditional Disney Princess storylines through their advertising, Lilo and Stitch aimed to be an original and unique story. On the surface, Lilo and Stitch could have been a paint-by-numbers comedy about two different characters from two worlds (literally) coming together. However, those who saw the film got to experience moments of “loneliness, difference, survival, and the messy, beautiful process of becoming a family.” According to MSN, Lilo and Stitch was more than a film, it was a “love letter to the weirdos, the misfits, the ones who never fit the mold—and were never meant to.”

At the start, Lilo and Stitch established their titular characters as misunderstood at best and (to others around them) something needing to be subdued. Stitch’s existence is illegal and was ordered by the United Galactic Federation to be exiled, whereas Lilo’s eccentric views alienate her from her peers and cause her to lash out violently when pushed. Both characters are shown to be intelligent and attempting to make sense of the world they live in. Lilo attempts to make friends with the other girls in her hula class and apologizes to one of them for getting into a fight, but is ostracized by mean girl leader Myrtle and the other girls. This loneliness is exacerbated by the loss of her parents and trying to adjust to her older sister Nani stepping into the role of guardian while still in her teens. Lilo’s chaotic new life is symbolized by Stitch’s arrival.

RELATED:

Featured

30 Years Of Different Takes On Gregory Maguire's 'Wicked'

Stitch, formerly Experiment 626, is “pure chaos” and “destruction incarnate”. Crash landing onto Earth, somewhat miraculously as the United Galactic Federation expected him to land in the ocean and drown, Stitch is trapped in a world with the innate desire to destroy, but has no idea as to why. His creator, Jumba Jookiba states, “I designed [Stitch] to be unstoppable….He will be irresistibly drawn to large cities where he will back up sewers, reverse street signs, and steal everyone's left shoe." Stitch was meant to be the only one of his kind, exacerbating his loneliness and need to break whatever he can get his hands on. Stitch meets someone who is also alone and broken in Lilo, but she remains kind and tries to integrate him into society. Lilo challenges him to make something for and of himself. This leaves Stitch feeling lost and wanting to have a family.

Despite varying degrees of success in trying to fit into their family, Stitch grasped how much his presence affected Lilo and Nani, given the looming threat of Lilo being taken away by social services. Upon his arrival, Nani is at risk of losing Lilo after the death of their parents before the start of the film. This threat is further worsened after losing her job working at “stupid fakey luau” after Stitch discovers Jumba and self-described Earth expert Agent Pleakley trying to capture him at the luau. Jumba and Pleakley’s presence and Lilo’s attempts to turn Stitch into a “model citizen” (per social worker Cobra’s orders) result in Stitch inadvertently causing destruction and heartache for Lilo and Nani while the former scrambles to find what little jobs are available at the end of tourist season.

According to MSN, Nani’s struggles are meant to reflect a harsh truth of being “raw” rather than “decorative.” From relatable struggles like burning toast to forgetting to clean up the house, Nani is stuck with having to parent her little sister while still a child herself due to dire circumstances. Stuck in a situation many face, Nani takes on the responsibility of being a sister and mother figure for Lilo, so long as it means they can stay together, as Nani truly understands Lilo. She’s aware Lilo isn’t purposefully being annoying or troublesome; she is grieving and at the mercy of her surroundings just like her. Despite their fights, Nani makes it a point to not let Lilo feel like her passions aren’t strange, doesn’t talk down to her, and never allows Lilo to blame herself when things go wrong in their lives.

The appearance of social worker Cobra Bubbles could have easily made him a one-dimensional villain, but it’s clear he doesn’t take pleasure in doing his job. Entering Lilo and Nani’s home, Cobra witnesses their messy and chaotic dynamic at a temporary apex—Lilo home alone, Nani threatening Lilo while removing nails from the inside of the home Lilo hammered into the door’s entryway, and most of the house is in disarray. Despite his assertion of “things have indeed gone wrong”, Cobra witnesses Nani working hard to give her and Lilo stability, but it’s not enough. Cobra is under orders to remove Lilo from the unsafe environment, again at another chaotic apex with their house destroyed (caused by Stitch and Jumba as Jumba tries to capture him), Lilo being left home alone, and her calling Cobra because “aliens are attacking [her] house.” Had Pleakley not rushed her out of the house, Lilo would have been killed. Cobra is in the right, something that hurts him. However, when Stitch is facing exile again when the Grand Councilwoman threatens to take him away, Cobra uses his knowhow to reminds Lilo she technically owns him and his former CIA credentials to bring Stitch, Nani, and Lilo protection United Galactic Federation while having Stitch face his “exile” on Earth with his new family.

Stitch’s existence was meant to be a one-off, but Jumba didn’t count on Stitch desiring a connection with anyone. His friendship with Lilo started with him using Lilo as a shield to prevent his capture. Under the guise of being a dog surviving being hit by a car, Stitch sees how much Lilo is trying to show him kindness out of genuine love, despite him pushing her and breaking her things. His decision to leave to find his own family was not done out of malice, but out of fear for further putting Lilo and Nani in a more precarious situation than they already were in. It is when Jumba informs him that Stitch has no other family that he returns to Lilo and Nani. Now he is back to protect them. Even after revealing himself to be an alien, Stitch learned from Lilo that even through her justified anger, she and Nani are his “Ohana”, and “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” With Jumba, Pleakley, and Nani, they rescue Lilo from Gantu (who is removed from his position for putting her in danger) and, with Cobra’s help, rebuild their home.

In the end, Jumba was both right and wrong. Before the television series and sequels, Stitch was meant to be the only one of his kind without much purpose or familial connections. Jumba’s confirmation that Stitch is alone and he “can never belong”, Stitch is left overcome with sadness and guilt, emotions he’s unfamiliar with. What was and became familiar to him was Lilo and Nani’s love for him. Crash landing in Hawaii led to him discovering his family consisted of two others who were alone in the world. Torn apart by tragedy, Stitch brings Nani and Lilo together again while adding to their family. Pieces of a puzzle that don’t quite match or make sense make one strong, amazing, and beautiful household.