Walt Disney Animation Studios Part 42: Lilo & Stitch

Series Intro: This is Part 42 of a multi-part retrospective of Walt Disney Animation Studios' endeavors.

Official Title: Lilo & Stitch
Release: June 21, 2002
Running Time: 77 minutes
Estimated Cost: $80 million
Estimated Revenue: $273.14 million
Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Plot Summary:
Dr. Jumba Jookiba created an indestructible killing machine named 626 (Stitch). 626 has escaped imprisonment and lands on Planet Earth (Hawaii to be exact). He gets captured by the dog pound. Jumba and Agent Pleaklet are sent to retrieve 626.

At the same time, a little girl, Lilo, is traveling around unattended, and it is revealed that she is friendless. She has been living with her older sister, Nani, since the death of their parents. However, social worker Cobra Bubbles doesn’t believe Nani is properly taking care of Lilo.

Lilo adopts a “dog” (Stitch), who makes things worse for the family. Nani looses her job because of him (and Jumba and Pleaklet) and can’t find a new one with Lilo and Stitch in tow.

Captain Cantu, sent by the galactic governing body that imprisoned Stitch, comes to retrieve Stitch no matter what the costs. To him that includes kidnapping Lilo, after Bubbles takes her away.

After a fun chase scene, it is revealed that Bubbles knows about the Galactic Council and is able to convince them that Stitch rightfully belongs to Lilo and can not be removed from her possession. Gantu leaves Earth, Jumba and Pleaklet help Lilo and Nani rebuild their house.

Songs:

Not a musical.

Plot Rating: 3 stars out of 5

The plot was hard to sell at first. I was watching the movie and didn’t care for Stitch, I wanted that creature to be captured because he was just causing too much chaos for Nani and Lilo. Even by the end, although I was happy for Lilo that she got to stay with Nani, I wasn’t sure I wanted Stitch to stay.

Animation Rating: 5 out of 5

The water color backgrounds gave this film a tropical feel. It also harkened back to Snow White and Walt’s early films. So far this animation has been the best since the end of the Renaissance.

The Test of Time:

Stitch has taken over the Magic Kingdom. Yes, the movie was highly successful and yes the characters could be loveable, but I find that Disney keeps trying to shove this character down our throats.


Through the Modern Lens

More David is fine.

This movie lacks one thing most other WDAS movies focus on. The love story. Although there was a bit between David and Nani, this was no where near the main plot at all.

Grant it, I would have loved to see more of David. His character was sweat and as attractive as animated characters can get; but it was a buddy movie, in the vain of Fox and Hound.


Next Up:
Treasure Planet

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