Lilo and Stitch
Director: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders
Cast: Chris Sanders, Daveigh Chase, Tia Carrere, David Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Zoe Caldwell, Jason Scott Lee, Kevin Richardson
In the heart of Hawaii, a lonely little girl named Lilo (Daveigh Chase) adopts an extraterrestrial who she names Stitch (Chris Sanders). Although they come from very different worlds, Lilo and Stitch soon form a strong bond as they discover the true meaning of “Ohana”.
One of the strongest themes in “Lilo and Stitch” is family and nowhere is this better illustrated than in the characters of Lilo and Stitch.
When we initially meet Lilo and her sister, Nani, we discover the meaning of the word “Ohana” To the sisters, Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind…or forgotten. Family is particularly important to both sisters because their family has literally been broken and they only have each other. In the beginning, Lilo is so out of control because while she has her sister, Nani, she doesn’t feel connected to anything. She is scared and angry because her parents were suddenly killed in a car crash, the other children won’t accept her because she is so different and like Stitch, she is lost. She keeps a cherished photograph of her family under her pillow to remember them as they were, and when Stitch leaves, she promises (after pleading with him to stay) that she will remember him as well, because she remembers everybody who leaves her. In the end, Lilo and Nani discover that while their family is not what it once was, it can still be made whole again...just in a different way.
While it is established in the beginning of the film that Stitch is a failed experiment, I don't necessarily think this is true. I believe that Stitch was the first experiment that Dr. Jumba created that was exposed to something beyond what he was meant for and that is why he changed and became, for lack of a better word, good. In the beginning it is very clearly established what Stitch is....an indestructible monster whose sole purpose is to wreak havoc. He didn't even have a name at this point....he was referred to as Experiment 626. When the Grand Councilwoman asks Stitch to show her something inside him that is good, he cannot answer her at that point because he simply doesn’t understand what being "good" meant. When Stitch comes to Earth, he is initially still compelled to destroy everything, even after he met Lilo and Nani…that is until he learned about Ohana. In a way, Stitch is very much like the Ugly Duckling in the story Lilo reads to him; he is lost and alone, without a family. When Stitch encounters the Grand Councilwoman for a second time, he doesn't identify himself as "626" anymore. He tells her that his name is Stitch and he is finally able to answer her question; that like the Ugly Duckling, he had found his true family and while little and broken, it was still good and he didn't wish to leave it.
“Lilo and Stitch” is one of Disney’s most unique animated films. At its heart, the film’s simplistic charm is very much reminiscent of Disney classics like “Dumbo” or “Bambi” – a tale of a lost soul longing for love and connection. What makes "Lilo and Stitch" truly special is a heartwarming story and endearing characters, woven together with stunning, watercolor animation, an Elvis inspired soundtrack, and a unique message that both children and adults can fall in love with.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders
Cast: Chris Sanders, Daveigh Chase, Tia Carrere, David Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Zoe Caldwell, Jason Scott Lee, Kevin Richardson
In the heart of Hawaii, a lonely little girl named Lilo (Daveigh Chase) adopts an extraterrestrial who she names Stitch (Chris Sanders). Although they come from very different worlds, Lilo and Stitch soon form a strong bond as they discover the true meaning of “Ohana”.
One of the strongest themes in “Lilo and Stitch” is family and nowhere is this better illustrated than in the characters of Lilo and Stitch.
When we initially meet Lilo and her sister, Nani, we discover the meaning of the word “Ohana” To the sisters, Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind…or forgotten. Family is particularly important to both sisters because their family has literally been broken and they only have each other. In the beginning, Lilo is so out of control because while she has her sister, Nani, she doesn’t feel connected to anything. She is scared and angry because her parents were suddenly killed in a car crash, the other children won’t accept her because she is so different and like Stitch, she is lost. She keeps a cherished photograph of her family under her pillow to remember them as they were, and when Stitch leaves, she promises (after pleading with him to stay) that she will remember him as well, because she remembers everybody who leaves her. In the end, Lilo and Nani discover that while their family is not what it once was, it can still be made whole again...just in a different way.
While it is established in the beginning of the film that Stitch is a failed experiment, I don't necessarily think this is true. I believe that Stitch was the first experiment that Dr. Jumba created that was exposed to something beyond what he was meant for and that is why he changed and became, for lack of a better word, good. In the beginning it is very clearly established what Stitch is....an indestructible monster whose sole purpose is to wreak havoc. He didn't even have a name at this point....he was referred to as Experiment 626. When the Grand Councilwoman asks Stitch to show her something inside him that is good, he cannot answer her at that point because he simply doesn’t understand what being "good" meant. When Stitch comes to Earth, he is initially still compelled to destroy everything, even after he met Lilo and Nani…that is until he learned about Ohana. In a way, Stitch is very much like the Ugly Duckling in the story Lilo reads to him; he is lost and alone, without a family. When Stitch encounters the Grand Councilwoman for a second time, he doesn't identify himself as "626" anymore. He tells her that his name is Stitch and he is finally able to answer her question; that like the Ugly Duckling, he had found his true family and while little and broken, it was still good and he didn't wish to leave it.
“Lilo and Stitch” is one of Disney’s most unique animated films. At its heart, the film’s simplistic charm is very much reminiscent of Disney classics like “Dumbo” or “Bambi” – a tale of a lost soul longing for love and connection. What makes "Lilo and Stitch" truly special is a heartwarming story and endearing characters, woven together with stunning, watercolor animation, an Elvis inspired soundtrack, and a unique message that both children and adults can fall in love with.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.