Proof That Disney Still Had It.
By the late 90s, Disney’s animation department was back on the chopping block. Despite several artistically impressive animated features, the box office results continued to dwindle. With Pixar continuing to capture huge audiences with its 3D computer animation, CEO Eisner was beginning to think the days of traditional animation were ending. Plus the studio already had several big-budget titles in the works, with few looking likely to make the same profits of the Renaissance. Inspired by a decision from Walt in the 40s, Eisner would ultimately push his team to create something incredibly cheap, but ultimately enormously profitable for the studio. Back in the early 40s, Walt Disney was facing the unprecedented collapse of his animation studio after the devastating commercial failures of both Pinocchio and Fantasia. So he had no choice but to quickly construct a hastily organised animated feature to be made as cheaply as possible, in the hopes its low margins would result in the high profits that would keep the company afloat. Thus Dumbo was born. In the wake of other commercial failures like Pocahontas and Hunchback of Notre Dame, Eisner felt the best move for the modern-day Disney studio was to create its own Dumbo; something quick, cheap, and profitable. Under Eisner’s instructions, President Thomas Schumacher approached head storyboard artist and Mulan co-writer Chris Sanders to pitch an idea to fit Eisner’s brief. Back in ’85, Sanders had created a destructive alien character named Stitch for a children’s book project which never came to fruition. Sanders felt the character was perfect for an animated feature and reworked the concept into Lilo & Stitch, which centred on the alien crash landing in Kansas and taken under the wing of a lonely young girl. While Schumacher and Eisner loved Sanders’ pitch, they balked at the Kansas setting, feeling the state’s rural surroundings wouldn’t exactly lend itself to colourful animated sequences. As such, Sanders moved the film’s setting to the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, which changed the outlook of both the film’s visual aesthetic and its plot. Eisner loved the idea, especially given no Disney animated film had ever been set in the island state.
THE STORY
Dr. Jumba Jookiba, an extraterrestrial scientist, is arrested by the Galactic Federation for illegal genetic experimentation, as evidenced by "Experiment 626", a small blue sentient alien with unparalleled strength and intelligence, but also a propensity to cause chaos. The Grand Councilwoman sentences 626 to banishment on a remote asteroid. However, 626 is able to escape with his wits and strength and randomly flees toward Earth. The Councilwoman then sends Jumba and Agent Pleakley, the Council's Earth 'expert', to recapture 626. Upon landing on Hawaii, 626 is knocked unconscious by three trucks and is taken in by an animal shelter. Meanwhile, on Kaua’i, Hawaii, a young woman named Nani Pelekai works as a waitress. One day, social worker Cobra Bubbles expresses increasing concern whether Nani is able to take adequate care of her rambunctious, disobedient, and lonely younger sister, Lilo. Since Lilo has been ostracized by her hula classmates, Nani decides to let her adopt a dog. At an animal shelter, Lilo immediately takes a keen interest in 626, who is impersonating a dog. In spite of Nani's doubts, Lilo calls 626 "Stitch", and shows him around the island. What happens next, I won’t spoil.
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In a major departure for the studio, Lilo & Stitch would focus one of its core relationships on that of two sisters; something Disney had never attempted before and wouldn’t again for another eleven years. With Nani’s difficulty with maintaining guardianship of Lilo, the film also presented a portrait of a dysfunctional family that tapped into the real-life struggles many Hawaiians were facing after the then-recent economic downturn following the U.S. recession of 2001.
Following a search of dozens of female child actors, Daveigh Chase was cast in the lead role. Fun fact – Chase would later play Samara Morgan aka the evil girl from the well in The Ring. After initially being considered for the titular role in Mulan (the film’s poster can curiously be seen in Nani’s room), Tia Carrere was selected for the role of Nani, with Jason Scott Lee cast as Nani’s love interest, David. As both Carrere and Lee are of Hawaiian descent, they assisted Sanders and DeBlois with rewriting dialogue with proper Hawaiian colloquial dialect and slang terms. While Sanders provided Stitch’s voice during pre-production, this was initially intended to be used as nothing more than a reference point for early animation designs, with plans to hire an actual voiceover artist later in production. But everyone within the studio felt his performance perfectly captured the rambunctious spirit of the little alien and the decision was made to keep his work in the final film. Despite leaving the Disney studio in 2007, Sanders continues to voice Stitch in all official Disney media to this day. Fun fact, my biggest party trick is my ability to mimic him. Or Gollum from Lord the Rings. Depending on requests.
Lilo is a complex character, filled with anger, grief, and pain over her parents’ death. It’s obvious that she loves Nani, but acts like all petulant children do when faced with the difficult task of adapting to change, especially a confusing situation where your sister is no longer your best friend but rather a stern replacement parent. As Nani struggles with dealing with Lilo’s outbursts, we feel endless sympathy for her, as she desperately attempts to stop the authorities from taking Lilo from her. In the hands of lesser artists, Lilo could easily have been seen as a selfish brat who audiences would instantly reject. But Sanders and DeBlois craft her with deft care, allowing audiences to empathise with her plight and keenly understand her behaviour is nothing more than a product of a painful loss. Many likely dismiss Lilo & Stitch as just a wacky alien-out-of-water comedy, but it’s ultimately one of the deepest and emotionally resonant narratives Disney has ever delivered. Stitch is a highly divisive character to say the least. Some say he’s very overexposed, others say he’s adorable. But he can’t help but steal every single moment of this film. In an era beset by dull disasters and overly ambitious flops, Lilo & Stitch stands tall as one of the greatest achievements of this difficult era in Disney animation. Sanders’ performance as Stitch is now iconic in Disney folklore and has rightfully become one of the studio’s most beloved icons. Lilo & Stitch proved Disney still had the ability to both entertain and capture your heart with one of its animated film, but its a talent they will soon lose complete control of.
MY VERDICT
This film is a very good reminder that without a good story, a big budget means less than nothing. Which Disney has forgotten many times in the past and, in many cases, still seems to forget today. Many of Disney’s artistic failures have simply lacked any real heart, which this film has in spades.
Is Lilo & Stitch a Disney Classic? It has endured like no other film of this era and still offers a supremely enjoyable viewing experience almost 20 years later. Lilo & Stitch is one of few films of the early millennium you can consider a true Disney Classic.
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