Disney to Premiere New Lilo & Stitch Film This Year

Image: Walt Disney Animation

Following the massive success of the original 2002 classic Lilo & Stitch—which inspired three direct-to-video sequels and a recent live-action adaptation—our favorite extraterrestrial trouble-maker is headed back to the big screen. Disney officially unveiled the new animated project at the Annecy Festival.

Titled Lilo & Scratch, the short will debut ahead of the feature film Hexed on November 25, marking Disney’s first theatrical short in five years. Chris Sanders, the writer and director of the 2002 original, reprises his iconic role as the voice of Stitch. He is joined by Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo in the live-action version, lending her voice to the character for this new short.

Co-directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, the project reunites them with original film animator Alex Cooper Schmidt. The short features a distinct visual style, blending computer-generated animation with traditional hand-drawn elements and beautifully textured watercolor backgrounds.

“Many people across the studio were eager to get their hands on these characters,” Veerasunthorn shared during an Annecy panel. “We collaborated with an incredible team to ensure every artist—regardless of their medium, be it pencil, digital pixel, or paintbrush—could contribute to the vision.”

The story kicks off with Stitch relaxing on the couch with Lilo’s pet fish, Pudge. The peace is short-lived when Lilo arrives home with a surprise: a new kitten named Scratch. While Lilo steps away to grab a welcome gift, Stitch is left to babysit, quickly realizing that the feline has a ravenous appetite for Pudge. As the tension mounts, Stitch discovers that Lilo certainly has a knack for adopting the most eccentric pets.

“What follows is a wild, chaotic chase across the island, culminating in a laser-blasting showdown between Stitch and Scratch throughout the town,” says artistic director Malcon Pierce. “It’s exactly the kind of mayhem we love to see from this character.”

Source: Polygon