What to Stream: Before 'Moana,' 'Lilo & Stitch' Brought Disney to the Pacific Islands
Among the many reasons to love Disney’s newly minted blockbuster hit Moana is that it takes audiences on a deep dive into Polynesian culture, drawing on the music and mythology of the Pacific Islands to craft a grand seafaring adventure for its titular heroine. But fans of the studio’s animation may recall that Disney has been to that particular region of the globe before. In 2002, Disney took moviegoers on a Hawaiian vacation via Lilo & Stitch, the delightfully rambunctious — and stealthily heartwrenching — odd-couple comedy about a young girl and her pet alien. Coming on the heels of a string of high-profile disappointments, including Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Return to Never Land, Lilo & Stitch gave the Mouse House a much-needed box office boost, grossing almost $150 million in the U.S. and spawning a franchise of several direct-to-video sequels and a TV series.
Related: ‘Moana’ Directors Explain Why the Film’s Ending Was Important (Spoilers)
Like so many Disney spin-offs, those follow-ups were of middling quality. But the original Lilo & Stitch, currently streaming on Netflix, remains one of the studio’s modern-day gems. Much like Moana — which deliberately eschews the “Prince Charming” element of most Disney princess movies — Lilo & Stitch’s creative success lies in the sophisticated way it tweaks Disney conventions.
For example, like so many cartoon heroes before her, Lilo (voiced by Daveigh Chase, a.k.a. Samantha Darko from the cult favorite Donnie Darko) is an orphan raised by her overburdened older sister Nani (Tia Carrere) after their parents passed away. But where the traditional Disney orphan tends to be resilient and well-adjusted in the face of such personal tragedy, Lilo is a pint-sized bundle of neuroses, prone to acting out in ways that risk her already tenuous relationship with Nani.
Related: How ‘Moana’ Breakout Rooster Heihei Almost Got Cut From the Movie
Similarly, Stitch — an extraterrestrial genetic experiment that crash-lands in Hawaii — is drawn like a conventionally cuddly Disney critter such as Meeko or Abu. But this plush toy-ready creature also comes packaged with a destructive streak. The overarching narrative involves Lilo and Stitch trying to stay one step ahead of the social worker (Ving Rhames) who’s been assigned to her case, and the alien scientist (David Ogden Stiers) who’s come to Earth in pursuit of his ferocious creation. But the real story that writer/directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders are telling is about two damaged children who heal each other and, in the process, re-discover the meaning of the Hawaiian word “‘Ohana” — family.
As Sanders remembered during a 2009 interview, the concept of ‘Ohana, which he and DeBlois learned about while on a research trip to Hawaii, proved to be the creative key that unlocked the movie for the filmmaking team. (It also unlocks the audience’s tear ducts at important points throughout the film.) Other cultural touchstones that are used to terrific effect in Lilo & Stitch include Hawaii’s longstanding love affair with all things Elvis, as well as the islands’ proud surfing tradition. Meanwhile, the watercolor-painted backdrops offer a beautifully impressionistic representation of the lush Hawaiian landscape. If your Moana-loving kids are looking to spend more time soaking up the Pacific rays, sit them down for Lilo & Stitch. You’re welcome. (Available on iTunes, Amazon, Netflix and Google Play)
Happy National Ampersand Day: The Best Movies With ‘&’ in the Title:
