When an alien crash-lands on Earth, a young Hawaiian girl, Lilo (Daveigh Chase), adopts him, which causes some madness in her community.

Lilo & Stitch came out when I was only eleven, and I really adored this film. While I loved the Disney princesses when I was a little kid, by the time this film was released, I had evolved to wanting a different type of story by my pre-teen years. And this absolutely hit the mark. I loved how creative and cute Stitch was, Lilo’s tenacity and creativity, Nani’s (Tia Carrere) no-nonsense nature, and the Elvis of it all. Yes, as a child, I listened to Elvis… I’ve always been a little weird, which probably is part of the reason why I was able to empathize with Lilo to some degree.

It’s always interesting to revisit films from your childhood. Sometimes they hold up, and other times, you can’t help but cringe at the thing you loved so many years ago. So, I was curious how this film would hold up now that I am an adult.

I’m pleased to share that Lilo & Stitch is still a wonderful ride. The themes are so resonant and applicable to both kids and adults, the humor is solid, and the animation looks great. Honestly, I think this should be required viewing for all adults. We all could learn something about empathy and connection from this sweet film about a girl and her alien/dog/friend.

The central characters at the heart of this film are ones that you just want to root for. Nani doing her best to keep Lilo so that their family isn’t separated is such a beautiful and worthy goal! We don’t want to see this family that has already endured so much grief experience even more trauma. When you layer on the reality about forced separation of indigenous peoples over the years, this part of the story becomes even more resonant and impactful.

The film also centers on what it feels like to be an outcast. Lilo isn’t accepted by her peers because she’s a little unusual. She’s not like so many of the other girls her age and has a hard time connecting. I’m sure we’ve all felt like that to some degree throughout our lives. The film intentionally centers us in Lilo’s story, so we feel her isolation and loneliness.

We also understand Stitch’s isolation. Not only is he an alien who crash-landed on a strange planet, but he’s also weird when compared to other aliens. He was created to be destructive, which sets him apart from others who may technically be closer to his peers. No matter which way you look at him, he is an outcast.

No wonder these two find such a connection with each other! It’s beautiful to watch all of these characters seek to belong with each other throughout the film. That message of family and not being alone or forgotten is so resonant for so many, adults and children alike. This never comes across as too cheesy or heavy-handed, but feels appropriate for these characters and where they find themselves in their lives.

We also see each of the characters in this film grow in some way. Stitch grows the most, going from an alien who only knows how to destroy to a beloved member of this family who uses creativity to help make things for others. The final montage is so fun to see him baking a cake and imagining himself as a superhero. His whole world has changed, and it’s a beautiful transformation.

Lilo and Nani also change as they are able to better connect with each other. Even Mr. Bubbles joins this unorthodox family, seeing the beauty in their bond and the importance of being together. This heart-warming film is such an absolute delight! You can’t help but feel joy as these characters begin to experience ohana after being alone for so long.

Another notable aspect of the film is how it effectively uses nostalgia. Visually, the background art is done in a watercolor style, which is a technique found in older Disney films. That artistic choice also creates a warm and homey feeling that you might not get as much of if the background art were done in the same style as the characters. It creates this feeling of nostalgia that I think plays really well in this film.

The inclusion of music by Elvis Presley also helps to create this feeling of yesteryear. These songs, paired with the art style, help to make this film feel so warm and inviting. What a beautiful way to craft this world!

In a film about creating a home together and the importance of found family, this nostalgia makes a lot of sense. It feels natural and right for these distinct elements to come together, which I think helps give Lilo & Stitch some of its charm.

This movie came out over twenty years ago, and it’s still an absolute joy to watch! The themes are resonant and relatable, whether you’re an adult or a child. I think it should be required viewing for all human beings to help us better empathize and connect with one another. Plus, it’s really fun to watch this unusual pairing cause havoc all over the island.

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