- Date: June 16, 2002
- Type: Movie
Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American film. The 42nd animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, it was released by Walt Disney Pictures in June, 2002. An extra-terrestrial mad scientist named Dr. Jumba Jookiba is put on trial by a galactic governing body, headed by a Grand Councilwoman, for creating illegal genetic experiments. The council is shown the creature, Experiment 626, and are appalled by it's aggresive tendencies. Jumba tells the council that 626 is bullet proof, fire proof, extremely intelligent, can see in the dark and possesses super strength but his only instinct is to destroy. Jumba is sent to Prison and 626 loaded onto a transport vessel to take 626 to a desert asteroid, where he was banished by the council. However, he escapes his holding cell, steals a police cruiser, and engages its hyperdrive; sending him hurtling towards earth while the people trying to stop him narrowly escape the ensuing blast from the jump. His pod crashes onto Earth. On the run, he passes himself off as a dog on Earth. He is accidentally run over by a transport ruck and knocked unconcious, while the driver takes him to the animal shelter, amazed that the impact didn't kill him. Meanwhile, a little girl named Lilo Pelekai who is living with her 21-year-old sister Nani, as their parents have recently died in a car accident. Lilo is lonely and a bit of an outcast. Her friends don't seem to include her in their gang, and in rage she punches one of them. A social worker named Cobra Bubbles is monitoring Nani's progress, as he is concerned that her parenting techniques do not meet the standards required to raise a child and Cobra's organization is considering putting Lilo into foster care. Nani is fearful of this, as Lilo is the only family she has left, and vice versa. Lilo doesn't help, as she doesn't really know what may happen. To try to help, Nani takes Lilo to the animal shelter, so she can adopt a dog, and she finds 626. Stitch discovers that he is being watched by Jumba and Galactic Agent Pleakley, who have been assigned to recapture 626 without being detected by humans in exchange for Jumba's freedom - who had arrived soon after him. Lilo mistakes 626 for a dog - whom she names "Stitch." She identifies with Stitch's strong antisocial tendencies, and the two form a bond immediately. Unfortunately, his violent behaviour eventually costs Nani her job. Stitch initially attempts to escape the island but finds that it is impossible because he is afraid of the water, and cannot swim since his body is too dense. Stitch resigns himself to stay with Lilo. Pleakley is both a guide and Jumba's supervisor, to ensure Jumba does not escape should he fail to recapture Stitch. Lilo notes Stitch's violent tendencies and attempts to teach him to relax, holding up her favorite musician Elvis Presley as a model example of behavior.