Lilo and Stitch Discussion
Gravedigging this due to an observation I made last night...
I was watching SyFy channel and they had Critters on. I loved that movie as a kid and its been years since I saw it. The first 15 minutes...I couldn't believe how much Lilo and Stitch mirror it.
Both the Crites and Stitch are prisoners due to crimes. Both are ravenous eaters who have a high need for destruction. Both escape using one of the "space police's" spaceships. Both head for Earth. Both movies have an greenish, bald alien, who sends hunters to get them. Pretty much the similarities end there, as the Crites are total villains and Stitch was never a villain, more a victim of circumstance. But I can't help but see the similarities and wonder if the writers got their inspiration from it.
I was watching SyFy channel and they had Critters on. I loved that movie as a kid and its been years since I saw it. The first 15 minutes...I couldn't believe how much Lilo and Stitch mirror it.
Both the Crites and Stitch are prisoners due to crimes. Both are ravenous eaters who have a high need for destruction. Both escape using one of the "space police's" spaceships. Both head for Earth. Both movies have an greenish, bald alien, who sends hunters to get them. Pretty much the similarities end there, as the Crites are total villains and Stitch was never a villain, more a victim of circumstance. But I can't help but see the similarities and wonder if the writers got their inspiration from it.
Ah Critters! Been years since I last saw that movie.Siren wrote:Gravedigging this due to an observation I made last night...
I was watching SyFy channel and they had Critters on. I loved that movie as a kid and its been years since I saw it. The first 15 minutes...I couldn't believe how much Lilo and Stitch mirror it.
Both the Crites and Stitch are prisoners due to crimes. Both are ravenous eaters who have a high need for destruction. Both escape using one of the "space police's" spaceships. Both head for Earth. Both movies have an greenish, bald alien, who sends hunters to get them. Pretty much the similarities end there, as the Crites are total villains and Stitch was never a villain, more a victim of circumstance. But I can't help but see the similarities and wonder if the writers got their inspiration from it.
Interesting observations, Siren. Its funny how Lilo and Stitch is really a movie that pays homage to all alien films that came before it. Its an alien on the loose move mixed in with some ET sensibilities and a Disney message.
Yeah, it started out Critters and turns into ET. So true!
BTW, I am not saying they are stealing the Critter story, just playing homage to it. And its pretty cool if they did do it on purpose, to play homage to a lesser-known horror movie that is a cult classic. I love that movie. The Critters were so funny. Stitch and them have some things in common. Mainly...their mouths, huge, teeth lined mouths lol Their hands a bit too, and of course their small size. They both also roll into balls. Its certainly plausible they got some inspiration from Critters
BTW, I am not saying they are stealing the Critter story, just playing homage to it. And its pretty cool if they did do it on purpose, to play homage to a lesser-known horror movie that is a cult classic. I love that movie. The Critters were so funny. Stitch and them have some things in common. Mainly...their mouths, huge, teeth lined mouths lol Their hands a bit too, and of course their small size. They both also roll into balls. Its certainly plausible they got some inspiration from Critters
I find no issue with paying homage to older stories/movies as long as the writers don't claim it as their own. The reality of the situation is that every story is derived from another one, or was inspired by an existing story so no one should expect every story to be 100% original or be angry when the creator says "It was inspired by this story". Its when it crosses the plagiarism line that it becomes an issue.
Even then Lilo and Stitch is still a pretty original movie. Has anyone ever dreamt up the story of a cute but deadly alien criminal who lands on earth, specifically Hawaii, and befriends a young girl with some slight social issues.
It just borrowed the best elements of story telling to make it a rock solid film and its likely they paid homage to said elements found in other movies.
Even then Lilo and Stitch is still a pretty original movie. Has anyone ever dreamt up the story of a cute but deadly alien criminal who lands on earth, specifically Hawaii, and befriends a young girl with some slight social issues.
It just borrowed the best elements of story telling to make it a rock solid film and its likely they paid homage to said elements found in other movies.
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Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
I watched this again and I felt quite different about it than usual. I’ve always kind of disliked this movie. Not sure quite why—mostly because of Lilo, I think, but the alien designs annoyed me when I first saw the film. I think maybe the reason I felt that way was because Treasure Planet came out not long before this, and I hated the sci-fi aspect and the alien designs in that movie, and that made me biased against the aliens coming into this. Whatever the reason, the alien designs didn’t bother me it this time (and they’re definitely superior to what’s seen in TP--Amelia, Silver, Morph, and Scroop are the only non-humans that don't look stupid, imo)
Lilo is still a humongous brat. I mean, I always understood WHY she is the way she is, but that doesn’t make her any less annoying. I either like or love all the remaining characters. Nani is still my favorite, of course. One of the more funny Disney films, too, I’d say. Although I don’t hate it as much as I did at one time, I still feel the very ending speech that Stitch gives about family is OTT cheesy. They could’ve softened it to get the point/plot across without being so cringe-inducing.
While searching for this thread, I read about some deleted scene that had Pudge the Fish dying (see topic here). Although it sounds like it would’ve been a really powerful scene (that would’ve made me tear up, most likely), particularly the part about Lilo burying him next to her parents’ graves, I’m glad that was cut out of the movie. That would have been a little heavy in the middle of the film just before Cobra comes to take Lilo.
I feel like I should alter my DAC ranking with my recent viewing of TP and L&S in mind. I might go watch the DTV sequels... I haven't seen all the DTV trash Disney put out, and I skipped over the L&S brand extensions because I didn't care for the original film for the longest time.
Lilo is still a humongous brat. I mean, I always understood WHY she is the way she is, but that doesn’t make her any less annoying. I either like or love all the remaining characters. Nani is still my favorite, of course. One of the more funny Disney films, too, I’d say. Although I don’t hate it as much as I did at one time, I still feel the very ending speech that Stitch gives about family is OTT cheesy. They could’ve softened it to get the point/plot across without being so cringe-inducing.
While searching for this thread, I read about some deleted scene that had Pudge the Fish dying (see topic here). Although it sounds like it would’ve been a really powerful scene (that would’ve made me tear up, most likely), particularly the part about Lilo burying him next to her parents’ graves, I’m glad that was cut out of the movie. That would have been a little heavy in the middle of the film just before Cobra comes to take Lilo.
I feel like I should alter my DAC ranking with my recent viewing of TP and L&S in mind. I might go watch the DTV sequels... I haven't seen all the DTV trash Disney put out, and I skipped over the L&S brand extensions because I didn't care for the original film for the longest time.
Listening to most often lately:
Ariana Grande ~ "we can't be friends (wait for your love)"
Ariana Grande ~ "imperfect for you"
Kacey Musgraves ~ "The Architect"
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Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
I've cited my opinion about this movie priorly, so I know that I'm repeating again. However, the movie does frustrate me a lot and is hampered by it's huge faults that the fanboys have defended during all these years (and yes, they've jumped at me). The film does have a couple of quite good, cute and fun moments, yet however, they can't overcome the faults of this movie. The major problem is how the film misuses it's potential and is hampered by a cluttered screenplay. The film does set up the premise perfectly in the first act, yet it becomes a truly, zig-zagging and episodic mess at the second and third act, instead of rather telling the piece in a cohesive way. The events seem to happen randomly without any order or real contribution to what the film is trying to hammer.
The problem is Stitch's purpose to the family. Due to how Nani and Lilo's situation and dilemma is the most logically compelling and is frankly sufficient for an entire movie, Stitch just seem to be a shoehorned component that is just to their dismay (and yes, I'm fully aware of Stitch being the original character, but let's face it, Stitch's arc and set up is frankly less compelling than their sisters). If Stitch actually was a contribution to the family, his existence would've been justified, but he's nothing but a distraction for them, just (unwillingly) ruining things for them all the time. And just when the film starts to force Stitch the point to actually grow as a character (when he leaves Lilo and takes the book with the Ugly Duckling), he does a complete turnover with his arc and deliberately puts Lilo in danger once again when Cobra chases him to her house (in fact, I loved the brief moment where Lilo actually punched Stitch when he revealed his true alien self, thinking that she had finally realized what a thorn he was being).
Besides, another problem is the lack of chemistry between the two leads. There's no real dynamic between them and therefore no real reason to root for them to get together (and yes, fanboys have jumped on me on this one, but I'll say this again). The catalyst to the relationship is entirely Lilo's all along and she's the only one who actually is affectionate and investing. Stitch's arc and affection towards her is frankly non-existent all along and while such dynamics usually have both leads warming up to each other, Stitch's arc, growth and affection towards her is never shown until the very end. When Stitch leaves the family with the Ugly Duckling, it's out of pitying for himself. When he and Lilo are captured by Cobra Bubbles in the climax, he first and foremost saves himself first. When he finally decides to rescue Lilo, it seems as it was mostly by pity for Nani. He does show concern for Lilo, but that's not until the very end. Fortunately their dynamic is enhanced and improved in the TV series, which actually shows a real dynamic between them.
And yes, before you'll attack me, I'm fully aware of the purpose that Stitch was meant to be absent of love and affection and his arc was to learn about it. It doesn't make up how poorly and skimpy Stitch's arc really is. He never does truly change until the very end and frankly never really earns the family's affection or to really stay on Earth, due to how he's blatantly destroyed everything for everyone (and not to mention the fact that he was deliberately using Lilo all along for selfish reasons). But another thing that bugs me is how the movie is basically forcing the audience to feel pity for Stitch and portraying him as the character that you should feel most pity for, as enhanced in those scenes where Jumba describes that he lacks a purpose (right before he finds the book), when he leaves and recreates the scene from the book and when Jumba finds him and tells him that he doesn't have a family or could never belong. Lilo and Nani are the ones who legitimately deserves the pity, due to them having experienced a real trauma, yet the movie hammers the message that Stitch is the biggest victim, when the fact that he is the worst character out the trio and frankly deserves less pity (at least Lilo was endearing in her own right, despite her faults and though she was a brat, at least she was a realistic brat).
The problem is Stitch's purpose to the family. Due to how Nani and Lilo's situation and dilemma is the most logically compelling and is frankly sufficient for an entire movie, Stitch just seem to be a shoehorned component that is just to their dismay (and yes, I'm fully aware of Stitch being the original character, but let's face it, Stitch's arc and set up is frankly less compelling than their sisters). If Stitch actually was a contribution to the family, his existence would've been justified, but he's nothing but a distraction for them, just (unwillingly) ruining things for them all the time. And just when the film starts to force Stitch the point to actually grow as a character (when he leaves Lilo and takes the book with the Ugly Duckling), he does a complete turnover with his arc and deliberately puts Lilo in danger once again when Cobra chases him to her house (in fact, I loved the brief moment where Lilo actually punched Stitch when he revealed his true alien self, thinking that she had finally realized what a thorn he was being).
Besides, another problem is the lack of chemistry between the two leads. There's no real dynamic between them and therefore no real reason to root for them to get together (and yes, fanboys have jumped on me on this one, but I'll say this again). The catalyst to the relationship is entirely Lilo's all along and she's the only one who actually is affectionate and investing. Stitch's arc and affection towards her is frankly non-existent all along and while such dynamics usually have both leads warming up to each other, Stitch's arc, growth and affection towards her is never shown until the very end. When Stitch leaves the family with the Ugly Duckling, it's out of pitying for himself. When he and Lilo are captured by Cobra Bubbles in the climax, he first and foremost saves himself first. When he finally decides to rescue Lilo, it seems as it was mostly by pity for Nani. He does show concern for Lilo, but that's not until the very end. Fortunately their dynamic is enhanced and improved in the TV series, which actually shows a real dynamic between them.
And yes, before you'll attack me, I'm fully aware of the purpose that Stitch was meant to be absent of love and affection and his arc was to learn about it. It doesn't make up how poorly and skimpy Stitch's arc really is. He never does truly change until the very end and frankly never really earns the family's affection or to really stay on Earth, due to how he's blatantly destroyed everything for everyone (and not to mention the fact that he was deliberately using Lilo all along for selfish reasons). But another thing that bugs me is how the movie is basically forcing the audience to feel pity for Stitch and portraying him as the character that you should feel most pity for, as enhanced in those scenes where Jumba describes that he lacks a purpose (right before he finds the book), when he leaves and recreates the scene from the book and when Jumba finds him and tells him that he doesn't have a family or could never belong. Lilo and Nani are the ones who legitimately deserves the pity, due to them having experienced a real trauma, yet the movie hammers the message that Stitch is the biggest victim, when the fact that he is the worst character out the trio and frankly deserves less pity (at least Lilo was endearing in her own right, despite her faults and though she was a brat, at least she was a realistic brat).
Re:
omg, i am officially in love with that site! i especially love the couple of clips i found of artists flicking through pages of sequence.blackcauldron85 wrote:A really cute deleted/alternate scene:
http://penciltests.tumblr.com/post/1410 ... h-heres-an
i have been trying to explain animation to my niece and nephews, but i think they dont understand the enormity of a single action. this site literally animates what i want to show them.
big kid at heart
Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
Article on the making of Lilo and Stitich:
‘We’re going to hide it’: How Lilo & Stitch succeeded by staying off Disney’s radar:
https://www.polygon.com/features/226754 ... an-deblois
‘We’re going to hide it’: How Lilo & Stitch succeeded by staying off Disney’s radar:
https://www.polygon.com/features/226754 ... an-deblois
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Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
This was basically the only good movie of the 2000s. I'm glad I grew up in the era after starting with Tangled.
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Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
They've turned Stitch into a detective.
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Stitch-Stu ... 368067107/Stitch is good at sniffing out a lot of things…including trouble! After the events of Lilo and Stitch, paranormal mysteries start popping up across the globe. The United Galactic Federation reluctantly assigns the only alien they know up for the task: Experiment 626. Now, Agent Stitch and his friends are sent off to Paris to uncover the disappearance of one of the federations best operatives, Cobra Bubbles, and rumors of a snail-like aliens known as Snailiens spotted in the city. Will Stitch be able to solve this out-of-this world mystery? Or will he find himself caught in a situation stickier than Snailien slime?
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Stitch-Tro ... 368071333/After saving Paris from a Snailien invasion, Stitch and his friends are off to the big apple. People have been disappearing all over New York City, and the Galactic Detective Agency suspects that a group of shapeshifting aliens are to blame. Now it is up to Stitch to figure out what has happened to the missing people and save the day. But how do you a solve a mystery when the suspects can disguise themselves to look like anyone, maybe even your best friends?
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Stitch-Men ... 368085539/In the latest entry in this highly illustrated, globe-trotting middle-grade series, Stitch, Lilo, Jumba, Pleakley, and Cobra Bubbles head to Seoul, South Korea, to confront another devious cohort of aliens. Along the way, they may just find allies in one of Seoul’s top K-Pop girl groups… Can Stitch combine the spy skills he’s learned with his love of music to stop the aliens before it’s too late?
Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
Stitch looks wrong without that chris sanders style.
Re: Lilo and Stitch Discussion
A Lilo Story
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2022/03 ... story.htmlAndreas Deja wrote:I don't think I have ever told this story before. It is a bit personal. But to me it was also kind of revelatory when it happened.
In 1999 I was working on the character of Lilo at Disney's animation studio in Orlando/Florida. One evening an acquaintance of mine from LA was visiting, and he asked me to join him for dinner at a Disney World restaurant. At one point during dinner he asked me what I was animating at the moment. I started to describe the sequence pictured here. Nani and Lilo are having a moment in a hammock at night after Nani had gotten fired from her job. Lilo doesn't understand what her sister is trying to tell her. The two of them would not stay together anymore, because the next morning child services would take Lilo. Nani had failed to be a guardian of her little sister. (She was drawn by the great Stephane Sainte-Foi.)
The scene I had just finished animating was when Lilo wobbles from one side of the hammock toward Nani to comfort her. I kid you not when I admit that I got all teary eyed just talking about this moment in the film. My mind went..wowowo..hang on here, this has never happened before when talking about my work. What the heck?
I reflected on this later on and realized that this (fictitious) little character had gotten a hold of me emotionally. And this was the kind of footage you animate from an internal place, almost with tears in your eyes.
What the heck?