The Making of Stitch and Behind the Scenes Stories

In the summer of 2002, Disney released “Lilo & Stitch”, a film that soon become a Disney favourite for generations to come. This classic is based around a powerful and destructive experimental creature who comes from space and was engineered by a mad scientist, Stitch then finds himself crash-landing on Earth, specifically in Hawaii, a first for Disney.  

This blue alien captured hearts and quickly became an icon in the Disney universe. But what went into bringing this character, and film to life?  

Join us as we explore how Lilo & Stitch was created and uncover fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.  

The Birth of Stitch

The creation of Stitch came around in the 1990s when animator Chris Sanders, who had worked with Disney for over a decade, and was involved in the making of Mulan (1998), Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994), had an idea for years about an alien in a forest.  

Sanders had dropped this idea due to budgeting difficulties and time, but when this project had come about and not much budget was brought to it, Chris decided to re-shift his alien idea and align it with this project.  

Sanders travelled to Palm Springs and spent a week hidden in a hotel room as he tried to envision this new alien. To pitch the character to his team, he said  

“If I say “alien,” everyone’s going to have a different interpretation as to what that is. So, I’m going to do a book that has drawings in it so they understand.” 

Sanders then made a drawing of Stitch and wanted to bring the creature to life by trying to model him. He used the tools available to him while hidden in a hotel room, pieces of crab from his dinner, he made the head out of clay, and found some glass eyes from a taxidermy shop. Once completed he took this model back to the development team where the team were happy to try to create what Sanders had envisioned.  

Due to low budgets, they used a small studio in Florida to bring the movie to life which had a group of hardworking artists who were eager to prove themselves within the animation industry. Stitch, originally known as Experiment 626, was designed as an anti-hero – a departure from the usual Disney protagonist. Sanders was inspired by Gremlins and wanted to create a character that embodied chaos and unpredictability. Stitch’s unique design with his large eyes, multiple arms, expressive ears, and mischievous grin made him instantly stand out from previous Disney animations! 

The Hawaiian Islands 

One of the standout features of Lilo & Stitch is the beautiful settings of Hawaii, another first for Disney. Having this film set in Hawaii played a crucial part of its success and became the heart and soul of the film’s foundations. With wonderful landscapes and a vibrant culture, this made for a rich background in Lilo & Stitch and influenced the film greatly.  

The idea to set the film in Hawaii also came from Sanders who had a map hung up on his wall. He’d been on vacation to Hawaii and thought it would be the perfect place to set this film. He used the map to search for names for the characters and stumbled upon Lilo Lane and found Nani. He thought these would be perfect for his main characters.  

The production team, including directors Chris Sanders and Dean Deblois, took several research trips to the Hawaiian Islands to ensure the film’s authenticity. From immersing themselves in the culture and music to learning the language and community values, all this knowledge then shaped the film’s character and storyline.  

The research trips to Hawaii were eye-opening, and changed the course of the film visually, musically, and narratively. – Christ Sanders. 

The team’s dedication to authenticity shines through the success of the film’s depiction of ‘ohana, the Hawaiian concept of family, which plays a central role to the stories emotional core and relatability.  

Even the music took inspiration from real Hawaiian generational tunes. When meeting actress Tia Carrere, who originates from Hawaii, she influenced the addition of the song “Aloha Oe” in the heart wrenching scene where Nani (voiced by Tia Carrere) tell Lilo that they will be separated. Carrere suggests singing the song, in a vulnerable and genuine moment, as it is known as a song of love and farewell in the Hawaiian culture, written by Queen Lili’uokalani. Carrere also used her grandmother to harmonise the song with her to ensure the song was sung correctly and perfectly. Which it definitely was! 

The Watercolour Revolution  

Lilo & Stitch marked the return of traditional animation techniques when the era of CGI was becoming increasingly dominant. One of the most striking features of this film is its beautiful use of watercolour backgrounds – this technique was widely used since the 1940s.  

The decision to use watercolour was both an artistic one, and something that brought about nostalgia. It added a softness and warmth to the film and its setting. This gave the film a unique and timeless feel with its watercolours and hand-drawn elements.  

Sanders mentions that through the research trips to Hawaii the development team were able to be inspired by the true colours of nature. For example, with the waves of the ocean, most Disney films would make the foam of the waves white, but the team were having dinner at the beach during sunset and witnessed the foam turn pink to reflect the sky. This was then used in the film to replicate reality.  

The making of Lilo & Stitch is a testament to the power of creativity and the importance of taking risks. From its unconventional protagonist to its vibrant setting that feared the team in wondering how they would represent it, to its innovative animation techniques. This film paved the way for many artists and filmmakers.  

Whether a long-time fan or discovering Stitch for the first time, the magic of Lilo & Stitch will leave anyone, no matter the age, smiling and remembering

“Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”  

Discover a range of Lilo & Stitch toys for the ultimate fans.  

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