Disney’s 2002 filmLilo & Stitchbecame a huge hit, leading to threedirect-to-video sequels and alive-action remake. Now the adorable alien menace is returning to theaters with a new animated film Disney announced atAnnecy Festival.
Lilo & Scratchwill run ahead ofHexed, which premieres on Nov. 25, marking the first time in five years that Disney has released a new theatrical short.Lilo & Stitchwriter and director Chris Sanders served as the original voice of Stitch and returns to the role while Maia Kealoha, who played Lilo in the live action remake, will voice the character in the short.
Hexed co-directors Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand worked on the short along with the original film’s animator Alex Cooper Schmidt. He did hand-drawn versions of Stitch used in the film, which also utilizes CG animation, and watercolor backgrounds both painted by hand and with computer programs.
“Many people at our studio across multiple disciplines wanted to work with these characters,” Veerasunthorn said during a panel at Annecy. “We worked with our incredible team to figure out how every artist – whether to use pencil, pixel, paintbrush, or synthetic pen – could join in on this.”
The short starts with Stitch lounging on the couch alongside Lilo’s pet fish, Pudge. Then Lilo comes home with a surprise, a kitten she’s named Scratch. She runs off to get a welcome gift for Scratch, leaving Stitch alone with the cat, who is determined to eat Pudge. As Lilo faces off against his adorable new nemesis, he discovers that Lilo definitely has a penchant for picking out weird pets.
“What follows is a wild, chaotic chase across the island that leads to a laser-blasting battle between Stitch and Scratch throughout town,” artistic director Malcon Pierce said. “This is the type of mayhem we love with this character.”
