When the alien experiment Stitch crash-landed in 2002, he left an impression that has never stopped reverberating. Perhaps it’s his wild mix of cute and destructive that has fans enamored from the start or maybe it’s the story of his taming by Nani Pelekai that keeps them coming back for more. Regardless of the reason, we have plenty of Lilo and Stitch merchandise to satisfy even the most diehard fan.
On the Hawaiian island of Kauai, orphaned teenager Nani Pelekai struggles to care for her rambunctious little sister, Lilo. Social worker Cobra Bubbles visits and warns Nani that she may have to place Lilo into foster care if she can’t provide a more suitable home. Overhearing Lilo praying for a friend, Nani decides to adopt an animal from the local shelter. There she takes an interest in 626, who acts like a sociopathic puppy dog and becomes her new pet, which she names Stitch. Chaos soon erupts, with Stitch’s destructive tendencies causing havoc on the locals and interstellar authorities trying to capture him.
The film’s director, Dave Foley, consulted many people from Hawaii on its creation and the animators toured the island as well to learn more about its culture and traditions. The team was particularly inspired by the Hawaiian proverb of ohana, meaning family. The movie resonated with audiences and won the Best Animated Feature award at the 2003 Academy Awards. It also helped inspire the subsequent spin-off material that ran from 2008 through 2020, including the Japanese anime Stitch! and the Chinese series Stitch and Ai. Lilo and Stitch merchandise