Friday 13 March 2015
The technique used in the movie
To give a brighter image to the film, the studio used watercolors to paint the backgrounds. This technique had not been used since Dumbo in 1941. Due to the production schedules, which have continuously tightened since Dumbo, watercolors were risky; one wrong stroke could ruin a piece, and with some 1,200 backgrounds for this movie, there was no time available to waste. Opaque gouache and acrylic paint, the current industry standards, are much more forgiving than watercolor because they let an artist paint over his mistakes. Using watercolors, the Disney artists had to carefully plan a background before they began working on it so as to avoid mistakes. Sanders and the studio's Backgrounds Department searched for easier ways to get the bright look, but finally decided that traditional watercolors were the proper way to go, and had the Orlando crew trained in the technique.
The film settings
While the animation team visited Kauai to research the
locale, their tour guide explained the meaning of ohana as it applies to
extended families. This concept of ohana became an important part of the movie.
DeBlois recalls: "No matter where we went, our tour guide seemed to know
somebody. He was really the one who explained to us the Hawaiian concept of ohana,
a sense of family that extends far beyond your immediate relatives. That idea
so influenced the story that it became the foundation theme, the thing that
causes Stitch to evolve despite what he was created to do, which is
destroy."
The island of Kauai had previously been featured in such
films as Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Jurassic Park trilogy. The Disney
animators faced the daunting task of meshing the film's plot, which showed the
impoverished and dysfunctional life that many Hawaiians and other Westerners
lived during the recent economic downturn, with the island's serene beauty. The
hula sequence in Lilo & Stitch plays a key role in establishing the movie's
Hawaiian setting.
The purpose of the film
The concept of "normal" is tossed around a lot in "Lilo and Stitch". The two main characters both find themselves faced with the overpowering problem of not being able to fit in with everyone else. However, this is not the only way in which this issue is brought forth to the viewers. Concepts of social behaviour, personality, belonging, and identity are all dealt with as the story progresses.
The status of being "weird" is another way in which many of the characters are unable to be normal. This is most evidenced by Lilo. Imagination seems to be Lilo's "flaw", and her peers because of it label her "weird". She claims a fish controls the weather and must be appeased with peanut butter sandwiches. She pretends her homemade doll is having medical problems. She takes pictures of overweight people, and performs voodoo. And, perhaps the most profound expression of "weirdness", she sees goodness in Stitch when no one else does. These factors contribute to her loneliness and behavioural difficulties. Yet Disney presents these factors not as things for which she should be condemned. Rather, throughout the movie, even when we find her quirks to be particularly odd, the audience sympathizes with Lilo and sees her detractors to be intolerant and elitist.
Throughout the entire film many of the main characters struggle with, or toy with, their personal identities. Identity quickly becomes one of the primary ways in which normality is explored. Many of the characters at one time or another pretend to be something they are not. Stitch is, of course, foremost in this area. His first alteration of identity comes when he is forced to pretend to be a dog, in order to be adopted and protected by his proximity to Lilo. This is an extreme disguise, requiring him to physically change form, hiding two of his six arms, his antennae, and the fringe on his back. His alien nature is hidden, however unconvincingly, so that he can be accepted in Lilo and Nani's family, being defended therein by Pleakley's insistence that no harm comes to the human population of Hawaii. Stitch obviously struggles within this disguise, and bends or breaks the rules of it whenever possible. He usually walks on two feet, makes use of his opposable thumb, and generally acts very sentient.
Later, Lilo attempts to civilize Stitch by teaching him to be like Elvis. This is not a disguise, as it is easy to tell he is not Elvis, but it is an attempt to hide his malicious nature under a socially acceptable outward appearance. Stitch fails at every lesson Lilo tries to teach him, but she is undeterred and has him dress in a rhinestone jumpsuit, with an Elvis wig and guitar, and perform on a beach. The attitude of a famous rock star is more in tune with Stitch's actual persona, and he does seem to fit this role more so than being a dog. However, Stitch cannot hide his true nature, and when crowded by onlookers his aggressive tendencies run rampant again. These two attempted re-designs of Stitch's personality, as a dog and as Elvis, are unable to hide the truth of what he is. This tells us that Disney is suggesting a message of real change, rather than superficial alterations in appearance. This holds true with the end of the film, where Stitch has undergone a significant internal change, finally able to fit into society without pretending to be something he is not.
The status of being "weird" is another way in which many of the characters are unable to be normal. This is most evidenced by Lilo. Imagination seems to be Lilo's "flaw", and her peers because of it label her "weird". She claims a fish controls the weather and must be appeased with peanut butter sandwiches. She pretends her homemade doll is having medical problems. She takes pictures of overweight people, and performs voodoo. And, perhaps the most profound expression of "weirdness", she sees goodness in Stitch when no one else does. These factors contribute to her loneliness and behavioural difficulties. Yet Disney presents these factors not as things for which she should be condemned. Rather, throughout the movie, even when we find her quirks to be particularly odd, the audience sympathizes with Lilo and sees her detractors to be intolerant and elitist.
Throughout the entire film many of the main characters struggle with, or toy with, their personal identities. Identity quickly becomes one of the primary ways in which normality is explored. Many of the characters at one time or another pretend to be something they are not. Stitch is, of course, foremost in this area. His first alteration of identity comes when he is forced to pretend to be a dog, in order to be adopted and protected by his proximity to Lilo. This is an extreme disguise, requiring him to physically change form, hiding two of his six arms, his antennae, and the fringe on his back. His alien nature is hidden, however unconvincingly, so that he can be accepted in Lilo and Nani's family, being defended therein by Pleakley's insistence that no harm comes to the human population of Hawaii. Stitch obviously struggles within this disguise, and bends or breaks the rules of it whenever possible. He usually walks on two feet, makes use of his opposable thumb, and generally acts very sentient.
Later, Lilo attempts to civilize Stitch by teaching him to be like Elvis. This is not a disguise, as it is easy to tell he is not Elvis, but it is an attempt to hide his malicious nature under a socially acceptable outward appearance. Stitch fails at every lesson Lilo tries to teach him, but she is undeterred and has him dress in a rhinestone jumpsuit, with an Elvis wig and guitar, and perform on a beach. The attitude of a famous rock star is more in tune with Stitch's actual persona, and he does seem to fit this role more so than being a dog. However, Stitch cannot hide his true nature, and when crowded by onlookers his aggressive tendencies run rampant again. These two attempted re-designs of Stitch's personality, as a dog and as Elvis, are unable to hide the truth of what he is. This tells us that Disney is suggesting a message of real change, rather than superficial alterations in appearance. This holds true with the end of the film, where Stitch has undergone a significant internal change, finally able to fit into society without pretending to be something he is not.
The minor characters of the movie
1)Moses Puloki
Lilo's hula teacher. Lilo and her classmates often call Moses "Kumu", Hawaiian for teacher. Is voiced by Kunewa Mook.
2)Elena, Teresa and Yuki
There are three girls that always accompany Mertle and mocks Lilo with her. They usually travel in a group and seldom say anything other than a sarcastic "Yeah!" in unison when agreeing with Mertle on something. They would actually like Lilo if Mertle didn't make them think they didn't, and have actually sided with Lilo a few times. They are voiced by Jillian Henry (Elena), Kali Whitehurst (Teresa), and Lili Ishida (Yuki). Lilo's hula teacher strangley calls Teresa "Aleka" in Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.
3)Ice cream Man
Is a fat man with sunglasses and swimsuit. This is a running gag throughout the Lilo & Stitch franchise. Whenever he appears, he drops his ice cream from its cone before he can finish it. The Sunburned Ice Cream Tourist has never spoken part in the series except saying "Whoa!" when he tripped over a pod.
Lilo's hula teacher. Lilo and her classmates often call Moses "Kumu", Hawaiian for teacher. Is voiced by Kunewa Mook.
2)Elena, Teresa and Yuki
There are three girls that always accompany Mertle and mocks Lilo with her. They usually travel in a group and seldom say anything other than a sarcastic "Yeah!" in unison when agreeing with Mertle on something. They would actually like Lilo if Mertle didn't make them think they didn't, and have actually sided with Lilo a few times. They are voiced by Jillian Henry (Elena), Kali Whitehurst (Teresa), and Lili Ishida (Yuki). Lilo's hula teacher strangley calls Teresa "Aleka" in Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.
3)Ice cream Man
Is a fat man with sunglasses and swimsuit. This is a running gag throughout the Lilo & Stitch franchise. Whenever he appears, he drops his ice cream from its cone before he can finish it. The Sunburned Ice Cream Tourist has never spoken part in the series except saying "Whoa!" when he tripped over a pod.
The supporting characters of the movie
1)Gantu
Gantu, formerly Captain Gantu, is Lilo and Stitch's arch-enemy, serving as the main antagonistic anti-hero in the original film and later evolving into a true villain in the animated series and eventually teaming with Lilo and Stitch on the hero side during Leroy and Stitch. An extremely large and muscular alien with a gruff, militant personality, Gantu resembles a bipedal whale with gray skin, sky blue eyes and pillar-like legs, wearing black battle shirt and black shorts and stands 20 feet tall. When he is seen by humans on Hawaii, he typically attempts to pass himself off as Samoan, though Lilo once told Mertle he was a dog-catcher from Nairobi, which the other girl believed. Lilo calls him "Big Dummy" for most of the series. He is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
2)Mertle
Mildred Pearl "Mertle" Edmonds is Lilo's main rival. She is a popular girl and the leader of a clique composed of herself and three other girls in the hula halau. Mertle calls Lilo "Weirdlo" and refuses to include her in the girls' activities. Mertle and the other girls express fear and disgust of Lilo and her things, such as her doll Scrump and Stitch. Mertle takes great pleasure in putting down, insulting, bullying, and making fun of Lilo, in which Lilo sometimes responds (quite violently) by hitting her, pulling her hair, and biting her.
3)Cobra Bubbles
Cobra Bubbles is working as a social worker at the time of the original film. He is called to Nani's house to determine the fate of her guardianship over her sister Lilo, only to find Lilo home alone, the front door nailed shut. After a brief assessment, Cobra concludes that Nani is not doing a good enough job.After Cobra sees Lilo nearly drown when surfing with Nani, David, and Stitch, he decides to take Lilo away the next day, though he is sad about it.
4)Grand Councilwoman
The Grand Councilwoman is the leader of the United Galactic Federation. Others occasionally refer to her as 'Your Majesty' and 'Your Highness', and on the whole she seems both reasonable and well-intentioned, although like many members of the United Galactic Federation, she knows almost nothing about Earth or its inhabitants. She is of an unknown species by name, but she seems to be reminiscent of a grey alien, with hoof-shaped feet, big eyes and a big head. She is voiced by Australian actress Zoe Caldwell. It seems, that the Grand Councilwoman has a status as the supreme ruler of the galactic federation (similar to an empress in an empire).
5)David
David Kawena is Nani's boyfriend. He was voiced by Jason Scott Lee. David is a great surfer. Like Nani, he also has trouble finding employment. He is also the only one of the four humans (the other three being Victoria, Cobra Bubbles, and later Mertle) aside from Lilo's family who is aware of the aliens and experiments.
Gantu, formerly Captain Gantu, is Lilo and Stitch's arch-enemy, serving as the main antagonistic anti-hero in the original film and later evolving into a true villain in the animated series and eventually teaming with Lilo and Stitch on the hero side during Leroy and Stitch. An extremely large and muscular alien with a gruff, militant personality, Gantu resembles a bipedal whale with gray skin, sky blue eyes and pillar-like legs, wearing black battle shirt and black shorts and stands 20 feet tall. When he is seen by humans on Hawaii, he typically attempts to pass himself off as Samoan, though Lilo once told Mertle he was a dog-catcher from Nairobi, which the other girl believed. Lilo calls him "Big Dummy" for most of the series. He is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
2)Mertle
Mildred Pearl "Mertle" Edmonds is Lilo's main rival. She is a popular girl and the leader of a clique composed of herself and three other girls in the hula halau. Mertle calls Lilo "Weirdlo" and refuses to include her in the girls' activities. Mertle and the other girls express fear and disgust of Lilo and her things, such as her doll Scrump and Stitch. Mertle takes great pleasure in putting down, insulting, bullying, and making fun of Lilo, in which Lilo sometimes responds (quite violently) by hitting her, pulling her hair, and biting her.
3)Cobra Bubbles
Cobra Bubbles is working as a social worker at the time of the original film. He is called to Nani's house to determine the fate of her guardianship over her sister Lilo, only to find Lilo home alone, the front door nailed shut. After a brief assessment, Cobra concludes that Nani is not doing a good enough job.After Cobra sees Lilo nearly drown when surfing with Nani, David, and Stitch, he decides to take Lilo away the next day, though he is sad about it.
4)Grand Councilwoman
The Grand Councilwoman is the leader of the United Galactic Federation. Others occasionally refer to her as 'Your Majesty' and 'Your Highness', and on the whole she seems both reasonable and well-intentioned, although like many members of the United Galactic Federation, she knows almost nothing about Earth or its inhabitants. She is of an unknown species by name, but she seems to be reminiscent of a grey alien, with hoof-shaped feet, big eyes and a big head. She is voiced by Australian actress Zoe Caldwell. It seems, that the Grand Councilwoman has a status as the supreme ruler of the galactic federation (similar to an empress in an empire).
5)David
David Kawena is Nani's boyfriend. He was voiced by Jason Scott Lee. David is a great surfer. Like Nani, he also has trouble finding employment. He is also the only one of the four humans (the other three being Victoria, Cobra Bubbles, and later Mertle) aside from Lilo's family who is aware of the aliens and experiments.
The main characters of the movie
Stitch is the name of the genetic experiment 626. Originally created to cause chaos across the galaxy, he is marked by his short temper and mischievous behavior (traits that endear him to his friend Lilo, who adopted him as her puppy dog). He is voiced by his creator and the film's co-director, Chris Sanders.
Lilo is a young girl with long, straight black hair and brown eyes. She is most often seen wearing a muʻumuʻu and sandals, but also wears other warm-weather clothing as well as traditional hula costumes. Her spirited and highly eccentric personality, especially in light of her parents' death, has alienated her from her fellow children, yet Lilo makes the perfect best friend for Stitch, an alien experiment whom she adopts as her dog. Lilo attends Hula school and her hobbies include the photography of obese people, talking about creatures from horror/sci-fi movies, and capturing and rehabilitating Jumba's evil genetic experiments.
3)Nani
Nani Pelekai is Lilo Pelekai's older sister and legal guardian. She carries the burden of supporting herself and her younger sister both financially and parentally and unofficially hates her and aliens. Naturally, she is usually very busy and under a great deal of stress. Her age is not made clear, but the fact that she was made her sister's guardian suggests that she is at least eighteen years old by the time of movie #1. She loves Lilo devotedly, but does not always understand her. Nani often serves as a gentle voice of reason and advice in the films and show—and occasionally, not so gentle. It was Nani, in the original film, who allowed Lilo to adopt Stitch from the pound, where he had been mistaken for a dog.
4)Jumba
Dr. Jumba Jookiba is the creator of Stitch. He is an overweight, mostly purple-skinned alien, with dark pink skin on his chest, stomach and under his arms. Jumba has a huge, mostly bald, ovalish head with three black hairs, a wide mouth, a little nose and four yellow eyes. He speaks with a vaguely Russian accent. He is from the planet Kweltikwan/Quelte Quan and his species is Kweltikwan. He has been called a mad scientist, but he prefers to be known as an evil genius, and is in fact surprisingly sociable and friendly outside of his work. Jumba initially serves as an antagonist in the first film and later as a supportive character onwards. The voice of Jumba is provided by veteran character actor David Ogden Stiers.
5)Pleakley
Pleakley is a thin, greenish-yellow alien with three stout legs, a wide mouth with two purple tongues, three elongated fingers on each hand, a round bald head topped with a single small antenna that acts as ear and nose, and one large eye in the middle of his face. Agent Wendell "Wendy" Pleakley works for the "Galactic Federation", and acts as its expert on the planet Earth, when in reality he does not know much. He reluctantly becomes Dr. Jumba Jookiba's partner when forced to assist the scientist in capturing the escaped Experiment 626 (Stitch), and later becomes his best friend and room mate when the two are stranded on Earth. His species is Plorgonarian. Pleakley is voiced by The Kids in the Hall veteran Kevin McDonald.
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