5 Reasons to Rewatch Beloved Original Lilo and Stitch Before Seeing the New One

Lilo and Stitch 2002 movie

The live-action Lilo and Stitch remake has audiences hyped to see the adorable alien Stitch cause mayhem. However, as we anticipate the new movie, letโ€™s not forget the original animated version. The original is a masterpiece, and the live-action version shouldnโ€™t be seen as a replacement. Here are five reasons to rewatch the original version before you see the remake.

1. Lilo and Stitch has Beautiful Artwork

Bring on the live action in live-action Lilo & Stitch (if there is any) |  Polygon
Image from Lilo and Stitch courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios

The gorgeous artwork in the original Lilo and Stitch simply canโ€™t be replicated in live-action. The hand-drawn characters are wonderfully expressive, and the watercolor backgrounds are lovely to look at. Traditional hand-drawn animation offers a unique experience that feels like you are looking into someoneโ€™s imagination. The smooth, round lines and bright colors convey a sense of peace and wonder.

2. Daveigh Chase

It looks like Maia Kealoha will do a good job capturing Liloโ€™s quirky personality in the live-action version. However, Daveigh Chase was the original Lilo, and she brought an overwhelming level of charm and poignancy to the character with her vocal performance. She could generate laughter with deadpan lines like โ€œDid you ever kill anyone?โ€ and break the audienceโ€™s hearts when she says goodbye to Stitch.

3. The Humor

The Lilo and Stitch script broke new ground for Disney humor. Lilo innocently states that Nani likes Davidโ€™s butt. Stitch and Jumba chant โ€œone potato, two potatoโ€ while tossing a deadly weapon back and forth. Pleakley studies Earth culture with a ViewMaster. It remains to be seen whether or not the new movie will have the same unique sense of humor, but even if it does, the original movie did it first.

4. The Emotion

The original can make you laugh out loud one minute and tear up the next. Lilo and Nani are portrayed as real, flawed people. They yell at each other like sisters do, which makes it more powerful when they talk about how their family is broken. Stitch seems like a simple, chaotic character at first, but as the movie progresses, we see how lonely he truly is. It will take real skill for the remake to pull off the same level of emotion.

5. Wynonnaโ€™s Cover of โ€œBurning Loveโ€

The original utilizes several Elvis Presley songs in its soundtrack, culminating by an amazing cover of โ€œBurning Love.โ€ Sung by Wynonna Judd, the cover plays over a montage of Lilo and Stitch enjoying various recreational activities. The cover is full of energy and soul, making a perfect finale for the movie. While the live-action soundtrack also has a cover of โ€œBurning Love,โ€ performed by Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm, nothing can top Wynonnaโ€™s version.

Conclusion

The live-action Lilo and Stitch looks like it is trying to capture the heart of the original version. Indeed, it looks like it will have a cute girl playing Lilo, an adorable CGI Stitch, and plenty of tropical scenery to treat audiences. However, itโ€™s the original that is a classic, and no matter how many remakes Disney churns out, we should never forget the animated originals. Now is the perfect time to revisit the first Lilo and Stitch.

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