Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Daveigh Chase | ... |
Lilo
(voice)
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Chris Sanders | ... |
Stitch
(voice) (as Christopher Michael Sanders)
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Tia Carrere | ... |
Nani
(voice)
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David Ogden Stiers | ... |
Jumba
(voice)
|
|
Kevin McDonald | ... |
Pleakley
(voice)
|
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Ving Rhames | ... |
Cobra Bubbles
(voice)
|
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Zoe Caldwell | ... |
Grand Councilwoman
(voice)
|
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Jason Scott Lee | ... |
David Kawena
(voice)
|
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Kevin Michael Richardson | ... |
Captain Gantu
(voice)
|
|
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Susan Hegarty | ... |
Rescue Lady
(voice)
|
Amy Hill | ... |
Mrs. Hasagawa
(voice)
|
|
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Steve Alterman | ... |
Additional Voice
(voice)
|
|
Emily Anderson | ... |
Additional Voice
(voice)
|
|
Jack Angel | ... |
Additional Voice
(voice)
|
|
Bill Asing | ... |
Additional Voice
(voice)
|
In a place far, far away, illegal genetic experiment #626 is detected: Ruthless scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba has created a strong, intelligent, nearly indestructible and aggressive being with only one known weakness: The high density of his body makes it impossible for the experiment to swim in water. The scientist is sentenced to jail by the Grand Council of the Galactic Federation. The experiment is supposed to be transported to a prison asteroid, yet manages to escape Captain Gantu, who was supposed to deliver him there. With a stolen police cruiser (the red one), the destructive being races towards a little and already doomed planet: Earth. Stranded on Hawaii, experiment #626 can't actually do much harm: water all around, no big cities and two well-equipped representatives of the Galactic Federation already following close behind to catch him again. But Dr. Jookiba and the Earth expert Pleakley never could have guessed that earth girl Lilo adopts the experiment as dog, gives him ... Written by Julian Reischl <julianreischl@mac.com>
Disney's animation department (until the purchase of Pixar) had, to tell the truth, fallen into a bit of a dark age as the 90s drew to a close. The films were getting muddled with executive desires, and as a result went ridiculously over budget, and needless to say ultimately often bombing at the box office and/or with critics as a consequence. Only the Pixar films and, to a lesser extent, DTV sequels (themselves not exactly the brightest bulbs in the chandelier) were really the only new animated films from Disney that were making money. Whilst a number of Disney's animated films of the early 2000s are fine ("Home on the Range" and "Brother Bear" are, in particular, both fun flicks), they certainly don't quite live up to the best of Disney animation.
And then there's "Chicken Little". I wanted to like it, but I was left really disappointed. It had nice animation, but executive meddling had left the story in a mess. I'm a fan of Zach Braff and Harry Shearer, but even their vocal talents didn't save this film, which resulted in the worst Disney film of all time, and was probably only a hit due to the sheer mountain of advertising.
And yet, there's always an oasis in the middle of a desert, and "Lilo and Stitch" is, in this case, just that. It's the story of a girl who mistakes an alien for a dog, and whilst seeming an unusual little flick, is unpretentious. The animation differs from the classic Disney style that many may be used to, but it's delicious eye candy. It's rather touching, too and was rightfully a hit with critics and at the box office. Director Chris Sanders is directing another animated film for Disney entitled "American Dog" and should be released in 2008. Hopefully that will be just as good.
Although it was rated PG in the USA, I honestly think that most young kids will be able to take this if they survived the likes of "The Lion King", "Finding Nemo" and "Dumbo". But enough with the kids, and onto the adults; seriously, don't dub this as a kids movie because it's made by Disney. It's got something for everybody in it and I recommend it.