kids encyclopedia robot

Lilo & Stitch (franchise) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Lilo & Stitch
Logo Lilo & Stitch.svg
Logo (in stacked arrangement) used since the 2002 original film
Creator
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Print publications
Comics Stitch & the Samurai (2020)
Comic strips Comic Zone: Disney's Lilo & Stitch (2002–2005)
Films and television
Films Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Short films The Origin of Stitch (2005)
Television specials
Television films Leroy & Stitch (2006)
Audio
Soundtracks
Miscellaneous
Toys Disney Tsum Tsum
Theme park attractions
  • Work where this franchise's characters or settings appeared as part of a crossover.
  • This show ran as a regular series from 2008 to 2011, and received two post-series television specials in 2012 and 2015.

The Lilo & Stitch series, also known as Stitch, is a popular Disney story world. It began in 2002 with the animated movie Lilo & Stitch. This film was created by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. The movie was a big hit for Disney's animation studio.

Because the first movie was so successful, the story continued! There were three more movies made for TV or home video. There was also a short film, three animated TV shows, and many video games. You can also find Lilo & Stitch attractions at theme parks and lots of merchandise.

The main story follows an unusual and fun pair: Lilo Pelekai and Stitch. Lilo is an orphaned Hawaiian girl. Stitch is an alien creature, originally called Experiment 626. Lilo adopts him and gives him his new name. Stitch was made by a mad scientist alien, Dr. Jumba Jookiba. Stitch was designed to cause lots of trouble across the galaxy. But Lilo teaches him about ohana, which means family. This helps Stitch become good.

Lilo and Stitch's ohana includes Lilo's older sister, Nani Pelekai. It also includes Jumba and his Earth-loving partner, Agent Pleakley. Many other alien experiments, like Stitch, appear in the movies and shows. Stitch treats them like his "cousins." The series also often features music and images of the famous singer Elvis Presley.

Later Lilo & Stitch stories, made after 2006, focus more on Stitch. These include the Japanese anime Stitch! and the Chinese animated series Stitch & Ai. There's also a Japanese comic called Stitch & the Samurai. In these stories, Stitch is separated from Lilo. He meets new human friends in different parts of the world. Jumba and Pleakley often join him too. A new live-action movie of Lilo & Stitch is currently being made.

Movies and TV Shows

Main Storyline

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

An alien scientist, Dr. Jumba Jookiba, is on trial. He created creatures that cause chaos. His newest creation is Experiment 626, voiced by Chris Sanders. Stitch is a small blue alien with four arms and antennae. He is super strong and almost impossible to destroy.

Experiment 626 is sentenced to be sent away. But he escapes and flies to Earth. Jumba is sent to find him, along with Agent Pleakley. Pleakley is supposed to be an expert on Earth.

Stitch pretends to be a dog. He is adopted by a lonely girl named Lilo Pelekai. Lilo lives with her older sister, Nani. Lilo finds a new friend in Experiment 626, whom she names "Stitch."

Stitch! The Movie (2003)

The evil Dr. Hämsterviel hires Gantu, a former captain. Gantu's job is to find the other 625 alien experiments. Meanwhile, Stitch is still learning to fit in on Earth.

Trouble arrives when Experiment 221 (Sparky) causes electrical problems. Lilo and Stitch must work together to stop him. Gantu gets a new helper, Experiment 625 (Reuben). But Reuben is lazy and loves sandwiches!

Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003–2006)

This TV show continues after Stitch! The Movie. Lilo and Stitch have a new mission. They need to find all of Jumba's missing experiments. Their goal is to change the experiments from bad to good. Then, they must find a special place where each experiment belongs.

At the same time, Gantu and Experiment 625 are still trying to capture the experiments. They want to bring them to Dr. Hämsterviel, who is in prison. The series had 65 episodes. It ended with the TV movie Leroy & Stitch.

Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005)

This movie takes place between the first film and Stitch! The Movie. Lilo and her friends are getting ready for a hula dance contest. The winner gets to perform at the May Day festival. Each student needs to create their own dance.

While they prepare, Stitch starts having problems. When Jumba created Stitch, he didn't fully charge Stitch's molecules. This "glitch" makes Stitch act destructive again. If Jumba can't fix it, Stitch will be destroyed.

The Origin of Stitch (2005)

This short film is on the Lilo & Stitch 2 DVD. It connects the second movie to Stitch! The Movie. Stitch finds Jumba's computer and sees how he was created as a monster. Jumba then explains how Stitch found love and family with Lilo. The other experiments are also hinted at in this short.

Leroy & Stitch (2006)

After three years, Lilo and her family have finished their mission. They have found and repurposed all 624 experiments on Earth. The Galactic Alliance honors them as heroes. Stitch and his friends decide to follow their own dreams.

But Gantu frees Hämsterviel from prison. They create a new experiment named Leroy. Leroy looks just like Stitch! Lilo and Stitch must reunite. They gather all the experiments to fight Leroy and his army of clones.

Later Spin-off Shows

"Stitch Meets High School Musical" (2007)

Stitch and other Lilo & Stitch characters play a fun game of basketball. Then, they dance to "We're All in This Together" from High School Musical. This short anime aired in Japan in 2007. It was later released internationally on the High School Musical 2: Deluxe Dance Edition DVD.

Stitch! (2008–2015)

This anime series is set in Japan. It features a Japanese girl named Yuna Kamihara instead of Lilo. The story takes place on a fictional island near Okinawa. The first two seasons were made by Madhouse. The third season and two TV specials were made by Shin-Ei Animation.

The story happens years after Leroy & Stitch. Stitch has left Lilo because she went to college. He ends up on Izayoi Island and meets Yuna. Yuna is a tomboy who lives with her grandmother and practices karate. Stitch becomes friends with Yuna. Jumba and Pleakley later join Stitch. The three aliens move in with Yuna's family.

In the first two seasons, Stitch tries to do 43 good deeds. He believes this will make a magic stone grant his wish to be the strongest in the universe. Hämsterviel, Gantu, and Experiment 625 (Reuben) try to stop him. By the end of the second season, Stitch realizes that living with Yuna is better than being super strong.

In the third season, Yuna, Stitch, and the aliens move to Okinawa New Town. Hämsterviel works with an alien woman named Delia. Delia wants a power cell inside Stitch. She even creates a powerful experiment to get it. Lilo also returns in one episode for a short reunion with Stitch.

Stitch & Ai (2017)

This Chinese animated series has 13 episodes. It takes place in Huangshan, China. It stars Stitch and a local girl named Wang Ai Ling. The series was made with American animators. It first aired in China in 2017. The English version was released later.

This story happens after Leroy & Stitch, but in a different timeline than the Stitch! anime. Stitch is captured by space criminals. He escapes when another gang attacks their ship. Stitch lands in the Huangshan mountains. He meets Ai, a lively girl whose aunt wants her to move to the city.

Stitch joins Ai's family as her new "dog." Jumba and Pleakley also join them after trying to rescue Stitch. Stitch helps Ai stay in the mountains. Ai helps Stitch avoid the space gangs. Jumba worries about a secret power he gave Stitch. This power could turn Stitch into a destructive giant if criminals trick him.

Live-Action Movie

Walt Disney Pictures is making a live-action version of Lilo & Stitch. It will be released on Disney+. Chris Sanders will voice Stitch again. The movie will be filmed in Hawaii.

Characters and Voice Actors

Characters Movies TV Series Short Film East Asian TV Series Video Games
Lilo & Stitch Stitch!
The Movie
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch Leroy & Stitch Lilo & Stitch:
The Series
The Origin of Stitch Stitch! Stitch & Ai Disney's Lilo & Stitch Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626

Main Characters

Stitch
Experiment 626
Chris Sanders Ben Diskin Chris Sanders
Lilo Pelekai Daveigh Chase Dakota Fanning Daveigh Chase Daveigh Chase
Tara Strong
(adult)
Silent cameo Gwendoline Yeo
Melissa Fahn
(young)
Flashbacks Daveigh Chase  
Nani Pelekai Tia Carrere Tia Carrere
Grey DeLisle (young)
Flashbacks   Vanessa Marshall
Dr. Jumba Jookiba David Ogden Stiers David Ogden Stiers
Jason Marsden
(infant)
David Ogden Stiers Jess Winfield David Ogden Stiers
Agent Wendell "Wendy" Pleakley Kevin McDonald Kevin McDonald
Tommy Widmer
(infant)
Silent cameo Ted Biaselli Lucien Dodge Kevin McDonald  
Captain Gantu Kevin Michael Richardson   Kevin Michael Richardson   Keith Silverstein Richard Epcar
(uncredited)
Kevin Michael Richardson
Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel Silent cameo Jeff Bennett Jeff Bennett Kirk Thornton Silent cameo  
Reuben
Experiment 625
  Rob Paulsen Rob Paulsen Silent cameo Dave Wittenberg   Silent cameo
Angel
Experiment 624
  Tara Strong Kate Higgins

Other Characters

David Kawena Jason Scott Lee Dee Bradley Baker Jason Scott Lee Dee Bradley Baker Silent cameo   Dee Bradley Baker  
Mertle Edmonds Miranda Paige Walls Liliana Mumy   Miranda Paige Walls
Cobra Bubbles Ving Rhames   Ving Rhames Kevin Michael Richardson   Richard Epcar
(uncredited)
  Terrence C. Carson
Grand Councilwoman Zoe Caldwell Zoe Caldwell   Mary Elizabeth McGlynn Laura Post Unvoiced cutscene   Deleted role
Moses Puloki Kunewa Mook   Kunewa Mook  
Sparky
Experiment 221
  Frank Welker   Frank Welker Silent cameo Steve Blum  
Yuna Kamihara   Eden Riegel  
Wang Ai Ling   Erica Mendez  

Comics and Manga

Comic Zone: Lilo & Stitch

From 2002 to 2005, Disney Adventures magazine published comic strips. These comics were based on the Lilo & Stitch series. Some comics showed events before the first movie. They even introduced Experiment 625/Reuben for the first time. Other comics took place during the movie or the TV series. There were also two comics set around the time of Lilo & Stitch 2. In 2006, Disney Press released a book collecting these comics.

Stitch & the Samurai (2020)

Stitch & the Samurai
殿さまとスティッチ
(Tono-sama to Stitch)
Manga
Written by Hiroto Wada
Published by Kodansha
English publisher Tokyopop
Magazine Comic Days (website)
Original run January 13, 2020 (2020-01-13)December 28, 2020 (2020-12-28)
Volumes 3 (physical)

Stitch & the Samurai is a manga (Japanese comic book). It was written and drawn by Hiroto Wada. It was first published online from January to December 2020. This story is set in a different world. Stitch crashes in Japan during the Sengoku period (a time of war). A warlord named Yamato Meison finds Stitch. He thinks the "blue tanuki" is cute.

The manga's art style is unique. It combines realistic drawings of humans and places. But Stitch and other characters keep their cartoon look. This manga is different because it's set in the past. Also, Stitch's human friend is an adult man, not a young girl.

Video Games

Disney's Lilo & Stitch (Game Boy Advance)

This game came out in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance. It's a side-scrolling game where you shoot and jump. It's based on the first Lilo & Stitch movie.

Disney's Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise

This game was released in 2002 for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It's a platform game. In America, the PlayStation version was just called Disney's Lilo & Stitch.

Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626

This platform game came out in 2002 for the PlayStation 2. It tells a story that happens before the first Lilo & Stitch movie. However, later stories changed this, so it's not part of the main timeline anymore.

Lilo & Stitch: Hawaiian Adventure

This video game was released in 2002. It has many small games, like a "Disney's Activity Center" game. It was developed by Gorilla Systems Corporation.

Lilo & Stitch Pinball

This is a pinball video game for Microsoft Windows. It was released in 2002. Buzz Monkey Software developed it.

Lilo & Stitch 2: Hämsterviel Havoc

 Lilo & Stitch 2: Hämsterviel Havoc
Review scores
Publication Score
GameZone 7.5/10
Nintendo Power 3/5
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
Game Rankings 71.67%
Metacritic 66/100

This action-platform game came out in 2004 for Game Boy Advance. It's the only game based on Lilo & Stitch: The Series. You mostly play as Stitch in a platforming style. But you can also play as other characters and drive vehicles.

Disney Stitch Jam

StitchDS
Cover of Disney Stitch Jam for Nintendo DS.

Disney Stitch Jam is a rhythm video game. It's the first game based on the Stitch! anime series. It was released in Japan in 2009 and in other countries in 2010. You control Stitch and some of his cousins. You complete missions by touching musical notes.

In the game's story, Angel (X-624) is kidnapped by Gantu and Hämsterviel. Stitch has to rescue her by traveling through ten worlds. Stitch is the main character. You can unlock Angel, Reuben (X-625), and Felix (X-010).

Motto! Stitch! DS: Rhythm de Rakugaki Daisakusen

Mottostitch
Cover of Motto! Stitch! DS: Rhythm de Rakugaki Daisakusen for Nintendo DS.

This is a rhythm game and a sequel to Disney Stitch Jam. It's also based on the Stitch! anime series, specifically its third season. It was released in Japan in 2010 but not in North America or Europe.

The gameplay is similar to the first game. It has new features, characters, and experiments. Stitch has a magic microphone that lets him draw in the air. You can also dress up characters like Stitch and Angel.

Other Game Appearances

  • In Kingdom Hearts II (2005) and III (2019), Stitch can be called to help in battles.
  • Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) features characters and places from the Lilo & Stitch universe.
  • In Disney Friends (2007), you can control Stitch's actions and feelings using your voice and touch.
  • Disney Universe (2011) has Stitch costumes available for players.
  • Stitch appears in Disneyland's Tomorrowland in Kinect: Disneyland Adventures (2011). He gives players quests to complete.
  • The Disney Infinity series (2013–2016) includes Lilo & Stitch items.
    • In the first game (2013), you could get power discs with Stitch's plasma blasters.
    • In Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2014), Stitch is a playable character. There's also a game called Stitch's Tropical Rescue.
  • Stitch and Lilo appear in the Nintendo 3DS game Disney Magical World (2013) and its sequel (2015). The sequel also features Jumba, Pleakley, and a world based on the series.
  • In 2017, Disney Crossy Road added a Lilo & Stitch world. Over fifteen characters from the original movie are in the game.
  • In 2018, the game Disney Magic Kingdoms added seven Lilo & Stitch characters. These included Lilo, Stitch, Nani, Jumba, Pleakley, Cobra Bubbles, and Angel. The game also added buildings from the series.

Theme Park Rides

Several Lilo & Stitch-themed attractions are at Disney theme parks.

Stitch's Great Escape!

Stitch's Great Escape! was a show that opened in 2004 at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. It closed in 2018.

Stitch's Supersonic Celebration

Stitch's Supersonic Celebration was a short stage show. It ran from May to June 2009 at Magic Kingdom.

Stitch Encounter

Stitch Encounter is an interactive show. It's like Turtle Talk with Crush. It first opened in 2006 at Hong Kong Disneyland. Other versions opened in Paris (2008), Tokyo (2015), and Shanghai (2016). The original Hong Kong version closed in 2016.

The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai!

The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai! is a show with Audio-Animatronics (robot characters). It opened in 2008 at Tokyo Disneyland. It's the fourth version of The Enchanted Tiki Room.

Images for kids