ScreenRant can exclusively reveal a behind-the-scenes clip from the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie. The Disney film introduced young newcomer Maia Kealoha, who played the young Hawaiian lead. Chris Sanders returned to voice Stitch, who was this time portrayed largely through CGI. Other cast members included Sydney Agudong, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, and Billy Magnussen.
Since the remake’s release, Lilo & Stitch has been a massive success for Disney, earning rave reviews and often being touted as the best live-action adaptation that the studio has made. The critical success has been matched by a wildly impressive box office, crossing the much-coveted $1 billion mark.
Now, ScreenRant can reveal a new behind-the-scenes clip from Lilo & Stitch. Director Dean Fleicher Camp and other crew members spoke about the importance of getting Stitch right. Camp noted, “people are not going to be happy if it’s not Stitch.” To make Stitch look more believable, the director took inspiration from real-life animals. This involved giving Stitch the “ears of a deer” and the “nose of a bulldog,” among other qualities.
The team also revealed the puppet that was used on-set to give the young Kealoha something to interact with. Behind-the-scenes footage showed the first time that the Lilo actor met the furry Stitch puppet, kissing him on his nose. Check out the video below:
Additionally, Lilo & Stitch will be released digitally on July 22, while the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD will be available on August 26. The bonus features include two deleted scenes, bloopers, and scenes with Stitch, where the iconic character shares his favorite moments.
What This Means For Lilo & Stitch
This Helped The Movie’s Child Actor
The Lilo & Stitch video showcases the care and attention the Disney team invested in ensuring they directed a young performer in the best possible way. It is hard for adult actors to evoke emotion when acting against green screens or imagined CGI images, let alone a child actor. The puppet allowed Kealoha something more tangible to work with, allowing her to click with a stand-in.
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Lilo & Stitch Ending Explained: What Happens To Lilo, Stitch, & Nani
Lilo & Stitch’s remake has a lot of structural similarities to the original animated film, but makes some interesting tweaks to the ending.
Based on the video, the Stitch puppet was also strikingly similar to the final version used in the live-action Lilo & Stitch. This was not just any puppet, but a startlingly accurate one that included hand-sewn fur. It was also a similar size to the CGI Stitch, allowing for Kealoha’s performance to translate well when the post-production qualities were added later.
Our Take On This Lilo & Stitch BTS Video
They Really Nailed Both Lilo And Stitch
The Stitch puppet was extremely successful in its efforts. Kealoha’s endearing performance as Lilo was a key factor in why audiences and many critics enjoyed the movie. But this performance could not have happened without the relationship between her and Stitch.
Camp is right in noting how critical the Stitch character was to the film. While Lilo is iconic in her own right, Stitch is an iconic creature whose physical appearance has become almost a mascot for a certain era of Disney. Luckily, the Lilo & Stitch team took their time and really made the character pop for the live-action version.
