Disney recently dropped the first trailer for its live-action adaptation of Lilo & Sтιтch, and already, the movie is fixing an animation issue that the company previously struggled with. Based on the 2002 animated film of the same name, Lilo & Sтιтch tells the story of a rambuctious alien named Sтιтch who escapes prison and finds himself crash-landing in Hawaii. On the run from the authorities, Sтιтch finds solace in a little girl named Lilo, who believes strongly in family. The remake is set to premiere on May 23, 2025.

Over the years, Disney has had varying degrees of success with its live-action remakes. While some films have earned considerable praise, i.e. 2015’s Cinderella, other movies have left audiences disappointed, even after raking in impressive amounts of money at the box office. There are several reasons why Disney’s live-action films have flopped for viewers, including changes to the original story and casting issues. However, one problem that was especially pertinent for Lilo & Sтιтch, and is now confirmed to be fixed, is the “live-action” animation.

Sтιтch Looks Cartoonish In Disney’s Lilo & Sтιтch Remake (And That’s Great)

Why A Cartoonish Sтιтch Works So Well

Based on the trailer alone, it is clear that Lilo & Sтιтch has aced its “live-action” animation in a way past Disney remakes have not. Although Lilo & Sтιтch mostly uses real actors and sets, the movie’s alien elements made it inevitable that the company would have to use some form of animation and CGI, particularly for Sтιтch. Fortunately, these special effects seem to blend seamlessly with the live-action parts, with Sтιтch looking just as adorably cartoonish and strange as he did in the original 2002 movie. Truthfully, him looking like a cartoon is exactly what the live-action movie needed.

One big reason why Sтιтch benefits from looking more cartoonish in 2025’s Lilo & Sтιтch is the nostalgia factor. A huge obstacle Disney has faced during its live-action remake journey is striking a balance between audiences’ nostalgia and fresh new takes on familiar stories. When it comes to Lilo & Sтιтch, the movie’s tender-hearted relationship between Lilo and Sтιтch and Sтιтch’s weirdly cute kookiness are its biggest strengths. If Sтιтch looked too dissimilar from how he appeared in the original movie, viewers would have inevitably turned on the live-action remake, unable to connect the Sтιтch they love with this new one.

The Lion King’s PH๏τorealistic Approach Became A Problem For Disney’s Remakes

How Live-Action & CGI Continue To Be A Big Problem For Disney

The main reason why Lilo & Sтιтch’s CGI is so important is because of 2019’s The Lion King. Disney advertised The Lion King as a live-action remake, but the movie itself included mᴀssive amounts of CGI in order to portray all the animals in the story. A huge setback for the film was that the characters, in being “live-action,” looked almost soulless. They were too pH๏τorealistic and lacked the subtly humanistic features that made it easy to root for them in the original. As a result, Disney received backlash for taking the sweetness out of The Lion King.

Thus, Lilo & Sтιтch’s trailer has come as a pleasant surprise for viewers. After The Lion King, and even its spinoff, Mufasa: The Lion King, it seemed likely that the company would botch Sтιтch as well. Fortunately, that is not the case. However, that is not to say that Disney has completely figured out how to balance live-action with CGI. In the coming weeks, audiences will see the premiere of Disney’s Snow White, which has faced criticism for using CGI for the seven dwarves. In this way, Lilo & Sтιтch is a great step forward, but does not eradicate the issue.

There’s No Way A PH๏τorealistic Sтιтch Would Have Worked

What To Expect From Lilo & Sтιтch

Sтιтch’s animation style is also a relief because a pH๏τorealistic Sтιтch simply wouldn’t have worked. Mainly, this is because Sтιтch doesn’t really exist. He is an alien, and though he may somewhat resemble a dog, he is really a small blue creature that looks completely unique from any other sort of animal. Because of this, Disney would not have been able to make Sтιтch look realistic; there’s nothing in real life to base him on. He would have looked more creepy than cute.

After the success of the Lilo & Sтιтch trailer, audiences may be able to actually get their hopes up for this upcoming movie. In the past few years, viewers have been let down by Disney’s live-action remakes due to unexpected plot changes and poor animation. However, with one of those problems already solved, it seems like Lilo & Sтιтch could be Disney’s best live-action adaptation yet. Lilo & Sтιтch has had an optimistic start, so hopefully, it will only continue looking up from here.