Warning: Contains SPOILERS for the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch remake!
Cobra Bubbles is one of the characters that the 2025 live-action Lilo & Sтιтch remake changes the most, and his story connection to the Grand Councilwoman has been totally changed. While the live-action Disney remake is mostly faithful to the tone of the original 2002 animated film, it makes a lot of story changes, with characters like Nani and Jumba being wildly different, while characters like Captain Gantu are completely cut from the story. Cobra Bubbles is one of the characters who has had some major alterations, but these Lilo & Sтιтch changes are probably for the worse.
2025’s live-action Lilo & Sтιтch has been incredibly divisive among fans of the franchise. Some audience members have loved the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch, saying that it is a faithful update to the original that gives a greater focus to the relationship between Nani and Lilo. Others have criticized the remake, pointing out the flaws with the changes to Nani and Jumba while also believing that the ending of Lilo & Sтιтch‘s remake completely disrespects the original film. While nearly every change has been scrutinized, this Cobra Bubbles change has flown under the radars of many.
Cobra Bubbles Didn’t Save Earth From An Alien Invasion Before Lilo & Sтιтch In The Remake
He Is Far Less Aware Of Aliens In The Remake
Cobra Bubbles is an incredibly mysterious character in the original Lilo & Sтιтch, with the buff social worker’s true nature not being explained until the end of the film. When the Grand Councilwoman arrives on Earth, she recognizes Cobra Bubbles, and he recognizes her. In a twist, it is revealed that Bubbles is actually a former CIA agent who was involved in the 1973 Roswell incident. As it turns out, the United Galactic Federation planned on invading Earth at this point. However, Bubbles convinced them that the mosquito was an endangered species, making Earth protected from alien invasion.
For some reason, the live-action Disney remake completely changed this. Rather than being a former CIA agent who has become a social worker, Cobra Bubbles is an undercover CIA agent, with him being disguised as a social worker. When the Grand Councilwoman comes to Earth, it seems as if Bubbles has never met her. Plus, he is surprised by Sтιтch’s alien heritage throughout the movie, meaning that he probably wasn’t involved in Roswell. Bubbles also has no connection to the mosquito endangered species scheme, with him being in the dark about this as well.
Lilo & Sтιтch Gave Cobra’s Alien History Story To Pleakley Instead
He Is Behind Making Earth A Wildlife Preserve
Since Cobra Bubbles was changed so much, his story had to go somewhere. Thus, the Lilo & Sтιтch remake decided to give it to Pleakley. When the Grand Councilwoman learns that Sтιтch has landed on Earth, she decides to destroy the planet. However, Pleakley runs out, declaring Earth a breeding ground for the endangered mosquito species. This prevents the Grand Councilwoman from attacking it, with her instead deciding to send Jumba and Pleakley to Earth in order to retrieve Sтιтch.
Lilo & Sтιтch Removing Cobra Bubbles’ Alien Invasion History Hurts The Character
He Is Far Less Competent In The Remake
Although Cobra Bubbles arguably has a larger role in the remake, removing his history with aliens hurts the character. In the original film, Cobra Bubbles felt incredibly intelligent. He was on top of everything, with him being several steps ahead of everyone due to his past. In the remake, Bubbles feels far less intelligent. He is always behind, with him hunting Sтιтch while having no idea of the larger picture. This makes the universe of Lilo & Sтιтch feel smaller, as Bubbles and the Grand Councilwoman now have no history together.
These character changes also cause a few plot holes. Firstly, in the original, the mosquito endangered species story was a lie. It can be ᴀssumed that Bubbles picked mosquitos to lie about due to them being all over the place, meaning that they can protect Earth forever since they won’t die out. In the remake, the United Galactic Federation seems to have come to this conclusion about mosquitos for no reason.
Secondly, it isn’t explained why Cobra Bubbles is willing to cover up the existence of Sтιтch and the other aliens. In the original film, Bubbles has a history of covering up alien encounters, as he was involved in Roswell. In the remake, he switches from pursuing Sтιтch to giving up for seemingly no reason, hurting the story of 2025’s Lilo & Sтιтch.
