Warning: There are spoilers ahead for the live-action remake of Lilo & Sтιтch.
I am disappointed that the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch cut one of the most important parts of Sтιтch’s original story. While Lilo & Sтιтch‘s reviews have been largely positive, the live-action remake has received its fair share of criticism as well. Much of this criticism is related to changes that were made from the original animated movie that was released in 2002, including the decision to significantly alter Lilo & Sтιтch‘s live-action ending.
Nani’s decision to leave Lilo at the end of the movie has proven to be particularly controversial. Other ways that the live-action Lilo & Sтιтch is arguably worse than its source material include turning Jumba into the movie’s primary antagonist, cutting Gantu, and keeping Jumba and Pleakley in human form for most of the movie. While I did not like all these changes, none of them bothered me as much as cutting out an integral piece of Sтιтch’s story in the animated movie.
Lilo & Sтιтch Cuts Out The Ugly Duckling Book & Sтιтch’s “I’m Lost” Scene
The Ugly Duckling Story Is Important To Sтιтch
In the original movie, Sтιтch finds a book in Lilo’s room that features the story of the Ugly Duckling. It grabs his attention, and he wakes Lilo up so she can explain to him what the story means. On the left is a picture of the Ugly Duckling crying and saying “I’m lost!” On the right-hand page, the Ugly Duckling is reunited with his family, and Lilo explains that this makes him happy because he knows where he belongs. This clearly resonates with Sтιтch, who even brings the book with him into his bed.
There is a picture of Sтιтch reading the book to a group of baby ducklings in the animated movie’s credits.
Later on, when Sтιтch thinks he has broken Lilo’s family and that it would be best for him to leave, he departs with nothing but the Ugly Duckling book in his possession. As if this isn’t sad enough, Sтιтch wanders into the woods with the book, touches the page where the family reunites, and begins saying “I’m lost” as he spends the night alone. However, these scenes are not included in the live-action movie and the book is not featured at all.
The Ugly Duckling Book & The “I’m Lost” Scene Are Vital To Sтιтch’s Development
They Help Him Understand Family & Himself
The live-action Lilo & Sтιтch making changes was inevitable, but cutting the Ugly Duckling book and the “I’m lost” scene are particularly upsetting because they are essential to Sтιтch’s character development. It is through the book that Sтιтch initially comes to understand the concept of family, which is something he never understood or even considered before. This is an important step towards him eventually realizing that even though he does not have any biological family, he does find a family that gives him a sense of happiness and belonging through Lilo and Nani.
The Ugly Duckling story is also pivotal to Sтιтch becoming more self-aware as he sees himself in the depiction of a creature who is treated differently and who feels alone. Not only does the book help him become more self-aware, but it also allows him to articulate how he is feeling at his lowest moment when he says the words “I’m lost.” Even though Sтιтch later realizes he has a family now, the scene still breaks my heart every time I watch it, and it is integral to Sтιтch’s journey.
The Live-Action Movie’s Replacement For These Scenes Doesn’t Work
These Changes Are Not An Improvement
The live-action movie tries to replace the Ugly Duckling book and “I’m lost” scenes, but these changes are ultimately ineffective. A scrapbook, which contains pictures of Lilo and Nani’s parents, is shown to help Sтιтch understand the concept of family. I have a difficult time buying into the scrapbook pictures resonating with Sтιтch and helping him understand family the same way that the Ugly Duckling book does. This is largely because he does not see himself represented in the scrapbook pictures the way he does in the Ugly Duckling story.
There is no reason why the Ugly Duckling story and “I’m lost” scenes wouldn’t have worked, and their absence robs Sтιтch of crucial development in Lilo & Sтιтch.
As for the “I’m lost” scene, the live-action version tries to replace this with Sтιтch going back to the shelter where Lilo originally found him. It is more emotionally effective to see Sтιтch going into nature and repeating the Ugly Duckling’s words when he is sad instead of simply returning to the shelter. While some changes, like cutting Gantu, were made because the character could not work well in live-action, there is no reason why the Ugly Duckling story and “I’m lost” scenes wouldn’t have worked, and their absence robs Sтιтch of crucial development in Lilo & Sтιтch.
