- 5/24/2025
Disney's Hawaiian adventure holds deeper meanings that fly over kids' heads! From cultural authenticity to hidden grief, join us as we explore the subtle details and mature themes in this beloved animated classic that become apparent only when watching through grown-up eyes.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the details,
00:11plot points, and other factors that we only stitch together as adults.
00:21Number 10. Lilo's Picasso era. Stitch might not be the biggest appreciator of other people's
00:26belongings or their art. At least, not when he first moves in.
00:30No! That's from my blue period.
00:40There. You know, you wreck everything you touch.
00:44As he tears the painting on Lilo's easel, you may have noticed she calls it part of her blue period.
00:49Now, she might have meant blue as in sad, but the art buffs among us know she's not the first to
00:53use that term. His use of blue as catharsis would last three years. He would depict a broad range of
01:02subjects and themes, all of which were related to despair, loneliness, melancholy, poverty,
01:09old age, and, of course, death. Unless your parents raised you in art galleries,
01:15you might have missed the nod to Pablo Picasso, who also had a blue period marked by a few years of
01:20moody blue and blue-green paintings inspired by grief and struggle. Although, we wonder if
01:25Picasso ever went full Godzilla on his creations.
01:37No more caffeine for you.
01:38Number 9. One for the UFO enthusiasts out there. You can't really have a film about extraterrestrial
01:44beings without brushing up against some of the folklore, mysteries, and myths that come with the
01:49territory. Case in point, the sisters are frequently visited by one very serious man in black. Turns out
02:04he's had prior run-ins with aliens. He even tells the Grand Councilwoman that this isn't their first meeting.
02:09You look familiar. CIA. Roswell. 1973. Ah, yes. You had hair then.
02:19The Roswell incident refers to a 1947 event in which a rancher near Roswell, New Mexico,
02:25discovered strange debris on his land — stuff unlike anything he'd ever seen. Agent Cobra
02:30Bubbles might have popped up in the area years later because that's when Roswell lore really took
02:35off and became a cornerstone of UFO mythology. The incident sparked a UFO scare and inspired decades
02:42of science fiction movies. Then, 50 years after the incident, the Air Force released a report
02:48admitting that the wreckage was part of a secret system of atomic espionage. But for real believers,
02:55this is just another cover-up. Number 8. Agent Marcellus Bubbles Wallace. Cobra Bubbles might
03:01seem like he fits right in with the men in black, but he actually shares more with a certain powerful
03:06no-nonsense crime lord from LA. This is Mr. Bubbles. Nice to meet you. Your knuckles say Cobra.
03:18Cobra Bubbles. Put them side by side and you'll spot a few similarities, but the voice really gives
03:24it away. Both characters are played by Ving Rhames, and word is his 1994 role helped inspire Bubbles during
03:31the early development stages. You have grasped that juice. All I'm doing is contemplating the ifs.
03:37That said, the similarities pretty much stop there. One's an intimidating former CIA agent turned social
03:42worker, and the other runs a criminal empire. Still, it's a fun and clever nod to Rhames' range,
03:48and how a voice can shape a whole character. I'm the one they call when things go wrong,
03:55and things have indeed gone wrong. Number 7. Lilo turns the tide on tourism. Travel is a privilege,
04:03and often an eye-opening one, but who hasn't cringed at those tourists who treat locals like part of the
04:09scenery? It's nice to live on an island with no large cities. It's like barging into someone's home
04:14with no regard for how they live or what matters to them. Lilo definitely had her fill of that type,
04:20and she's made turning the tables a bit of a pastime. Oh, my camera's full again. Aren't they
04:26beautiful? In a deleted scene, she wryly mocks clueless visitors, poking fun at how they see her,
04:32her land, and her culture, even stirring up a little panic. It's a big subject to cover in a kids'
04:37movie. Some will laugh in recognition, others might feel a tad sheepish. Either way, it's some great,
04:43irreverent commentary. If you lived here, you'd understand. Number 6. How Lilo and Stitch brought
04:59the ink back to life. Back in Disney's early days, watercolor images were standard. Until newer,
05:05faster technologies took over. Watercolor was used for the backgrounds, never for the characters,
05:10because even in Pinocchio and Bambi, the characters are from the drawings, hand inked on these cells,
05:16on these clear cells. But Lilo and Stitch became one of those rare films for which watercolors were
05:21brought back from retirement to give that bright, storybook feel and create a visual link to classic
05:27Disney. You have to be a dynamite artist with lots of experience to do that. The watercolor thing is
05:32something would give it like a new edge because it hadn't been done. It just hasn't been done before.
05:37Although, the filmmakers soon learned that painting every lush Hawaiian backdrop by hand was no small
05:42feat. The team even traveled to Hawaii to capture the scenery just right. The result was a quote,
05:48dreamy yet tactile look that made the world feel real, but a little magical too. As kids,
05:53we were too busy laughing at Stitch's antics. But as adults, we get it. This film is a work of art,
05:59literally.
06:00We had Rick go away and do identical paintings, one in gouache, replicating the watercolor look,
06:06and the other in watercolor. And there was absolutely no comparison.
06:11Number five, David's dedication to Nani. As kids, our hearts probably fluttered for the
06:16perfectly quaffed hair and charming smiles of Disney princes. But with adult eyes, the appeal shifts.
06:22Don't worry. She likes her butt and fancy hair. I know. I read her diary.
06:28She thinks it's fancy?
06:29David Kavana embodies a more grounded, relatable ideal. A supportive partner, a kind soul,
06:35and someone who embraces the messy realities of life. He likes Nani, but never pressures her.
06:41He's that dependable friend she can lean on when things get tough, and he'll do anything to help her
06:45with no expectations.
06:47Hey, I might not be a doctor, but I know that there's no better cure for a sour face
06:53than a couple of boards and some choice waves. What'd you think?
06:59I think that's a great idea.
07:01Yet he also knows when to give her breathing room. He also seems to love Lilo like a little sister.
07:06Plus, he's a talented fire dancer. All that packed into a surfer's body. A like you didn't notice.
07:12Lilo and Stitch's special connection. Before these two ever met, it was practically written
07:27in the stars that they should find each other. Or, should we say, in the bite marks. After Stitch
07:32bites Captain Gontu, he worries he might need medical attention.
07:35Does this look infected to you?
07:37Meanwhile, light years away, Myrtle voices a similar concern after her altercation with Lilo.
07:43Both also share similar ways of handling situations when they feel trapped.
07:47But perhaps the most telling sign lies in their names.
07:50Does it have to be this dog?
07:57Yes, he's good. I can tell.
07:59Lilo has a few meanings in Hawaiian, including generous and lost.
08:03Lilo is incredibly generous to Stitch, making him part of their family.
08:07But she's also a lost soul, until Stitch comes along.
08:11Or should we say, until he stitches her life back together.
08:14Uhana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.
08:20Number 3. A love letter to Polynesian culture.
08:24Today, Disney's known for being pretty thoughtful in how it represents different cultures.
08:28But that actually started earlier than you might think.
08:30What are you doing?
08:31It's incredible. It's an amazing shell. It's called what?
08:36Kahele Lani.
08:37Kahele Lani.
08:38Kahele Lani.
08:38And he found, like, 18 the first time. And I'm gonna find one now.
08:44Lilo and Stitch is set on the island of Kauai and centers on local Hawaiian characters and their
08:49real-life challenges. The filmmakers actually visited Hawaii multiple times, studying its landscapes,
08:55traditions, and people.
08:56I went to see a hula master, which was arranged for me by the folks at Disney.
09:02And for those who have not been in touch with the Hawaiian culture with regard to hula,
09:10it's a very serious part of their culture.
09:14They worked closely with cultural experts, incorporating everything from history and
09:19traditions to the rhythms of everyday island life. Music and dance is a big part of the story,
09:24and if you know hula, you'll definitely catch the care they put in.
09:28Step, step, step, step, step, that's all we're doing, okay? Women only get right, left, right,
09:34one, two, left, right, left.
09:36Also check out David's necklace. It seems to be a nod to Polynesian mythology,
09:40specifically one that would make a big Mickey Mouse-shaped splash years later.
09:44Number 2. And Sister of the Year goes to...
09:48Sometimes it's not until we've grown up that we realize just how much our guardians did for us,
09:52and how much we put them through.
09:54I like you better as a sister than a mom.
09:59Yeah?
10:00And you like me better as a sister than a rabbit, right?
10:04Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Yes.
10:10Nani's barely an adult herself, but after losing their parents, she becomes Lilo's sole carer,
10:15making sure there's food on the table, a roof over their heads, and keeping child services at bay.
10:20I'm adjusted, I eat four food groups and look both ways before crossing the street,
10:26and take long naps, and get disciplined.
10:29Scrump might be the unofficial mascot for how little they have,
10:32but Nani works her heart out to give Lilo a real childhood. And those surfing trophies in
10:37her room seem to quietly hint at a life she put on pause to take care of her sister.
10:42Here's to the Nani's in our lives. Go hug yours.
10:56Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:07Pleakley's Half View Master. If you know how those things work,
11:10you'll realize Pleakley never sees the full picture.
11:13Are they intelligent? No, but they're very delicate. In fact,
11:17every time an asteroid strikes their planet, they have to begin life all over.
11:22It's fascinating, isn't it?
11:23What happened to Experiments 1 through 625?
11:26We eventually found out the answer in the spin-off series,
11:29but Jumbo's lying through all four of his eyes.
11:31Create something. Ah, but that would be irresponsible and unethical. I would never, ever make more than one.
11:43Lilo's Horrifying Connections. If you hear Lilo say seven days, you're in major trouble.
11:48Seven days.
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12:06Number 1. The significance of Lilo's sandwich routine.
12:10Sure, Lilo's a bit of a handful, but kids typically don't act out for no reason.
12:14And she's no exception. She and Nani have been through the unimaginable,
12:18losing both parents unexpectedly and suddenly facing the very real threat of being separated.
12:23Lilo! Do you not understand? Do you want to be taken away? Answer me!
12:30Nani's doing everything she can to hold things together, but it often feels like the world's
12:35against them. One early moment says so much. Lilo insists she was late to Hula because she had to
12:40feed Pudge, the fish she believes controls the weather.
12:43Cause I had to go to the store and get peanut butter, cause all we have is, is stick-a-doodle!
12:49Lilo, Lilo, why is this so important? Pudge controls the weather.
12:54It sounds quirky until we learn how her parents died. Suddenly, it clicks. That's grief talking.
13:00And honestly, once you realize that, you just want to hug her forever.
13:04That's us before.
13:07It was rainy and they went for a drive.
13:10Did you notice anything else in the movie? How many rewatches did it take to spot it?
13:14Let us know in the comments.
13:15Give us some sign you understand any of this.
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