- 5/24/2025
Aloha! Join us as we explore the key changes between Disney's beloved animated classic and its live-action adaptation. From new characters and enhanced storylines to missing favorites and technological updates, we're breaking down how this Hawaiian adventure has evolved for modern audiences. Which changes surprised you most?
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:01Stitch is back, alright!
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:06And today, we're looking at differences between the original Lilo & Stitch
00:09and its 2025 live-action remake.
00:12Spoilers for both.
00:13You showed us a dog?
00:17Mmm, yeah.
00:19Rough.
00:21Number 10. Experiment 627-Ts.
00:24In the original, Dr. Jumba Jukiba said he'd never make more than one genetic experiment.
00:30Create something?
00:32Ah, but that would be irresponsible and unethical.
00:36I would never, ever make more than one.
00:41That turned out to be a lie.
00:43As we'd see later through various Lilo & Stitch spin-offs,
00:46Jumba made hundreds of experiments, Stitch being 626.
00:50While the first film doesn't get into Jumba's other creations,
00:53the remake hints that Stitch is only the tip of his ambitions.
00:57Place that idiot scientist under arrest!
01:00I prefer to be called Evangelion!
01:04Feeling that Earth has turned Stitch soft, Jumba plans on upgrading him to Experiment 627.
01:10Introduced in Lilo & Stitch the series, 627 resembles his predecessor,
01:15but with a cone head, red exterior, and more destructive powers.
01:19As all strengths of 626, none of weaknesses.
01:23Does not sink in water, available in tasteful earth-toned colors,
01:27and absolutely positively cannot be turned to good.
01:31Where most of Jumba's experiments can be redeemed,
01:34627 is the embodiment of evil.
01:37Yet he's not to be confused with Experiment 629,
01:40aka Leroy, Stitch's evil twin.
01:43Number 9. Portal Guns
01:46The Lilo & Stitch franchise has always been heavy on alien technology and weapons,
01:50most notably the Plasma Blaster.
01:52The remake introduces another nifty gadget, the Portal Gun.
01:56In addition to paving the way for an Ice Cream Man cameo,
01:59the Portal device plays a key role during the climax.
02:02Jumba!
02:03No!
02:04Wait!
02:09It also guarantees that Lilo and Nani will never be too far apart,
02:14even when the latter goes to college.
02:16Of course, the Portal Gun does raise a few questions.
02:19Namely, why don't Jumba and Pleakley just make a portal into the Pelikai household at night
02:24and snatch Stitch while he's sleeping?
02:27There's no instruments.
02:28There's nothing here!
02:29And are you enjoying the hotel?
02:31Oh, I'm so glad you asked.
02:32I'm obviously being sarcastic.
02:34Go!
02:35Hey!
02:36Systems go.
02:37Engage.
02:38For that matter, why travel to Earth on a spaceship when you have Portal technology?
02:42In any case, we get some funny sight gags.
02:45Number 8. More Close Calls
02:48The remake raises the stakes with two near-death experiences.
02:52What happened?
02:54Some Lolo must have stuffed us in a barrel.
02:57Where's Stitch?
03:00Get off of there!
03:03What happened?
03:04Stitch dragged her down!
03:06Like in the first film, the titular characters have a surfing accident
03:10when Jumba and Pleakley try to capture Stitch.
03:12This time, though, Lilo is rushed to the hospital.
03:15Lilo quickly rebounds, but Nani is left to contemplate whether she's truly capable of raising her sister.
03:21I know you're trying, Nani, but you need to think about what's best for Lilo.
03:27Even if it removes you from the picture.
03:31Stitch also has a close call during the climax when he nearly drowns.
03:35Although Stitch is practically indestructible, water is his greatest weakness.
03:39Unable to float, he sinks to the bottom of the sea like a rock.
03:43He's unconscious, but I think he's alive.
03:45Stitch is willing to sacrifice himself to save Lilo, but Nani comes to his rescue.
03:57It's a nice addition that displays Stitch's physical limits and emphasizes that no family member gets left behind.
04:03Ohana means family.
04:05Family means nobody gets left behind.
04:07More forgotten!
04:09I'm...
04:10Number 7.
04:12New Neighbor.
04:13In the animated version, Nani takes care of Lilo on her own with some occasional help from David, her friend slash sorta boyfriend.
04:21Hey, I might not be a doctor, but I know that there's no better cure for a sour face than a couple of boards and some choice waves.
04:30What'd you think?
04:32Although David remains essentially unchanged, the remake introduces his grandma Tutu, played by Amy Hill.
04:38Living near Lilo and Nani, Tutu becomes something of a surrogate grandmother to the sisters, helping out when she can.
04:45What is that?
04:46A dog.
04:47It's fancy.
04:48Looks like some kind of baby bear that come out of the trash.
04:51While this character is new to the franchise, Hill is no stranger to Lilo and Stitch.
04:56In the 2002 film and subsequent series, she voiced the local fruit stand operator, Mrs. Hasegawa.
05:02I can't talk now, dear. I'm waiting for someone to answer my ad. That's why I'm here.
05:08Tutu plays into the film's overarching theme of Ohana, showing that family isn't restricted to blood relatives.
05:14It can extend to a neighbor who looks out for you, or an alien you adopt as a dog.
05:19So many of the most unusual stray cats come to live with me here.
05:23But I don't mind. They keep me company.
05:29Stitch's arrival on Earth plays out pretty much the same, although he wreaks havoc at a wedding before getting run over this time.
05:35Thinking his crashing ship is a shooting star, Lilo wishes for a friend, which Nani overhears.
05:41In the animated feature, this prompts Nani to take Lilo to the animal shelter, where she adopts Stitch.
05:56Nani isn't present in the remake's adoption scene, however.
05:59Instead, it's Tutu who allows Lilo to visit the shelter where she encounters Stitch.
06:04The decision to adopt a dog is more spontaneous, with Nani later learning about Lilo's new pet.
06:10He's so cute and fluffy.
06:12He is your responsibility. Got it.
06:14We promise.
06:15Yeah.
06:16The remake also glances over the bit where Lilo pays $2 for Stitch, which plays a more important role in the original.
06:23Hey!
06:26Three days ago, I met Stitch at the shelter.
06:29I paid $2 for him.
06:30See the snap? I own him.
06:33If you take him, you're stealing.
06:36Number 5. Disguises.
06:41One of the original's funniest running jokes sees Jumba and Agent Pleakley trying to pass themselves off as humans by wearing everyday outfits.
06:48You can't shoot, and you can't be seen.
06:52Look at you!
06:53You look like a monster.
06:55We have to blend in?
06:57Apparently, this is enough to make people overlook Jumba's four eyes and Pleakley's cycloptic nature.
07:02In the remake, they instead make copies of human bodies, blending in as Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnuson.
07:09That's one way to keep the visual effects budget under control.
07:12He's not a pet. He's dangerous.
07:14Dangerous, too.
07:15While Magnuson in particular has the energy of a cartoon character, we do miss seeing Pleakley in drag.
07:22When asked why Pleakley doesn't wear a dress in his film, director Dean Fleischer-Camp simply said,
07:27I tried, revealing what appears to be unused concept art.
07:31Isn't it weird how 2002 feels more progressive than 2025?
07:35I have had people message me, why is Pleakley not wearing a dress?
07:38And I just want to say, I tried.
07:43I tried.
07:44Number four, Cobra Bubbles.
07:46Cobra Bubbles is an enigma when he arrives in the animated film, looking more like a secret agent than a social worker.
07:52As it turns out, Cobra used to be with the CIA, meeting the Grand Councilwoman at Roswell in the 70s.
07:59You look familiar.
08:01CIA, Roswell, 1973.
08:05Ah, yes.
08:06You had hair then.
08:08He also saved Earth by convincing the aliens that the planet was a mosquito nature reserve.
08:13The remake keeps most of these elements, but switches them around.
08:16Cobra is still working for the CIA, tracking down Stitch after his ship crashes.
08:21Ancient Cobra Bubbles.
08:22We have a blue dog to catch.
08:24The social worker assigned to the sister's case is a new character named Mrs. Kikoa, played by Nani's original voice actress Tia Carrere.
08:31You play a social worker trying to get Nani back on track.
08:34Yeah, in the first one I'm like, please don't take my sister away, social services, and now I'm the social services lady trying to take her away.
08:41Cobra later goes undercover as another social worker to infiltrate the Pelikai household, eventually deciding to help the family.
08:48Number 3. Captain Gontu M.I.A.
08:52The most prominent character missing from the remake is Captain Gontu, the Grand Councilwoman's right-hand alien.
08:58The mission is in jeopardy. This could be your chance to redeem yourself, Captain Gontu.
09:05How soon will you be prepared to leave?
09:08Immediately.
09:10When Jumba and Pleakley struggle to bring in Stitch, Gontu is tasked with getting the job done.
09:15Gontu not only fails, but also endangers humans in the process, resulting in his dismissal from the Galactic Federation.
09:22Grand Councilwoman, let me explain.
09:24Silas! I am retiring you, Captain Gontu.
09:28This sets Gontu up to become a major antagonist in future stories, teaming with Jumba's former partner, Dr. Jacques Von Hemsterville, and Experiment 625, a.k.a. Reuben.
09:40It's unclear why the remake scrapped Captain Gontu, although we can't help but wonder if it was a budget issue.
09:45The film only cost $100 million, significantly less than some other Disney remakes.
09:51Maybe they just couldn't afford to have another entirely CGI character.
09:55The council has banished you to exile on a desert asteroid. So relax, enjoy the trip.
10:02Number 2. No redemption for Jumba.
10:05Gontu isn't present, but the remake needed somebody to fill that void in the climax.
10:10This is where Jumba comes in.
10:13His only instinct is to destroy everything he touches!
10:19So it is a monster.
10:21Eh, just a little one.
10:23Aside from lacking a Russian accent, Jumba has no redemption arc here.
10:27In the original, he engages in combat with his creation, destroying Lilo and Nani's house.
10:33Look, look, look, look, we're close.
10:35Wait, it's moving. Come on, come on. Let's go, we gotta go.
10:38Oh, look, it's the Grand Councilwoman.
10:41Don't answer that.
10:42It's the Grand Councilwoman.
10:43When Gontu takes Lilo, though, Stitch convinces Jumba to help rescue her.
10:47The remake's Jumba isn't so easily persuaded.
10:50He's colder, viewing attachments as a weakness.
10:53After capturing Lilo, Jumba is taken in and escorted back to space.
10:57The OG Jumba receives a much happier fate, remaining on Earth with Pleakly, where both become members of Lilo and Nani's family.
11:04We guess the remake also shoots down the theory of Jumba and Pleakly being a couple.
11:08Well, it looks like we have all the rings here today.
11:11The wedding ring, the suffering, and the torture ring.
11:17Oh, what a joyous day.
11:20Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
11:27You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
11:31If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
11:36Number 1. Nani's Ambitions
11:39Nani remains a dedicated sister, trying her best to be a mother to Lilo.
11:43They were really good parents.
11:46Hey!
11:48I changed my mind.
11:51What's that?
11:53Hmm?
11:55I like you as a mom, too.
11:57The remake provides more background details about Nani, however.
12:05In addition to fleshing out her experience as a surfer, it's revealed that Nani aspires to be a marine biologist.
12:11She even gets into her dream university.
12:14After tragedy strikes, though, Nani makes Lilo her top priority.
12:18At the same time, Nani questions if she's what's best for Lilo.
12:22I like you better as a sister than a mom.
12:26Yeah?
12:27And you like me better as a sister than a rabbit, right?
12:32Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
12:36Yes.
12:38Yes, I do.
12:39She seriously considers letting social services step in, potentially giving her sister a better life.
12:45In the end, Tutu steps up to help raise Lilo with additional assistance from Cobra, David, and Pleakley.
12:51This allows Nani to attend college, but thanks to the portal gun, commuting has never been easier.
12:57What about Ohana?
12:59He hasn't been here that long.
13:01Neither have I.
13:02Dad said Ohana means family.
13:08Huh?
13:09Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.
13:12Nobody gets left behind.
13:14Or?
13:15Or forgotten.
13:16What did you think of these changes?
13:18Let us know in the comments.
13:20Sometimes things have to change.
13:24And maybe sometimes they're for the better.
13:28Do you agree with our picks?
13:29Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
13:32And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
13:39Bye.
13:40Bye.
13:41Bye.
Recommended
11:44
|
Up next
13:27
12:57
32:00
13:30
2:07
15:39
22:20