Well, it was about time Disney strayed from the worn-out, trite film. This does have a tad of Iron Giant in it. The Hawian characters though are a strain on the eyes. They look obnoxious. Stitch is a great design though. I felt they could have still made the story line bit simpler. Get rid of the alien 'federation' it's a tad Lucas like in terms of mundane detail that isn't all that essential to the plot. Why not make the creator of stitch run down out of pure 'fatherly' want. The social worker was quite pushed too. why sanitize it by making Lilo's parent, her sister. What's wrong with making her a single mom? Probably they didn't want to totally rip off Iron Giant. Nonetheless, MUCH better than the last 6 schlocky animated films.

This a great show. Super funny Can you do a bigger feature on it. Thanks AWN is a great site

I am a huge, HUGE fan of Invader Zim, Squee, JTHM, I Feel Sick, and all of Jhonen Vasquez's work. He truly, truly amazes me. I'm also very, very angry that Nickelodeon is canceling Invader Zim. It's the only cartoon worth watching, and the only show I watch other than Unsolved Myseries and The Unexplained. I'm a lot like Dib. Can you tell? Mainly, I wanted to ask if there is any way of canceling the er...cancellation of IZ?

An excellent, well-researched article with style to spare! Nice work, G.S. I hope you will not be a stranger to future issues of Animation World Magazine; I'd love to see you "pony up" another piece as good as this one!

Stitch was great even though cliched storytelling thru the end buried itself in children;s storytelling you couldn't help but apprecite the animation for it's character design and akward movement in all the right places.

You do have a point, and I plead no contest to the formulaic sarcasm. You're also right in that the industry in its current state is not a place for the true creative original. It's all about the fastest, easiest way to make money - which, incidentally, has been the nature of the film industry since its inception (I don't think that's dandy, I'm just reporting the facts). I look at Chaplin, who learned the process of filmmaking from the Keystone Cops, possibly the most formula-driven creation in film history. He learned how to do the basics, and then he turned it around by adding his own concept of what a comedy film should be. Not long after, he had the money to do pretty much whatever came into his head to do. This is my point - new writers should learn what's out there and how it's done. Then they can confidently go out there with the knowledge of what NOT to do. Sure, a large percentage will choose the other path and settle for the BMW and the monkey-pressing-the-keys writer's gig. So what? It doesn't change what I do (except to avoid them on the freeway). Besides, partial blame should be placed on the audience and advertisers that don't DEMAND more from the cookie cutter studios. There aren't many Chaplins (or Hubleys or McLarens or Leafs) out there, but the important thing is that they DO exist and people like you and I recognize the value of what they offer (sorry if I assume too much there). The rest can watch Scooby-Doo Babies On Ice and I could care less. I have more important stuff to do, like spend way too much time agonizing over the comments on AWN. Or...something.

This was a fantastic movie, although, sorry to say but screenplay was tacky. The ending was sort of thrown on. We find out all of this information at the end and it doesnt give the movie verisimilitude. Yet, it was highly enjoyable.

Great review!! I saw the movie opening weekend and absolutely LOVED it!! I'll be seeing it again. STITCH is soooo fantastic. He is too cute. GREAT MOVIE!!!! I can hardly wait until Disney releases it to home viewers. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SEE LILO AND STITCH!! :)

First off David, the smartass old hat sarcastic counterattack paragraph about my success writing sitcoms (I've never written a tv sitcom...get it! HA HA HA) is such a lame and formulaic response it's really a waste of our short time here...but obviously you're already well-versed for a career as a television writer! I wouldnt write for tv in it's current incarnation (well...except maybe Mr. Show or Homicide), so it's a moot point. Anyone who follows and believes Jean's advice is solely out to make a buck...out to make a career, not out to do something respectful, not out to contribute in a meaningful way to society. And hey...sure that's ok... Since scribbling bad stolen premises for television requires little in the way of actual thinking, writing or heck, even spelling, and in turn deems the scribbler with the lofty title "Writer" who wouldnt want it!? And that brings with it RESPECT from EVERYONE, and money, nice clothes, and a fancy home. What's not to like? Television writing, in general, requires less use of the cerebrum realm than driving a taxi, washing dishes or parking cars...so shit ya...why not, BABY! I am certainly not out to attack Jean. I dont know her from you, but I am attacking her ideas which, although rightfully earned, are very lazy, sloppy, and unselfconscious reinforcements of a rigid system that needs very much to be broken apart. This is another case where just because someone has done something long enough, they're automatically called an expert, and that's baloney. Doing something WELL never seems to enter into the equation. And hey...maybe Jean did develop dandy hero-villain-heroine-sidekicks in WAY over-done premises, but let's be serious, this is work that is no more worthy then rippin open that greasy plastic bag, dumping the meat injected fries into the boiling frie VAT without getting any on your polyester pants. Jean's words have nothing to do with writing, just as cooking fast food fries has nothing to do with cuisine.

So, Martin- Opinions run the gamut...good. Here's mine: The "creator" of a piece of "intellectual property" needs must retain "copyright" in perpetuity, if s/he so desires. Corporate "ownership" of copyright, unless such corporation is owned by the creator, should expire after two years, and copyright return to the "artist", corporate claims otherwise not- withstanding. (Yeah, s/he "works" for you, but you don't "own" her/him, or the brain used in creating the piece(s).) The way for corp.s to "keep" copyright beyond two years is to purchase the "property" from the creator immediately, upon it's creation...and for a "substantial" sum. Yes, even in animation corporations. With their multi-kajillions of $$$, why not share it with your own workers, instead of just the suits and stockholders? Many small-time artists echo similar sentiments. As for Disney-and-friends suing every little pre-school depicting a Mickey or a Scooby-Doo on their walls...these people are not trying to make a buck from your property...give 'em a break! OK, what they do is not strictly "legal", but it's not as if they're "ripping you off", either. Yep, they are a bunch of brainless "users" of your work, but nobody expects them to be otherwise...they're not in the business of "creating", per se, only keeping their wee charges entertained a bit. Snow White, Littlest Mermaid, etc. "depictions" are Disney-and-friends' "property". Not a problem. But if I depict them my way, and use their names, then those depictions are mine, and none of anyone else's concern. Stories and names are from so-called public domain...if my characters and story differ significantly from the Disney-and-friends' versions, where is the copyright "infringement"? But then, doing so would show how shallow my abilities are that I'm only able to rehash what's been done to death, instead of something new...dare I say "original"? Keep fighting the good fight, brothers and sisters. skoal t

hey when are these crappy cartoons gonna show thier real faces if they were real musicians they wouldnt have to hide behind cartoons

Hey,thanks for that review..though we in India will get to see it much later..and as someone who is totally sold on the fact that complete cgs can never hope to reach the heights of 2d traditional work..its kinda heart breaking to know that disney may in the future stop hand drawn animation ..is extinction a realsitic issue ?

What about the trailers? How do they justify violating canon for a laugh? (i.e. interrupting the ballroom scene and turning Jasmine into a slut?)

Re.Like Us? comments: Hey Schmidt! Ya schmuck! Does the column head give ya a clue? Read the whole fucking thing before ya run off at yer keyboard! Juvenile? Yeah, i'd say ya are. Ms Pam- ya may be an up-and-coming writer, but ya gotta know the diff 'tween idle/idol! Otherwise, who's gonna take ya serious? Or do ya wanna be? Yer other comments're right on! Danielle- from yer missive, ya gotta be cool!But ya want "answers"...as if they're available in a prescription? With yer brain in gear, tell/show us old farts...we have no "answers" to satisfy everyone. Only more queries. Neil- from where i sit, the big TO thinks it's just another H'wood, only canuck version! But y're right about them features, long as ya include our own. Chris- forget about juvenile comments from them's as can't read past the point they get pist, and then pretend to know what ya meant, w/o actually reading it. And then blame AWN for yer take, and not his own? Like the H'wood mentality of, shit, we can't do that! Ain't nobody done it afore! What would their audience say if they did something original? Instead, they give ya a rehash of crap that was stale the first time around? Ya don't need me defending ya...just venting! Ya do whatcha do well...but keep out of the wet spot! skoal t

Jerry - Great review, glad you liked it. One thing needs to be stressed, though, and that's the unfortunate fact that everybody's got to see it this weekend for it to be successful in the eyes of the 'suits'. The NY Times gave it a positive review, nicely thought out and with some genuine insight as to WHY it's good. My daughter works for Buena Vista and helped set up the El Capitan for L&S, and helped coordinate the TV special that's on tonight. She thought the film was great, and especially liked the watercolor BGs. Which some fool, by the way, in an online review, thinks were done 'in crayon'. I wish Leonard liked it more...he seemed a bit put off by the un-Disney-like Stitch. Maybe it's one of those that require two viewings to get into the spirit. Anyway, I'm so glad it's good - now if the word gets out...! Dean Yeagle

Well said! Thanks for a wonderful article, about a wonderful movie!

Jerry, Thank you for the wonderful article on Lilo & Stitch, one that echos the feelings of every person who has seen the film. To the Disney Florida Animation Unit-- thank you for sharing with us another piece of magic, and for proving to the world that the magic doesn't come from the pencil or cursor, but the art and artistry-- the heart and the soul-- of the animators and the animation team. See you in August! Jim Ryan

Just saw the movie with my wife and two daughters. This movie is a MUST SEE family movie. We loved every minute of it, as did the rest of the crowd, including the tough to please BOYS. Disney has a winner. Bravo to Disney Animation.

After reading your chapter about the Tom and Jerry's that you directed I have a better understanding of the whole situation. Thank you for sharing your side of the story. I have a greater appreciation, now, for the cartoons you were involved with. I also run a Tom and Jerry fan site and I would have to agree with Randy Simcox about the emails, I too receive many questions about your cartoons. "Dicky Moe" is, by far, the most oft' asked about 'toon.

Thank you for your site and for introducting us to an animation style that was not too familar to us, here in America.

Rome
- www.tomandjerryonline.com

Hey Chris- As a feller northern (f)art(ist), i concur with much of whatcha say...if it was "all", i'd be "you", and there'd be no need for "me"! In the bigger scheme of things, who really "gives a shit", about all those definitions of art? Sure, you get paid for spewing it, and you do it well, yet, we view, or not, what we have available for that purpose, and no "definition" by itself will influence our (dis)pleasure of thus consuming it. Nice to see the numerous takes on the subject, and i know it'll give pause to those with a few gray cells rattling in their bean, and, those who don't, really would rather watch than think, anyway. naz darovja t