(c) Disney

Naming him Stitch, Lilo attempts to tame his wild ways, while Nani struggles to meet Bubbles’ demands and keep her enthusiastic ex-boyfriend David (Jason Scott Lee) at arms-length, all the while unknowing that their new pet is actually from outer space and that he is being hunted by his previous, extra-terrestrial, owners.

Lilo and Stitch is a rarity in contemporary animated films in that its story is so firmly, uncompromisingly rooted in its characters. Yes, there are the comedic montages (such as Lilo’s plan to turn Stitch into a ‘model citizen’ by teaching him all things Elvis), panoramic set pieces (surfing to the tune of the instant classic Alan Silvestri/Mark Keali’l Ho’omalu song “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride”) and ‘mild sci fi action‘ sequences (which netted the film a PG-rating) one expects and requires of such a venture, but it always comes back to the core theme of the film, summarized in the Hawaiian word for family, ’Ohana’. The phrase “nobody gets left behind, or forgotten” is said several times in the film, a key message that never comes off as stilted or forced, a moral both universal and apt.

All of the characters, from Lilo and Nani down to the fat guy on the beach, experience fully realized emotional arcs during the course of the film. Nowhere is this more evident then in Stitch, who transforms from Tasmanian Devil to Elvis impersonator to hero triumphant, all mostly conveyed through the charmingly detailed character animation of the little blue guy, who is destined to become the Mickey Mouse, or at least the Winnie the Pooh, of the new millennium.

Computer animation is used in Lilo and Stitch, mostly on the inter-galactic spaceships, but the most breathtaking artistic touches are the least low-tech. All of the backgrounds were done in watercolor, an inspired choice that perfectly coveys the film’s laid-back, dreamy settings. The film is technically simpler then such recent examples as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Dinosaur, proving that one need not to blind the audience with razzle dazzle to capture their attention and enjoyment.

That feat is accomplished perfectly in Lilo and Stitch through the characters and the story they tell, a treat for you and your whole Ohana. To the makers of this fun, adorable film: mahalo.