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Disney Revives Classic 2D Animation with Lilo & Stitch Short
17 Oct
Summary
- A new Lilo & Stitch short uses classic 2D animation.
- It plays before the Hexed movie, releasing November 25, 2026.
- A new pipeline blends hand-drawn and computer animation.
Walt Disney Animation Studios is set to delight fans with a new Lilo & Stitch short film, "Lilo & Scratch," which beautifully revives the classic 2D animation style. This nostalgic short will be shown before the studio's upcoming feature, "Hexed," scheduled for release on November 25, 2026. The new short tells a humorous story about a pink cat joining the Pelekai household, with Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch and Maia Kealoha voicing Lilo.
To achieve the authentic 2D aesthetic, the studio developed an innovative pipeline that merges hand-drawn animation with their current computer animation techniques. Notably, they incorporated original watercolor backgrounds from the 2002 film. This resurgence of 2D animation also follows Disney's recent tributes like "Wish" and the anniversary short "Once Upon a Studio," signaling a renewed appreciation for the style.
The co-directors expressed enthusiasm for reviving this beloved animation method, which harkens back to the era when shorts regularly preceded feature films, a practice last seen with "Encanto" in 2021. The potential for a full-length feature film utilizing this hybrid pipeline was also discussed, sparking hope for more 2D-animated Disney productions in the future.
