Memphis rolled out the red carpet at the Muvico Peabody Place Theaters last Thursday for one of just three nationwide premiere screenings of Disney’s new animated film, Lilo & Stitch.
The film, featuring a star cast of voices such as Tia Carrere (Nani), Ving Rhames (Cobra Bubbles) and Jason Scott Lee (David), came in second this past week at the box office with a $35.8 million dollar showing.
Lilo & Stitch is the second feature film to be produced at Disney’s Florida animation facility, continuing the tradition of hand-drawn animation.
The story begins in a galaxy far away. Stitch (Experiment 626) was created by an evil doctor for the sole purpose of destructing all that surrounds it. Stitch is forced out of the alien planet Turo because of his noxious behavior. He lands on the Hawaiian Islands and is adopted as a “dog” by a lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo, who happens to be an avid fan of the legendary Elvis Presley. So begins the journey for acceptance and the embrace of the concept of “‘Ohana,” Hawaiian for “sense of family and unity.”
Attending the premiere were: Chris Sanders, writer/director and voice of Stitch; Dean DeBlois, writer/director; Richard Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios; Clark Spencer, producer; Thomas Schumacher, president of Walt Disney Feature Animation; and Roy E. Disney, vice chairman of Walt Disney Company and chairman of Walt Disney Feature Animation.
Sanders began the concept of the Stitch character almost 17 years ago when he was just out of school and working on his first animation project. A number of concepts for the film changed over the years, including incorporating Elvis Presley into the film. Through all the changes ,Sanders admits this is not a typical Disney movie.
“It’s a very different film for Walt Disney,” Sanders said. “It’s not a fairy tale. It has real, modern-day issues like family and broken family — things that you deal with everyday.”
Shumacher has been with Disney for years, working his way up from producer to executive officer. Having worked on more than a dozen animated films, he says this is one of the top productions, thanks to the expertise of Sanders and DeBlois.
“I have never worked on a film that I was more excited about or touched by,” he said. “The film was actually written, directed and story-boarded by the same guys. We have never done that in the history of our company.”
Cook said the tremendous amount of effort put into the film is well worth the wait.
“We have been working on this film for four years with hundreds of animators and two fantastic directors,” Cook said. “It’s been a long time getting here, but this is great.”
Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, said he looks forward to the film continuing the tradition of Walt Disney.
“We always hope that it will,” Disney said of Lilo & Stitch becoming another Disney classic. “Everytime you work on one, that’s what you are praying for to happen.”
According to Disney, the new classic has raised the bar for Disney animation.
“I love it. I think it’s one of the best things we have done in years,” he said.
Following the big premier, movie -goers were treated to a Hawaiian-style party at Graceland, including Hawaiian dancers, music, food and plenty of fun.
Cook added that Elvis and Memphis are indeed major parts of the film. “We were fortunate to have several Elvis songs incorporated into the movie. We were happy to come to Memphis, it’s a great town, and it is so supportive.”
Those fans who couldn’t seem to get enough of Lilo & Stitch at the box office need not fear — a Lilo & Stitch television series is in the works.
