Stitch Meets His Match: First Look at ‘Lilo & Scratch’ Introduces Lilo’s Mischievous New Cat
Few Disney characters have bounced back as loudly as Stitch, and the upcoming ‘Lilo & Scratch’ short is the latest sign that the little blue troublemaker is not going anywhere. After a live-action remake that grossed $1 billion last summer, Disney is turning back to the hand-drawn look that made the original so beloved.
The short was first announced on 626 Day at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where directors Fawn Veerasunthorn and Malcon Pierce presented a snippet of the project. It also marks the return of animated Stitch to a Disney Animation project for the first time since the original 2002 film.
Now a first look at ‘Lilo & Scratch’ has arrived, and it focuses on the newest member of the family. The image shows Lilo smiling with her eyes closed as she hugs a small, red-and-white cat with big, mischievous eyes, all set against a warm, watercolor-style room with a sunny window.
First look at ‘LILO & SCRATCH.’ A new short film that will debut in theaters alongside ‘Hexed’ in November. https://t.co/GU8aw3qgDB
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 10, 2026
According to Disney’s announcement, Lilo brings home a mischievous new cat named Scratch, and Stitch may have finally met his match. The kitten is a rescue who is intent on eating Pudge, Lilo’s beloved fish, which sets up a chaotic chase through the house.
The story is set soon after the events of the first movie, so it slots neatly into the early days of Lilo and Stitch’s friendship. Fans can expect plenty of physical comedy, based on how the opening minutes were described after the Annecy presentation.
The filmmakers set out to approximate the look of the 2002 original, which used traditional hand-drawn animation over watercolor backgrounds. For the new short, the team used a combination of techniques, including traditional animation, watercolor backgrounds and computer-generated versions of both.
Lilo and Stitch are rendered as CG models, while Scratch is hand drawn, which gives the new cat a distinct look. Artists from the original film have returned to work on the short, adding a sense of continuity for longtime fans.
Chris Sanders returns to voice Stitch, the character he helped create. Maia Kealoha, who starred as Lilo in the 2025 live-action film, takes over the voice of Lilo in the short, making it the first time a Disney live-action remake actress has returned in an animated production.
That casting choice neatly links the 2 versions of the story, bridging the live-action hit and the hand-drawn classic that inspired it. For longtime fans, hearing Sanders as Stitch again is likely to be the biggest nostalgia hit of all.
New trailer for Disney’s new animated film ‘HEXED’. The film follows a girl who discovers she has magic abilities & sets out on an adventure into a magical realm. In theaters on November 25. https://t.co/uNsZlyCpj8
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 12, 2026
The short is a theatrical exclusive, and the only way to catch it is to see ‘Hexed‘ on its opening day, Nov. 25, which falls the day before Thanksgiving. It is also Disney Animation’s first theatrical short in 5 years, and the studio is clearly hoping it will generate extra buzz for the feature.
‘Hexed’ is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 65th animated feature and a magical coming-of-age saga directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand. A children’s book adaptation of ‘Lilo & Scratch’ is also on the way from author John Edwards, so fans who miss the theatrical run will have a way to revisit the story. Audiences abroad will have to wait a little longer, as the film opens in the UK on Nov. 27 and in Japan on Dec. 4.
Stitch has become one of Disney’s biggest franchises, and a theatrical short is a smart way to bring audiences back to the big screen. For fans who grew up with the original, the hand-drawn charm and the return of familiar voices should feel like a warm homecoming.
The timing is notable too, since a live-action sequel to the 2025 film is already in the works, with Stitch’s girlfriend Angel confirmed for it. With a mischievous cat, a chaotic fish chase and a familiar blue alien, the ingredients for a crowd-pleaser are all there.
What are you most excited about in Disney's 'Lilo & Scratch'?
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