History Anime / Stitch

''Stitch!'' (yes, the [[ExcitedShowTitle exclamation point is mandatory]]) is an {{anime}} series from Creator/{{Madhouse}} and the DisneyChannel. At first it was an AlternateContinuity to the entire ''Disney/LiloAndStitch'' franchise, notable for lacking Lilo until the third season where it has turned into a TimeSkip series. Four seasons have been produced - the first two by Creator/{{Madhouse}}, and the third and fourth seasons by ShinEiDoga.

Yuuna is a young girl who lives on Izayoi, a tiny (fictional) island off the coast of Okinawa, with her father and grandmother. Much like Kaua'i in the original film and series, Izayoi is a tropical island full of pineapples, sugar cane, and hibiscus, [[TruthInTelevision all of which are native to both the Hawaiian and Ryukyu Islands]]. Yuuna practices karate every day with her friends down at a run-down old dojo, and considers herself to be a "protector" of sorts for the local kids. Her mother took off for parts unknown, and she worries for her father's safety. One day, while visiting the "Spirit Stone" in the Spiritual Forest, she sees an explosion in the distance, and reports start coming in of "blue monster" running amok in town.

Meanwhile, Stitch who left Earth shortly after Lilo went to college and has since fallen off the wagon is on the run from several Galactic Federation officials when he and Jumba are sucked into a [[NegativeSpaceWedgie Space Storm]] that desposits them outside Earth. Stitch, confused, hungry, and thirsty, then runs amok looking for food. He attracts the eye of the locals, who are rather fearful of him. But Yuuna goes to confront him, and after they square off in a [[GoodOldFisticuffs pseudo-karate match]], they bond and become friends.

While Yuuna is taking Stitch back through the forest, he sees the Spirit Stone. Yuuna explains that the stone holds immense power, and can grant any wish. Stitch wants to be the strongest thing in the galaxy, and so tries to wish on the stone--and gets zapped. Yuuna then explains that only those who do good deeds will have their wishes granted. Stitch then makes it his mission to do enough good deeds to have his wish, to be the most powerful creature in the galaxy, granted. But all of Stitch's old nemeses are on his heels...

Not related to the PilotMovie for ''LiloAndStitchTheSeries,'' which had the same name.

!!This anime contains examples of:

* AscendedExtra: Several of the experiments, due to the whole [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Japan Loves Stitch]] phenomenon, but especially [[DistaffCounterpart Angel]]. She doesn't have to prove herself to Yuuna near as much as she did Lilo, nor did she have to be [[ExecutiveMeddling locked away until the end of the series]], and she's gotten much more screen time as a result.
* BadassCreed: The members of Yuuna's dojo say it before every practice session:
-->Protect the weak!
-->Love everybody!
-->When we meet, we become family!

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Experiment 627, while still Stitch's AlwaysSomeoneBetter rival, makes a complete 180 in personality, going from the wild, slobbering TheHyena whose only dialogue was PokemonSpeak "Evil!" in the original series, to a WickedCultured eloquent speaking gentleman with some NobleDemon traits after he saved Stitch and his love interest, Angel, from being crushed by Hamsterviel's ship (despite Jumba proclaiming him completely incapable of turning good in the original series). Could count as {{Fridge Brilliance}} considering the series took place after Stitch left his original Hawaii home where Lilo grew up into an older girl, so 627 must have had time to mature.
* ContinuityNod: The {{Recurring Extra}}s from the original series--the fat tourist with the ice cream cone--returns. And he ''still doesn't get his ice cream.''
** Also, Pleakly's first name is still [[GenderBlenderName Wendy.]]

* CoolOldLady: Jumba seems to really respect Yuuna's grandmother, and even calls her "Professor Grandma."
* CuteBruiser: Mess with Yuuna, and you're liable to lose your nose.

* DubInducedPlotHole: The English dub makes an attempt to connect it to the old continuity by claiming Stitch ran away from Lilo as she got a boyfriend. [[BrokenAesop What about Ohana?]]
** Also, Gantu and Ruben have gone back to Dr. Hamsterviel just because Gantu was [[InsistentTerminology dishonorably discharged]] [[DisproportionateRetribution for singing karaoke at the holiday party]].
** What's funny about that is being dishonorably dicharged is ''worse'' than being fired.
* GenerationXerox: [[spoiler:Lilo's daughter looks just like Lilo as six year old. She even wears the same dress!]]

* IdealHero: Yuuna. Even after she accosts the bullies who hurt her friend--and ''forcefully'' makes them return his game--she still offers to help them, and gives the Myrtle {{Expy}} some sugar cane.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses} One of Stitch's cousins, Checkers, could sit like a crown on people's heads and give the wearer the ability to hypnotize those around them into thinking they were royalty to be obeyed. When it landed on Yuuna (and later her snobby rival, Pico), everyone was hypnotized into seeing her as a princess.

* MissingMom: Yuuna's mom. At one point, an {{Expy}} of Myrtle from the original teases her that her mom left because she's such a screwup.
* NonstandardCharacterDesign: Stitch and all the other alien characters are drawn using the same style from the movie. All the new human characters, however, are done in a more traditionally {{Animesque}} fashion.
** [[spoiler: Lilo and her daughter]] are also drawn in the same style as the movie.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: In the second to last episode, there was Dark End, an experiment created by the anime-only villain Deila to defeat Stitch . Not only was it an an [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j974lSZcW6M adorable (more so than Stitch) long-eared rabbit-like experiment with androgynous voice and features]], it was powerful enough to (1) cause a giant fissure in a soccer ball field just by stamping its foot, (2) broke open a giant containment pod containing Gantu, 625, and Hamsterveil by lightly tapping its claw on the glass, (3) completely {{Curb Stomp battle}}d Stitch till he lost consciousness twice! (but not without making him undergo a HumiliationConga first), and wiped the floor with Stitch's nine other cousins. It wasn't until, through some contrived power gained from the love and support of Yuuna and her friends, that he was able to stand a fighting chance against Dark End.
** There was also Twang, another flute carrying cat/rabbit-looking experiment who grew stronger the more attention and sympathy it got from those around it. This included framing Stitch in a WoundedGazelleGambit so Yuuna and her family would take its side. Databases suggested that with enough attention it would have become a hulking not-so-cute monster

* SeriesContinuityError: Several, perhaps due to the series being originally intended as an AlternateContinuity.

* SheIsAllGrownUp: [[spoiler:Lilo]]

* SmellySkunk: Hamsterviel sends a skunk-like alien (possibly an experment of his) to retrieve Mr. Stenchy for him. It has the ability to shoot powerful stink bombs. It's also apparently female as in the end [[spoiler: it falls in love with Mr. Stenchy and their respective stenches cancle each other out.]]

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Yuuna for Lilo. Also count as {{Expy}}.

* TheOtherDarrin: The dub has an all new cast of 'sound-alikes', resulting in an experience similar to that of watching the first episode of ''Dragon Ball Z'' season 3. Such as BenDiskin ([[CodenameKidsNextDoor Numbuhs 1 and 2]]) as the title character.
* {{The Power of Friendship}}: What allowed him to defeat Dark End at the end of the 3rd series.

* TrueCompanions: The show's tagline is, "When we meet, we become family", an Okinawan phrase that describes their hospitality.
* TruthInTelevision: Okinawa and the rest of the Ryukyus are pretty much [[XMeetsY the Hawaii of Japan]]: pineapples, hibiscus, floral patterned clothing, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyuan_languages their own language]], a rich cultural history... A perfect analog for ''Lilo and Stitch'' [[RecycledInSpace IN JAPAN!]] minus Lilo plus Yuuna.
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Adult Lilo's daughter looks exactly like her younger self complete with red flowered shirt and Scrump doll.
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: What do the people of Yuuna's town do when they realize a pair of aliens have just landed in their town? Throw a party to welcome them, of course.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Done by Twang, Experiment 026, on Stitch so it could feed on the attention and sympathy from Yuuna and her family.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: They say Frenchfry's food makes people fat, but it's more like inflation, what with the body shape and the '''floating'''.

----

Three years after its initial debut in Japan it aired on DisneyXD, though after five episodes it was pulled off the channel. The ''Always The Best of Friends'' seasons have yet to get a dub.

Three years after its initial debut in Japan it aired on DisneyXD, though after five episodes it was pulled off the channel. ''The Mischievous Alien's Adventure'' and ''Always The Best of Friends'' seasons have yet to get a dub.

While Yuuna is taking Stitch back through the forest, he sees the Spirit Stone. Yuuna explains that the stone holds immense power, and can grant any wish. Stitch wants to be the strongest thing in the galaxy, and so tries to wish on the stone--and gets [[KarmicRetribution zapped.]] Yuuna then explains that only those who do good deeds will have their wishes granted. Stitch then makes it his mission to do enough good deeds to have his wish, to be the most powerful creature in the galaxy, granted. But all of Stitch's old nemeses are on his heels...

[[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-22/u.s-disney-xd-to-air-stitch-anime-starting-monday Now coming to the U.S. on a Disney XD channel near you]]...after three years of its initial debut in Japan. ''The Mischievous Alien's Adventure'' and ''Always The Best of Friends'' seasons however has yet to get a dub though.

** What's funny about that is being dishonorably dicharged is ''worse'' than being fired.

* {{Not So Harmless Villain}}: In the second to last episode, there was Dark End, an experiment created by the anime-only villain Deila to defeat Stitch . Not only was it an an [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j974lSZcW6M adorable (more so than Stitch) long-eared rabbit-like experiment with androgynous voice and features]], it was powerful enough to (1) cause a giant fissure in a soccer ball field just by stamping its foot, (2) broke open a giant containment pod containing Gantu, 625, and Hamsterveil by lightly tapping its claw on the glass, (3) completely {{Curb Stomp battle}}d Stitch till he lost consciousness twice! (but not without making him undergo a {{Humiliation Conga}} first), and wiped the floor with Stitch's nine other cousins. It wasn't until, through some contrived power gained from the love and support of Yuuna and her friends, that he was able to stand a fighting chance against Dark End.
** There was also Twang, another flute carrying cat/rabbit-looking experiment who grew stronger the more attention and sympathy it got from those around it. This included framing Stitch in a {{Wounded Gazelle Gambit}} so Yuuna and her family would take its side. Databases suggested that with enough attention it would have become a hulking not-so-cute monster

* {{Take That}}: One gets the feeling Stitch "running away" in the dub was directed at Chris Sanders, one of the creators of the characters as well as the original voice of Stitch, who left Disney after being booted off ''Disney/{{Bolt}}''.

* {{Uncanny Family Resemblance}}: Adult Lilo's daughter looks exactly like her younger self complete with red flowered shirt and Scrump doll.

* {{Wounded Gazelle Gambit}} Done by Twang, Experiment 026, on Stitch so it could feed on the attention and sympathy from Yuuna and her family.

*** What's funny about that is being dishonorably dicharged is ''worse'' than being fired.

* DubInducedPlotHole: The English dub makes an attempt to connect it to the old continuity by claiming Stitch ran away from Lilo as she got a boyfriend. [[{{Broken Aesop}} What about Ohana?]]
** Also, Gantu and [[strike:Reuben]] Ruben have gone back to Dr. Hamsterviel just because Gantu was [[strike:fired again]] [[InsistentTerminology dishonorably discharged]] [[DisproportionateRetribution for singing karaoke at the holiday party]].

* {{Girlish Pigtails}}: Yuna.

* {{Everything's Better With Princesses}}: One of Stitch's cousins, Checkers, could sit like a crown on people's heads and give the wearer the ability to hypnotize those around them into thinking they were royalty to be obeyed. When it landed on Yuuna (and later her snobby rival, Pico), everyone was hypnotized into seeing her as a princess.

** There was also Twang, another flute carrying cat/rabbit-looking experiment who grew stronger the more attention and sympathy it got from those around it. This included framing Stitch in a {{Wounded Gazelle Gambit}} so Yuuna and her family would take its side. Databases suggested that with enough attention it would have become a hulking not-so-cute

* {{Not So Harmless Villain}}: In the second to last episode of {{Stitch!}}, there was Dark End, an experiment created by the anime-only villain Deila to defeat Stitch . Not only was it an an [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j974lSZcW6M adorable (more so than Stitch) long-eared rabbit-like experiment with androgynous voice and features]], it was powerful enough to (1) cause a giant fissure in a soccer ball field just by stamping its foot, (2) broke open a giant containment pod containing Gantu, 625, and Hamsterveil by lightly tapping its claw on the glass, (3) completely {{Curb Stomp battle}}d Stitch till he lost consciousness twice! (but not without making him undergo a {{Humiliation Conga}} first), and wiped the floor with Stitch's nine other cousins. It wasn't until, through some contrived power gained from the love and support of Yuuna and her friends, that he was able to stand a fighting chance against Dark End.

* PlotHole: It's quite clear as the series progresses that this is not an {{Alternate Continuity}} as it shows in the episode "Reunion With Lilo" that Stitch left Hawaii after Lilo matured into a full grown adult and had a child, yet it doesn't explain why Gantu and Reuben (experiment 624) are back working with Hamsterviel even though according to the DVD movie after the American series ended "Leroy and Stitch", Gantu was reinstated as a Captain of the Armada by the Grand Councilwoman and Reuben did a complete {{Heel Face Turn}} and found his one true place in the world.

''Stitch!'' (yes, the [[ExcitedShowTitle exclamation point is mandatory]]) is an {{anime}} series from MadHouse and the DisneyChannel. At first it was an AlternateContinuity to the entire ''Disney/LiloAndStitch'' franchise, notable for lacking Lilo until the third season where it has turned into a TimeSkip series. Four seasons have been produced - the first two by MadHouse, and the third and fourth seasons by [[ShinEiDoga Shin-Ei Doga]].

** Gantu and Reuben being evil again, despite Gantu having been reinstated to his position in the Galactic Armada and Reuben find his one true place in LeroyAndStitch.

* PlotHole: It's quite clear as the series progresses that this is not an {{Alternate Continuity}} as it shows in the episode "Reunion With Lilo" that Stitch left Hawaii after Lilo matured into a full grown adult and had a child, yet it doesn't explain why Gantu and Reuben (experiment 624) are back working with Hamsterviel even though according to the DVD movie after the American series ended "Leroy and Stitch", Gantu was reinstated as a Captain of the Armada by the Grand Councilwoman and Reuben did a complete {{Heel Face Turn}} and found his one true place in the

* {{Canon Foreigner}}: In addition to the main cast, new experiments, such as Experiment 027 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_DViC8fN4Q, were added with along with the ones from the original series.
* {{Characterization Marches On}}: Experiment 627, while still Stitch's {{Always Someone Better}} rival, makes a complete 180 in personality, going from the wild, slobbering {{The Hyena}} whose only dialogue was {{Pokemon Speak}} "Evil!" in the original series, to a {{Wicked Cultured}} eloquent speaking gentleman with some {{Noble Demon}} traits after he saved Stitch and his love interest, Angel, from being crushed by Hamsterviel's ship (despite Jumba proclaiming him completely incapable of turning good in the original series). Could count as {{Fridge Brilliance}} considering the series took place after Stitch left his original Hawaii home where Lilo grew up into an older girl, so 627 must have had time to mature.

* HoYay: The HoYay between Jumba and Pleakly is possibly even ''worse'' than it was in the original--when they're "reunited" in the first episode, they reunite with a tearful embrace and much sobbing from both parties about how much they missed one another.
** In one episode, while Jumba and Pleakly are helping the postman deliver a letter to Yuuna:
-->'''Postman:''' "So, how long have you two been married?"

Meanwhile, Stitch [[spoiler:who left Earth shortly after Lilo went to college and has since fallen off the wagon]] is on the run from several Galactic Federation officials when he and Jumba are sucked into a [[NegativeSpaceWedgie Space Storm]] that desposits them outside Earth. Stitch, confused, hungry, and thirsty, then runs amok looking for food. He attracts the eye of the locals, who are rather fearful of him. But Yuuna goes to confront him, and after they square off in a [[GoodOldFisticuffs pseudo-karate match]], they bond and become friends.

[[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-22/u.s-disney-xd-to-air-stitch-anime-starting-monday Now coming to the U.S. on a Disney XD channel near you]]...after three years of its initial debut in Japan.

* {{Take That}}: One gets the feeling Stitch "running away" in the dub was directed at Chris Sanders, one of the creators of the characters as well as the original voice of Stitch, who left Disney after being booted off ''{{Bolt}}''.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/StitchAnimeTitlecard_5641.JPG

''Stitch!'' (yes, the [[ExcitedShowTitle exclamation point is mandatory]]) is an {{anime}} series from MadHouse and the DisneyChannel. At first it was an AlternateContinuity to the entire ''LiloAndStitch'' franchise, notable for lacking Lilo until the third season where it has turned into a TimeSkip series. Four seasons have been produced - the first two by MadHouse, and the third and fourth seasons by [[ShinEiDoga Shin-Ei Doga]].