History YMMV / StitchAndAi

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: After one show separated Stitch from Lilo, do you think that most fans are willing to take on ''another'' one that does the same thing?

** The very first episode quickly went out of its way to point out that Lilo and Stitch's separation was forced upon them, not because of a misunderstanding. Whether or not it's OK to separate them again, on the other hand...

** Likewise, when word about [[spoiler:Stitch's {{new|PowersAsThePlotDemands}} [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever giant]] [[OneWingedAngel destructive form]]]] got out among the fanbase, Craig tried to justify it by claiming that [[spoiler:this is what Stitch was supposed to become all this time, but Lilo's and later Ai's love suppressed it to the point where it seemed almost impossible for it to come out]]. Not every fan has bought it, however, considering that [[spoiler:we already know that Stitch is dangerous and destructive enough as his normal pint-sized self]] and that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRVko1w0bH8 a deleted version of the original film's opening]] shows that Creator/ChrisSanders (Stitch's real life creator) never envisioned [[spoiler:giving Stitch this kind of ability]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the giant form]] also contradicts ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' (which Craig himself served as a executive producer of), specifically the episode "[[Recap/LiloAndStitchTheSeriesS1E29Shortstuff Short Stuff]]". Read more under FridgeLogic below.

** This show has further deepened the divide within the ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' fandom that the ''Stitch!'' anime started. Some fans are grateful that we get to see more of Stitch again in what seems to be a much better show than the anime. Others are rejecting this show since Lilo is still OutOfFocus and some elements of the anime are rehashed here, such as the ScienceFantasy aspects involving a culture's local mythology, and Stitch being paired up with a new human girl again. Other people say that the show itself is fine, but it would have been better if it was a completely original series with its own complete cast of characters, instead of just shoehorning in the characters of an existing franchise and trying to establish this series as an "official" continuation of it.

** The involvement of American animators, especially those who previously worked on ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries''. Supporters are happy that their involvement helps gives a sense of continuity that was sorely missing from the ''Stitch!'' anime and helps keeps the franchise alive, while detractors see their involvement as a betrayal to the ''ʻohana'' that only helps to keep the Lilo parts of the franchise dead.[[note]]Tony Craig's Facebook comments saying that he and Jess Winfield wanted Lilo's story to stay finished did not help matters.[[/note]] As a result, fans are now completely split over the franchise's direction.
** [[spoiler:Stitch's new abilities, especially the metamorphosis program and destructive form. Either they fit for him due to the way he was programmed to be the ultimate monster, adding an interesting twist to his character and the show, or an awful clichéd gimmick that adds nothing meaningful to his character and ruins the series, disrespecting his legacy and how Chris Sanders originally envisioned him. It didn't help that it contradicts what was said and/or shown in past works. Additionally, the design of the destructive form itself is seen as either awesome or stupid.]]

** The reason why Lilo and Stitch are separated this time? He was kidnapped, which is understandable. However, why does he now suddenly like this new girl Ai more and decides to stay with her instead of returning to his original home of Hawaii?
*** Craig seems to have answered this one in yet another AuthorsSavingThrow during his interview with a ''Lilo & Stitch'' [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064528/https://www.joshuacroyle.com/lilo-stitch/interview-with-tony-craig-director-of-stitch-ai/ fan after the English version debuted;]] Stitch ''does'' remember Lilo, but his memory of her is foggy, hence why he doesn't try to return to her. However, not only does it not fully justify his decision to stay with Ai to some fans (or even the show's existence to some of the said fans), it also opens up the question of why Stitch--a hypercognitive creature with a mind that can think "faster than a supercomputer" who took ''[[TrueCompanions ʻohana]]'' to heart--can't fully remember ''his very first and closest friend''.
*** The show itself has Ai inexplicably explain in a [[TheTeaser cold open]] that Stitch lost his memories [[spoiler:when he re-entered Earth's atmosphere in the first episode because "special ''qi'' energy" surrounded him to protect him]]... which itself is a bit of an AssPull since it undermines one of Stitch's [[spoiler:previously-known abilities; his fireproofing, which presumably includes [[RequiredSecondaryPowers heat resistance]], and ''that'' was already displayed moments before his fall to Earth with him doing his famous plasma CatchAndReturn in his fight against the Jaboodies and Woolagongs]]. Even then, why would [[spoiler:a spiritual force choose to protect an alien from being hurt yet also take away his memories]]? (Although that question would have been answered had Stitch found the shrine he was looking for, which [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have happened had a second season been greenlit and made]].)
** The show explains that the reason why Stitch has [[spoiler:programming that makes him grow bigger and more powerful]] is because he's [[spoiler:"too small"]] to actually destroy a city. However, this explanation is contradicted by three of the franchise's past works, which makes some fans question the necessity of adding [[spoiler:that new metamorphosis ability]]:
*** A deleted version of the opening scene in ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' shows that Experiment 626 has already caused major destruction in an alien city, [[spoiler:still in his familiar small size]]. Said deleted scene even showed Stitch tipping over a skyscraper by lifting it from its base[[spoiler:, which this series actually referenced in one of the show's many {{Call Back}}s and {{Mythology Gag}}s]].
*** The ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'' episode "[[Recap/LiloAndStitchTheSeriesS1E29ShortStuff Short Stuff]]" showed that Stitch was actually not as effective of a fighter (and also more clumsier) when [[spoiler:enlarged to a giant size]], with Jumba outright telling him that he was "made to operate at peak efficiency [[spoiler:only at exact ''original'' size]]." Granted, in ''The Series'' Stitch was [[spoiler:enlarged by a growth ray and not via internal programming]], and he didn't [[spoiler:sprout tentacles from his back]], but those are not enough to negate the issue here.

** This show could be this for Chinese animation since it's a Disney-produced show using characters that the West are familiar with. Its legal American release in December 2018 further supports this trope.

** The final scene of the entire show is this trope. At the end of the final episode, Stitch cries "because [[ThirdPersonPerson Stitch]] has family." The problem with this scene? ''He already had a family before joining the Wangs,'' as the flashbacks to his time with Lilo seen in the early episodes have made pretty clear.
* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Some fans criticize this series for rehashing past elements of the original films and TV series, especially with most of the main human characters being very similar to those in the original continuity, especially Ai and Jiejie, as well as a bit of an overreliance on {{Mythology Gag}}s and {{Call Back}}s to try to invoke nostalgia for older fans.

** Somewhat like with the ''Stitch!'' anime, others are watching this show in hopes of seeing new [[Characters/LiloAndStitchExperiments experiments]] and, what do ya know, there are new experiments! (Although to somewhat damper the excitement, they are new [[ExactWords in the truest sense of the word]]--they're all made within this series, after Stitch, without any of the first 625 experiments, seen or unseen, making an appearance, although Craig previously stated that he would like to bring back some of the classic experiments in this series should Disney approve the production of a second season, which never happened.)

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: Presumably why the involvement of American animators, including those from ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'', were brought on board was to make sure the show would have visual consistency with the original continuity, something that a number of fans agree the ''Stitch!'' anime lacked (even among some of those who like that series). This is more apparent in the episodes made with digital ink and paint, as they look like they could be lost episodes of ''L&S:TS''.

** While not the worst animation in world, the episodes that use motion-tweened computer animation à la [[UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash Flash]] or [[UsefulNotes/ToonBoom Harmony]] are... pretty obvious and unnatural looking. Sadly, they make up the bulk of episodes.

* SoOkayItsAverage: Outside of the controversies of continuing the Stitch without Lilo trend that started with ''Stitch!'', this is pretty much the overall reception of this show. It's a decent enough, fun, inoffensive animated series in its own right, but it's not really original and copies too much from past entries in the franchise it's a part of. Plus, whatever that ''is'' new to the franchise itself in this show were unnecessary, to the point that there's not much in this show to justify the involvement of the ''Lilo & Stitch'' franchise in what is ultimately an average modern-day children's fantasy series.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Creator/BenDiskin's Stitch voice in this series is seen by several fans as a ''downgrade'' from his ''Stitch!'' anime voice, which is saying something considering the mixed reception of his Stitch voice in the English dub of that series. Said fans believe that his Stitch voice has become too deep and his attempts to invoke Stitch's classic flawed speech actually resulted in a worse performance, coming across more as a bad impression of the alien.

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: This dialogue from the English version of the first episode occurs when Ai and Jiejie are arguing:
-->'''Jiejie''' ''(after Ai tosses a pair of underwear at her)'': You're putting words in my mouth!
-->'''Ai''': Talk to the hand.

** A few fans say that they would have begrudgingly accepted ''Stitch & Ai'' into the canon... had it not been for the introduction of [[spoiler:Stitch's destructive form]].

** After seeing comments from ''Lilo & Stitch'' fans who saw the Myth/ChineseMythology-based creatures and assumed that they were making mythological creatures RealAfterAll in-universe like in the ''Stitch!'' anime, [[WordOfGod Tony Craig]] clarified that those are all experiments that Jumba made based on what he read on ancient Chinese scrolls.

** In one scene in "Tell the World", Ai "interviews" the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions shishi]] for her video. When she admonishes Stitch for standing on top of one of the lion statues by saying that there are only two lions not three, he suddenly sprouts quills (that look much like his back spines) on top of his head and below his chin pretending to be a scary lion. He then retracts the quills after Ai simply tells him that he's not scary.
** In "The Phoenix", while Stitch, Ai and her cousin Bao are using a hang glider to reach the phoenix and the shrine after the alien hunters in the episode levitate the shrine's grounds, Stitch decides to climb on top of the glider and jump off like a BASE jumper, suddenly growing a membrane in freefall to allow him to glide through the air. There's no rhyme or reason for this ability either other than he simply wanted to have some fun, and it also begs the question as to why he never used this ability before in the original Western continuity when he fell from great heights back then.

** [[spoiler:Stitch's new abilities, especially the metamorphosis program and destructive form. Either they fit for him due to way he was programmed to be the ultimate monster, adding an interesting twist to his character and the show, or an awful clichéd gimmick that adds nothing meaningful to his character and ruins the series, disrespecting his legacy and how Chris Sanders originally envisioned him. It didn't help that it contradicts what was said and/or shown in past works. Additionally, the design of the destructive form itself is seen as either awesome or stupid.]]

** Practically a tradition with the franchise now, opinions of this series run the gamut of either it's [[EvenBetterSequel the best]] ''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'' [[EvenBetterSequel TV series yet]], [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel it's better than one of the two earlier TV shows]] (usually better than the ''Stitch!'' anime, but not as good as ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', although there are a few fans out there who think the opposite), or [[{{Sequelitis}} it's just as bad as the anime, the Western series, or both of them]].
** As of September 20, 2019, the show currently holds a weighted average rating of 4.7/10 (based on 26 user ratings) on Website/IMDb ([[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7664318 See here.]]), which is higher than the ''Stitch!'' [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409066 anime,]][[labelnote:average rating]]4.4/10 based on 184 ratings[[/labelnote]] but lower than ''[[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364774 Lilo & Stitch: The Series]]''.[[labelnote:average rating]]6.7/10 based on 7,083 user ratings[[/labelnote]] (Granted, the user rating count for ''Stitch & Ai'' is low, but still.)
** The reception appears to be a bit warmer but just as mixed on Website/MyAnimeList, whereas of September 20, 2019, ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/36666/An_Ling_Yu_Shi_Di_Qi Stitch & Ai]]'' holds an weighted average rating of 6.43/10 based on 57 user ratings, compared to 6.04/10[[note]]based on 1,349 user ratings[[/note]] for the ''Stitch!'' [[https://myanimelist.net/anime/5027/Stitch anime's first season,]][[note]]although this can also be interpreted as being for the anime series overall[[/note]] 6.26/10[[note]]based on 441 user ratings[[/note]] for ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/6899/Stitch__Itazura_Alien_no_Daibouken Stitch! ~The Mischievous Alien's Great Adventure~]]'' (season 2), and 6.13/10[[note]]based on 356 user ratings[[/note]] for ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/8964/Stitch__Zutto_Saikou_no_Tomodachi Stitch! ~Best Friends Forever~]]'' (season 3). (Again, the user rating count for ''Stitch & Ai'' is also low here, and ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'' is not on that site for obvious reasons, but still.)

** The reason why Lilo and Stitch are separated this time was because he was kidnapped. OK, understandable. However, why does he now suddenly like this new girl Ai more and decides to stay with her instead of returning to his original home of Hawaii?

*** The show itself has Ai inexplicably explain in a [[TheTeaser cold open]] that Stitch lost his memories [[spoiler:when he re-entered Earth's atmosphere in the first episode because "special ''qi'' energy" surrounded him to protect him]]... which itself is a bit of an AssPull since it undermines one of Stitch's [[spoiler:previously-known abilities; his fireproofing, which presumably include [[RequiredSecondaryPowers heat resistance]], and ''that'' was already displayed moments before his fall to Earth with him doing his famous plasma CatchAndReturn in his fight against the Jaboodies and Woolagongs]]. Even then, why would [[spoiler:a spiritual force choose to protect an alien from being hurt yet also take away his memories]]? (Although that question would have been answered had Stitch found the shrine he was looking for, which [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have happened had a second season been greenlit and made]].)

** The reception appears to be a bit warmer but just as mixed on Website/MyAnimeList, where as of September 20, 2019, ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/36666/An_Ling_Yu_Shi_Di_Qi Stitch & Ai]]'' holds an weighted average rating of 6.43/10 based on 57 user ratings, compared to 6.04/10[[note]]based on 1,349 user ratings[[/note]] for the ''Stitch!'' [[https://myanimelist.net/anime/5027/Stitch anime's first season,]][[note]]although this can also be interpreted as being for the anime series overall[[/note]] 6.26/10[[note]]based on 441 user ratings[[/note]] for ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/6899/Stitch__Itazura_Alien_no_Daibouken Stitch! ~The Mischievous Alien's Great Adventure~]]'' (season 2), and 6.13/10[[note]]based on 356 user ratings[[/note]] for ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/8964/Stitch__Zutto_Saikou_no_Tomodachi Stitch! ~Best Friends Forever~]]'' (season 3). (Again, the user rating count for ''Stitch & Ai'' is also low here, and ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'' is not on that site for obvious reasons, but still.)

** The reason why Lilo and Stitch are separated this time was because he was kidnapped. OK, understandable. However, why does he now suddenly like this new girl Ai more and decides to stay with her instead of return to his original home of Hawaii?
*** Craig seems to have answered this one in yet another AuthorsSavingThrow during his interview with a ''Lilo & Stitch'' [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064528/https://www.joshuacroyle.com/lilo-stitch/interview-with-tony-craig-director-of-stitch-ai/ fan after the English version debuted;]] Stitch ''does'' remember Lilo, but his memory of her is foggy, hence why he doesn't try to return to her. However, not only does it not fully justify his decision to stay with Ai to some fans (or even the show's existence to some of said fans), it also opens up the question of why Stitch--a hypercognitive creature with a mind that can think "faster than a supercomputer" who took ''[[TrueCompanions ʻohana]]'' to heart--can't fully remember ''his very first and closest friend''.

*** A deleted version of the opening scene in ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' shows that the Experiment 626 has already caused major destruction in an alien city, [[spoiler:still in his familiar small size]]. Said deleted scene even showed Stitch tipping over a skyscraper by lifting it from its base[[spoiler:, which this series actually referenced in one of the show's many {{Call Back}}s and {{Mythology Gag}}s]].

** This show could be this for Chinese animation, since it's a Disney-produced show using characters that the West are familiar with. Its legal American release in December 2018 further supports this trope.

*** Craig seems to have answered this one in yet another AuthorsSavingThrow during his interview with a ''Lilo & Stitch'' [[https://www.joshuacroyle.com/lilo-stitch/interview-with-tony-craig-director-of-stitch-ai/ fan after the English version debuted;]] Stitch ''does'' remember Lilo, but his memory of her is foggy, hence why he doesn't try to return to her. However, not only does it not fully justify his decision to stay with Ai to some fans (or even the show's existence to some of said fans), it also opens up the question of why Stitch--a hypercognitive creature with a mind that can think "faster than a supercomputer" who took ''[[TrueCompanions ʻohana]]'' to heart--can't fully remember ''his very first and closest friend''.

** Ai's breakdown in "The Scroll" when Jumba and Pleakley were about to take away Stitch to bring him back to the UGF comes across as this. When Jiejie angrily and passionately argues using an AppealToPity for Jumba and Pleakley to let Stitch stay with Ai because her little sister "''never'' forgets those she loves ''ever''". Although this is followed by her explaining that Ai was basically an emotional wreck in the year after the loss of their parents until Stitch came into her life, it still comes across more as her and Ai being selfish than heartbroken; Stitch may have been the best thing to happen in the Wang sisters' lives in a long while, but they do not suddenly ''own'' him just because of that. Never mind the fact that Jumba and Pleakley were trying to take Stitch to the UGF to ''save'' him from the space criminals, even if they used misguided and manipulative methods in doing so.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Creator/BenDiskin's Stitch voice in this series is seen by several fans as a ''downgrade'' from his ''Stitch!'' anime voice, which is saying something considering the mixed reception of his Stitch voice in the English dub of that series. Said fans believe that his Stitch voice has become too deep and his attempts to invoke Stitch's classic flawed speech actually made him less charming and more annoying than before.

** The idea of another ''Lilo & Stitch'' TV series without our little Hawaiian girl again has caused some fans to go on another emotional roller coaster ride.

*** A deleted version of the opening scene in ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' shows that the Experiment 626 has already caused major destruction in an alien city, [[spoiler:still in his familiar small size]].
*** The ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'' episode "[[Recap/LiloAndStitchTheSeriesS1E29Shortstuff Short Stuff]]" showed that Stitch was actually not as effective of a fighter (and also more clumsier) when [[spoiler:enlarged to a giant size]], with Jumba outright telling him that he was "made to operate at peak efficiency [[spoiler:only at exact ''original'' size]]." Granted, in ''The Series'' Stitch was [[spoiler:enlarged by a growth ray and not via internal programming]], and he didn't [[spoiler:sprout tentacles from his back]], but those are not enough to negate the issue here.

* {{Glurge}}: Ai's breakdown in "The Scroll" when Jumba and Pleakley were about to take away Stitch to bring him back to the UGF comes across as this. When Jiejie angrily and passionately argues using an AppealToPity for Jumba and Pleakley to let Stitch stay with Ai because her little sister "''never'' forgets those she loves ''ever''". Although this is followed by her explaining that Ai was basically an emotional wreck in the year after the loss of their parents until Stitch came into her life, it still comes across more as her and Ai being selfish than heartbroken; Stitch may have been the best thing to happen in the Wang sisters' lives in a long while, but they do not suddenly ''own'' him just because of that. Never mind the fact that Jumba and Pleakley were trying to take Stitch to the UGF to ''save'' him from the space criminals, even if they used misguided and manipulative methods in doing so.
* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Some fans criticize this series for rehashing past elements of the original films and TV series, especially with regards to Ai and Jiejie being very similar to Lilo and Nani.

** While not the worst animation in world, the episodes that use motion-tweened computer animation a la [[UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash Flash]] or [[UsefulNotes/ToonBoom Harmony]] are... pretty obvious and unnatural looking. Sadly, they make up the bulk of episodes.

** In "The Phoenix", while Stitch, Ai and her cousin Bao are using a hang glider to reach the phoenix and the shrine after the alien hunters in the episode levitate the shrine's grounds, Stitch decides to climb on top of the glider and jump off like a BASE jumper, suddenly growing a membrane in freefall to allow him to glide through the air. There's no rhyme or reason for this ability either other than he simply wanted to have some fun, and it also begs the question as to why Stitch never used this ability before in the original Western continuity when he fell from great heights back then.

** In "The Phoenix", while Stitch, Ai and her cousin Bao are using a hang glider to reach the phoenix and the shrine after the alien hunters in the episode levitate the shrine's grounds, Stitch decides to climb on top of the glider and jump off like a BASE jumper, suddenly growing a membrane in freefall to allow him to glide through the air. There's no rhyme or reason for this ability either other than simply wanted to have some fun, and it also begs the question as to why Stitch never used this ability before in the original Western continuity when he fell from great heights back then.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Both involving the Stitch's new powers [[spoiler:''separate from'' the metamorphosis program]]; he's never shown these abilities before and they never show up again after that they're used, making their sudden introductions completely pointless {{padding}}:

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Both involving the new powers Stitch [[spoiler:''separate from'' the metamorphosis program]]; he's never shown these abilities before and they never show up again after that they're used, making their sudden introductions completely pointless {{padding}}:

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Both involving the new powers Stitch shows [[spoiler:''separate from'' the metamorphosis program]]. He never shown these abilities before and they never show up again after that they're used, making their sudden introductions completely pointless {{padding}}:

** In "The Phoenix", while Stitch, Ai and her cousin Bao are using a hang glider to reach the phoenix and the shrine after the alien hunters in the episode levitate the shrine's grounds, Stitch decides to climb on top of the glider and jump off like a BASE jumper, suddenly growing a membrane in freefall to allow him to glide through the air. There's no rhyme or reason for this ability either other than simply wanted to have some fun, and it also begs the question as to why Stitch never used this ability before when he fell from a great height.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: In one scene in "Tell the World", Ai "interviews" the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions shishi]] for her video. When she admonishes Stitch for standing on top of one of the lion statues by saying that there are only two lions not three, he suddenly sprouts quills (that look much like his back spines) on top of his head and below his chin pretending to be a scary lion. Not only had he never showed this ability before, he then retracts the quills after Ai simply tells him that he's not scary and they never show up again after that moment, making the sudden introduction of this ability completely pointless {{padding}}.

** [[spoiler:Stitch's destructive form and metamorphosis abilities. Either they fit for him due to way he was programmed to be the ultimate monster, adding an interesting twist to his character and the show, or an awful clichéd gimmick that adds nothing meaningful to his character and ruins the series, disrespecting his legacy and how Chris Sanders originally envisioned him. It didn't help that it contradicts what was said and/or shown in past works. Additionally, the design of the destructive form itself is seen as either awesome or stupid.]]

*** Finally, the ''Stitch!'' anime episode "Wormhole" had Stitch and that series' human lead Yuna ending in an alternate universe where they find themselves in an abandoned, post-apocalyptic Earth city (implied to be Tokyo) that was ravaged by an unreformed Experiment 626 who, apart from having a jetpack in that universe, [[spoiler:is still exactly the same small size we all know him to be, not once having grown larger]].

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: In one scene in "Tell the World", Ai "interviews" the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions shishi]] for her video. When she admonishes Stitch for standing on top of one of the lion statues by saying that there are only two lions not three, he suddenly sprouts quills (that look much like his back spines) ''on top of his head and below his chin'' pretending to be a scary lion. Not only had he ''never'' showed this ability before, he then retracts the quills after Ai simply tells him that he's not scary and they never show up again after that moment, making the sudden introduction of this ability completely pointless {{padding}}.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: In one scene in "Tell the World", Ai explains the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions shishi]] in for her video. When she admonishes Stitch for standing on top of one of the lion statues by saying that there are only two lions not three, he suddenly sprouts quills (that look much like his back spines) ''on top of his head and below his chin'' pretending to be a scary lion. Not only had he ''never'' showed this ability before, he then retracts the quills after Ai simply tells him that he's not scary and they never show up again after that moment, making the sudden introduction of this ability completely pointless {{padding}}.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: In one scene in "Tell the World", Ai explains the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions shishi]] in for her video. When she admonishes Stitch for standing on top of one of the lion statues by saying that there are only two lions not three, he suddenly sprouts quills (much like his back spines) ''on top of his head and below his chin'' pretending to be a scary lion. Not only had he ''never'' showed this ability before, he retracts the quills after Ai simply tells him that he's not scary and they never show up again after that, making the sudden introduction of this ability completely pointless {{padding}}.

*** Finally, the ''Stitch!'' anime episode "Wormhole" had Stitch and that series' human lead Yuna ending in an alternate universe where they find themselves in an abandoned, post-apocalyptic Earth city (implied to be Tokyo) that was ravaged by an unformed Experiment 626 who, apart from having a jetpack in that universe, [[spoiler:is still exactly the same small size we all know him to be, not once having grown larger]].

* BaseBreakingCharacter: The new titular human lead Wang Ai Ling. Several fans believe that she makes for a much better friend for Stitch than [[Anime/{{Stitch}} Yuna Kamihara]] does, is more believable in the role, and is a worthy successor to Lilo Pelekai,[[note]]There are also some fans who like all three girls, including Yuna.[[/note]] while others see her as [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute way too similar]] to Lilo and [[FlatCharacter lacking in depth]], calling Ai a bland carbon copy of her.

*** The animation is either nice and fluid as a Disney show should be or noticeably stilted and too Flash-like.

* SpecialEffectFailure: While not the worst animation in world, the episodes that use motion-tweened computer animation a la [[UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash Flash]] or [[UsefulNotes/ToonBoom Harmony]] are... pretty obvious and unnatural looking. Sadly, they make up the bulk of episodes.

* {{Glurge}}: Ai's breakdown (as seen in the first English promo for Disney Channel Asia) when Jumba and Pleakley were about to take away Stitch to bring him back to the UGF comes across as this. When Jiejie angrily and passionately argues using an AppealToPity for Jumba and Pleakley to let Stitch stay with Ai because her little sister "''never'' forgets those she loves ''ever''", it comes across more as her and Ai being selfish than heartbroken. Stitch may be understandably the best thing to happen in the Wang sisters' lives in a long while, but they do not suddenly ''own'' him just because of that. Never mind the fact that Jumba and Pleakley were trying to take Stitch to the UGF to ''save'' him from the space criminals.

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: Presumably why the involvement of American animators, including those from ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'', were brought on board was to make sure the show would have visual consistency with the original continuity, something that a number of fans agree the ''Stitch!'' anime lacked (even among some of those who like that series).
* PanderingToTheBase: Thanks to the involvement of American animators, including those from ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'', the show uses a lot of {{Call Back}}s, {{Mythology Gag}}s, {{flashback}}s of past works, and even a notable instance of TheBusCameBack (i.e. the return of [[spoiler:Cobra Bubbles]]) to try to win over the franchise's long-time fans.

*** Finally, the ''Stitch!'' anime episode "Wormhole" had Stitch and that series' human lead Yuna ending in an alternate universe where they find themselves in an abandoned, post-apocalyptic Earth city (implied to be Tokyo) that was ravaged by an unformed Experiment 626 who, apart from having a jetpack in that universe, [[spoiler:still exactly the same small size we all know him to be, not once having grown larger]].

** Likewise, when word about [[spoiler:Stitch's {{new|PowersAsThePlotDemands}} [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever giant]] [[OneWingedAngel destructive form]]]] got out among the fanbase, Craig tried to justify it by claiming that [[spoiler:this is what Stitch was supposed to become all this time, but Lilo's and later Ai's love suppressed it to the point where it seemed almost impossible for it to come out]]. Not every fan has bought it, however, considering that [[spoiler:we already know that Stitch is dangerous and destructive enough as his normal pint-sized self]] and that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRVko1w0bH8 a deleted version of the original film's opening]] shows that Creator/ChrisSanders (Stitch's real life creator) never envisioned [[spoiler:giving Stitch this kind of ability]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the giant form]] also contradicts ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries''--which Craig himself served as a executive producer of--in that [[spoiler:the episode "[[Recap/LiloAndStitchTheSeriesS1E29Shortstuff Short Stuff]]" showed that Stitch was actually not as effective of a fighter (and also more clumsier) when enlarged to a giant size, with Jumba outright telling him that he was "made to operate at peak efficiency only at ''exact original'' size." Granted, in ''The Series'' Stitch was enlarged by a growth ray and not via internal programming, and he didn't sprout tentacles from his back, but those are not enough to negate the {{revision}}ism at work here.]]

** The involvement of American animators, especially those who previously worked on ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries''. Supporters are happy that their involvement helps gives a sense of continuity that was sorely missing from the ''Stitch!'' anime and helps keeps the franchise alive, while detractors see their involvement as a betrayal to the ''ʻohana'' that only helps to keep the Lilo parts of the franchise dead (Tony Craig's Facebook comments not helping matters). As a result, fans are now completely split over the franchise's direction.
** [[spoiler:Stitch's destructive form and metamorphosis abilities. Either they fit for him due to way he was programmed to be the ultimate monster, adding an interesting twist to his character and the show, or an awful clichéd gimmick that adds nothing meaningful to his character and ruins the series, disrespecting his legacy and how Chris Sanders originally envisioned him. Additionally, the design of the destructive form itself is seen as either awesome or stupid.]]

** Practically a tradition with the franchise now, opinions of this series run the gamut of either it's [[EvenBetterSequel the best]] ''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'' [[EvenBetterSequel TV series yet]], [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel it's better than one of the two earlier TV shows]] (usually better than the ''Stitch!'' anime, but not as good as ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', although there are those out there who think the opposite), or [[{{Sequelitis}} it's just as bad as the anime, the Western series, or both of them]].

** Like with the ''Stitch!'' anime, a number of fans have rejected this series for separating Lilo and Stitch again and possibly for a number of other reasons. A few fans were even angry at Tony Craig and Creator/JessWinfield for deciding that the franchise should continue putting Stitch into new families in every new animated work because they decided that "Lilo's story is done".

* FridgeLogic: The reason why Lilo and Stitch are separated this time was because he was kidnapped. OK, understandable. However, why does he now suddenly like this new girl Ai more and decides to stay with her instead of return to his original home of Hawaii?
** Craig seems to have answered this one in yet another AuthorsSavingThrow during his interview with a ''Lilo & Stitch'' [[https://www.joshuacroyle.com/lilo-stitch/interview-with-tony-craig-director-of-stitch-ai/ fan after the English version debuted;]] Stitch ''does'' remember Lilo, but his memory of her is foggy, hence why he doesn't try to return to her. However, not only does it not fully justify his decision to stay with Ai to some fans (or even the show's existence to some of said fans), it also opens up the question of why Stitch--a hypercognitive creature with a mind that can think "faster than a supercomputer" who took ''[[TrueCompanions ʻohana]]'' to heart--can't fully remember ''his very first and closest friend''.

-->'''Jiejie''' (after Ai tosses a pair of underwear at her): You're putting words in my mouth!

** Likewise, when word about [[spoiler:Stitch's {{new|PowersAsThePlotDemands}} [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever giant]] [[OneWingedAngel destructive form]]]] got out among the fanbase, Craig tried to justify it by claiming that [[spoiler:this is what Stitch was supposed to become all this time, but Lilo's and later Ai's love suppressed it to the point where it seemed almost impossible for it to come out]]. Not every fan has bought it, however, considering that [[spoiler:we already know that Stitch is dangerous and destructive enough as his normal pint-sized self]] and that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRVko1w0bH8 a deleted version of the original film's opening]] shows that Creator/ChrisSanders (Stitch's real life creator) never envisioned [[spoiler:giving Stitch this kind of ability]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the giant form]] also contradicts ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries''--which Craig himself served as a executive producer--in that [[spoiler:the episode "[[Recap/LiloAndStitchTheSeriesS1E29Shortstuff Short Stuff]]" showed that Stitch was actually not as effective of a fighter (and also more clumsier) when enlarged to a giant size, with Jumba outright telling him that he was "made to operate at peak efficiency only at ''exact original'' size." Granted, in ''The Series'' Stitch was enlarged by a growth ray and not via internal programming, and he didn't sprout tentacles from his back, but those are not enough to negate the {{revision}}ism at work here.]]