Line #18 EnsembleDarkhorse/LiloAndStitch


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9	''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'' is one of the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon's [[OddballInTheSeries most unconventional franchises]], having been going along its own path since Creator/ChrisSanders and Creator/DeanDeBlois made [[WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch the 2002 original film]]. This has led it to become an EnsembleDarkHorse unto itself within the DAC. Of course, one of this franchise's strong suits (and a reason for its success) is its unique and unconventional characters, many of whom became Ensemble Dark Horses in their own rights.
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11	!![[Characters/LiloAndStitchExperiments Experiments]]
12	Since their formal debut in ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' {{pilot\|Movie}} ''WesternAnimation/StitchTheMovie'', the experiments as a whole became such Ensemble Dark Horses that they became the biggest defiers of Disney's tradition of [[CanonDiscontinuity not acknowledging the sequel material of Walt Disney Animation Studios films]] in their works. Part of it may have to come from their UglyCute designs or from being [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent Disney's version of]] Franchise/{{Pokemon}} in a way.
13	* Prior to her [[AscendedExtra ascension to major character status]] via [[Anime/{{Stitch}} the anime]] and [[TheMerch merchandise]], Angel (X-624) was this (and technically still is if you're from the United States where the anime flopped) since she only appeared in two episodes (plus a cameo in a third) and a few minor scenes during the final act of [[WesternAnimation/LeroyAndStitch the last film]].
14	* [[ShockAndAwe Sparky (X-221)]], likely because of his role in ''WesternAnimation/StitchTheMovie'', [[ShockAndAwe his powers]], and for being UglyCute. He was even popular enough to be a mandatory BossBattle in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', making him the first Creator/DisneyTelevisionAnimation character to appear in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' franchise. He also received several recurring appearances in [[Anime/{{Stitch}} the anime]], was made into a costumed character for the Ride/DisneyThemeParks, and is even the only "cousin" to appear on [[https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2658/4180225778_a337232fe8_b.jpg this mural in Hanapepe]]--the town that inspired ''Lilo & Stitch''[='=]s Kokaua Town.[[note]]As of 2018, that mural has since been boarded up and replaced by [[https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/6011f2367970717008f269fa4f125c28/5BABCDC9/t51.2885-15/e35/33650888_468626046899506_2043717452877004800_n.jpg a new, larger mural]] that features the SignatureScene of Lilo, Stitch, and Nani riding the big wave in the "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" sequence, with Sparky along with Jumba and Pleakley removed.[[/note]]
15	* Experiment 627, or [[FanNickname "Evile" as the fans call him]], due to the appealing concept of a tough experiment [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter who's better than Stitch]], and who would have likely become a rival to him had he received more appearances. He was number five on the aforementioned top ten poll and was also made into a Disney Parks costumed character.
16	* Bonnie (X-149) is one due to her {{Tomboy}}ish personality, appealing design, OutlawCouple dynamic with Clyde (X-150), and the fact that she's the only other prominent female experiment besides Angel whose body bores similarities to Stitch's.
17	* Splodyhead (X-619) seems to also be one, considering his fight against Slushy (X-523) in that experiment's episode (and the extensive reuse of scenes from that fight in [[ClipShow "Ace"]]) and his [[TheCameo cameo]] in ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6'', which made him the very first character from a sequel series to a DAC film to appear in a later DAC film.
18	* [[NeatFreak Felix (X-010)]] is one due to his cute looks and hilarious obsession with cleaning as "Felix" or spreading dirt as "Oscar". Even the way he says "[[OneWordVocabulary Dirty!]]" is oddly adorable. He even made a few more appearances in the anime, was also made into a costumed character for the Disney Parks, and is even the only playable character outside of the mid six-twos in the Nintendo DS game ''Disney VideoGame/StitchJam''.
19	* [[AnIcePerson Slushy (X-523)]] due to the surprisingly wide range of abilities he shows from his ice-generating powers (as seen in his aforementioned fight with Splodyhead) and for his playful [[TheTrickster trickster]] personality. (In fact, he actually has one of the more fleshed-out personalities among the experiments.)
20	* [[MakingASplash Yin (X-501)]] and [[MagmaMan Yang (X-502)]] for their OppositesAttract dynamic. In fact, these two were seventh on that top ten poll.
21	* Sample (X-258) is a peculiar one for his upbeat, carefree attitude and ability to provide some fresh beats with the sounds he records. He too received a costumed character counterpart for the Disney Parks.
22	* Of all the experiments that were introduced in ''WesternAnimation/LeroyAndStitch'', Carmen (X-123) got the most attention due to her fun Creator/CarmenMiranda-inspired design and visual similarities to Angel. We didn't get to see what her ability was in the film, but thankfully, she eventually appeared in an episode of ''Anime/{{Stitch}} ~Best Friends Forever~'' and was given [[InvoluntaryDance an ability that fits her very well]].
23	* Bragg/Flute (X-145) or Twang (X-023) -- a.k.a. that yellow cat/rabbit-like flute-playing experiment[[note]]this experiment suffered a ''huge'' case of DubInducedPlotHole and SeriesContinuityError for years; read [[https://liloandstitch.fandom.com/wiki/Talk:Bragg_(145)/@comment-37803634-20190907050527?permalink=33454#comm-33454 this comment on]] the Lilo & Stitch Wiki[[/note]] -- only appeared in one episode of the ''Stitch!'' anime, but he's by far the most popular experiment who was introduced in (and remains exclusive to) that show. The anime's fans were won over by his [[BitchInSheepsClothing wickedly deceptive personality underneath his charming exterior]].
24	* Houdini (X-604) is one for his adorable looks with big eyes and ears on a small rabbit-like body combined with his LovableCoward personality.
25	* Spike (X-319) is liked for his porcupine-like design and the way he was reformed with a [[CooldownHug therapeutic hug]], which caused him to turn to give hugging therapy to calm down truant experiments as his "one true place" (even though he has to wear armor to do that). Helps that his episode is seen as one of the best episodes of the series.
26	* Plasmoid (X-617), Thresher (X-544), Hammerface (X-033), and Heat (X-609) have a decent number of fans for both their colorful powers and the strategic way they use those powers while fighting Stitch on behalf of Gantu. They all have a lot of fan art despite not even being the main experiments from their debut.
27	* Elastico (X-345) is quite popular due to his stretchy powers, cute yet mildly creepy clown face, and how he is one of the few experiments to be both named ''and'' reformed by someone other than Lilo and the other main characters.
28	* Doubledip (X-002) has a decent fanbase for his PokeThePoodle purpose in life and how his resemblance to Stitch makes this feel even funnier.
29	* Despite originating from the anime, and that they were created not by Jumba but instead by the disliked third season antagonist Delia, Dark End is surprisingly liked for their AffablyEvil personality and adorable looks with big ears and a small pink nose.
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31	!!Others
32	* Despite being DemotedToExtra after the first film, Cobra Bubbles is probably the most popular human character in the franchise aside from the Pelekai sisters. This is due to him subverting the tropes of being a ScaryBlackMan and DepartmentOfChildDisservices, with Bubbles acting as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who is sympathetic to Nani and Lilo's plight, and is simply doing what he feels is best for their safety. [[spoiler:Bubbles [[HeroOfAnotherStory saving the Earth]] by convincing the United Galactic Federations's council that mosquitos were endangered earned even more points with fans.]] Cobra Bubbles is so popular that there was wide and vocal outrage among fans when it appeared he would be AdaptedOut from the remake, which thankfully ended up not being the case.
33	* [[RunningGag Ice Cream Man]]. So much so that he was the only ''Lilo & Stitch'' character other than Lilo, Stitch, and Nani to be made into a Townsperson costume in ''VideoGame/DisneyInfinity'', where he costs ''100,000 blue sparks'' in ''2.0''[='=]s Toy Store.
34	* Lilo's doll Scrump is not even alive (save for that one time [[AnimateInanimateObject Phantasmo]] [[LivingToys possessed "her"]]) and only plays [[CompanionCube a small role]] to Lilo's character, but "she" gets a lot of fan art and merchandise (albeit, oddly appearing with Stitch more than with Lilo instead), which even includes a couple Toys/FunkoPop vinyl figures modeled after "her". The best evidence supporting this has to be in [[https://confusedkc.tumblr.com/post/178689293088/dissecting-the-lilo-stitch-fan-art-contest this official fan art contest held by Disney and BoxLunch (Hot Topic),]] where Scrump appeared on eight of the twenty-five chosen finalists for the contest (tied with Lilo as the second-most appearing character), six of which feature only "her" and Stitch together.[[note]]One of the finalists was later removed, reducing the amount of finalists with Scrump on them to seven out of twenty-four, with five featuring only "her" and Stitch.[[/note]] That said, her over-prominence in merchandise--often, as aforementioned, with Stitch and without Lilo--combined with a seeming dearth of merch featuring characters other than her and Stitch, has caused a number of core fans to resent the doll, making "her" a BaseBreakingCharacter nowadays.
35	* Amy Hill as Mrs. Hasagawa is a very memorable character even if [[OneSceneWonder she appears only once in the original film]]. Thankfully, ''The Series'' gave her a few more appearances, including involving her in a B-Plot of the ''WesternAnimation/{{American Dragon\|Jake Long}}'' crossover episode and making her the focus of half of a TwoShorts episode.
36	* The blonde lifeguard whom Nani briefly talks with for a job is extremely popular, [[MsFanservice for]] [[MaleGaze some]] [[SarcasmMode strange]] [[JigglePhysics reason.]]

Context EnsembleDarkhorse / LiloAndStitch