Heartwarming / Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch franchise heartwarming moments
Original film | Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Leroy & Stitch | Stitch! anime

You just can't help falling in love with these two.

What seems on the surface to be a really off-kilter Disney animated film turned out to be one of the most touching entries in the company's animated canon, and it's thanks to the power of ʻohana.

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• The final scenes really show off the affection the characters have developed for each other, particularly this speech:
  Stitch: This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little, and broken, but still good. Yeah. Still good.
  • Fridge Brilliance: Remember what the Grand Councilwoman said at Stitch's sentencing, when determining whether he was a monster? All he ever had to do was show that there was "something inside (him) that is good."
    • Which is especially amazing because when they finally corner Stitch, who has been seen in the eyes of the Galactic Federation or whatever to be an irredeemable little monster, he simply stands up and talks to them. His only questions are if he has to leave, and if he can say goodbye.
  • Indeed, she seems touched to see Stitch is obviously so happy with his family and they are happy to have him.
• Especially heartwarming is when Lilo shows the Grand Councilwoman her adoption papers from the kennel, proving that she bought Stitch fair and square. Instead of being frustrated that her plans to take Stitch back are foiled, the Grand Councilwoman gives Lilo a genuinely happy smile, knowing that she can now let Stitch stay with her.
  • Even more heartwarming: who helps Lilo remember that she legally adopted Stitch? Cobra Bubbles. He really DOES care about Lilo's happiness above all.
• You know, make that any serious scene about ʻohana. "ʻOhana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind--or forgotten."
  • It's easy to overlook since the scene is so focused on Nani and Lilo, but watch Stitch during the first mention of ʻohana. He starts off struggling in Nani's arms—at least until something Lilo says gets his undivided attention, namely "ʻOhana means family". Even better is the absolutely stunned look he gives Nani when she immediately closes the door after that same line. This is the first scene in the movie where Stitch seems to regard Lilo and Nani as if they are more than just his meat-shields.
  • Stitch uses this word to comfort Nani when she thinks that Lilo is gone forever. This shows that he's willing to make up for the damage that he caused by saving Lilo. And Jumba agrees to release him and help in his own way to save Lilo.
• Stitch returning to save Lilo.
  Lilo: You came back.
  Stitch: Nobody gets left behind.
  (Lilo kisses him on his nose.)
• The final photo◊ at the end of the film: rather than it only being Lilo, Nani and their deceased parents, another photo is partly overlapping it now, so it looks like Stitch is sitting with them.
  • The ending credits, plus photo montage with "Burning Love" in the background, could be seen as one long CMOH: It depicts Lilo's shattered family not only whole again, but bigger and happier than ever before.
• The frog, seemingly nothing more than a Brick Joke. But when Gantu makes his strafing run, the frog jumps on Stitch's head while eyeing Gantu's ship, giving the impression he's trying to shield Stitch from the attack. Which Stitch repays by saving him.
• The montage of Lilo, Nani, David, and Stitch at the beach that plays during "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride". Considering how many difficulties Nani, Lilo, and Stitch have been going through, seeing them all having fun together is very touching.
  • Some highlights of this particular scene include: David petting Stitch with no fear (being the second person to not be scared of him), Stitch hugging Nani's leg when they're surfboarding again and Nani smiling, and David being a general big-brother figure to Lilo throughout the whole montage.
• Despite him acting like he’s an evil genius, Jumba has some moments where he proves he’s not so evil. He’s quite disgusted when Stitch uses Lilo to keep him safe from Jumba’s blast, he wonders (almost remorsefully, noting his own role in Stitch's creation) what Stitch must have thought when he felt like he lacked a purpose other than destroying and had no comforting memories to revisit, was genuinely remorseful when Lilo was captured by Gantu and agreed to help save Lilo while claiming that Stitch “persuaded” him.
• When Agent Pleakley, the Obstructive Bureaucrat, realizes that Jumba and Stitch are about to have a showdown, his first instinct is to grab Lilo and get her out of there as fast as possible. Indeed his fear for her safety only rises as he watches the fight unfold.
• While the ending credits were already mentioned, Cobra Bubbles deserves a special mention. After spending the movie being the scary (though extremely reasonable) government man, he helps rebuild Nani's house, sings at Lilo's birthday, and watches late-night movies with the family while Lilo sits in his lap, with a smile that makes him look downright handsome.
  • And they recreate the famous Thanksgiving painting, with Cobra at the head of the table.
• Stitch and his connection to Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling. When he ransacks Lilo's bookshelf, nothing catches his eye except for that story. After Lilo tells him about the story, he then goes out twice to find his family.
• David, throughout the movie.
  • He supports Nani and Lilo through thick and thin because he knows she's struggling, he never pushes Nani into a relationship, respects her decision when she rejects him because she has to provide for Lilo, he saves Stitch even after he believes the latter almost drowned Lilo, and he finds Nani a job at nearly the last minute, all without expecting anything in return. He's such a general nice guy.
  • David invites Lilo, Nani and Stitch to surf as a way to cheer them up after a disastrous job hunt. He even pats Stitch as a comfort when seeing him scared of the water.
  • Lilo actually supports the relationship between David and Nani. In any other movie, David would see Lilo as a threat and try to get rid of her so he can be with Nani or he would be turned off by Nani once he learns she's a guardian. Instead, David fully accepts that Lilo is Nani's top priority and he maintains a positive relationship with Lilo because he understands it's a package deal and he won't insert himself into either of their lives without their permission or comfort. This makes it clear that he understands Nani's struggle and wants to help her as much as he can.
  • The credits actually reveal that Nani and David did eventually go out together and they appear to be having a good time. So it's not only nice to see that David and Nani are enjoying each other's company, but it's also nice to see Nani actually socializing in her free time after handling the responsibility of raising Lilo at the ripe old age of 19. In fact, when David asked her out at the Luau, he phrases it in a way that implies that he's doing this both as a romantic gesture and a friendship gesture, implying very early on that should Nani have accepted the offer, he would have been happy to have just taken her away from the stresses of her life, even if just for a little while.