Lilo and Stitch to return with new animated short
Disney announced a new theatrical animated short centered on Lilo & Stitch at the Annecy Festival. The short will premiere on November 25 ahead of the feature film Hexed, marking Disney’s first theatrical short release in five years.
The production reunites key talent from the original 2002 film. Chris Sanders, who directed and voiced Stitch in the original, returns to voice the character, while Maia Kealoha—who played Lilo in Disney’s recent live-action remake—voices the character in the animated short. The filmmaking team includes co-directors Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, alongside animator Alex Cooper Schmidt, who created the original hand-drawn Stitch designs.
The Lilo & Stitch franchise has remained commercially successful since its theatrical debut, spawning three direct-to-video sequels and a live-action adaptation. This theatrical short marks a return to premium theatrical distribution for the property and signals Disney’s continued investment in the beloved franchise alongside its newer releases.