Ohana Means Foster Care?—TikTok Critics Share Their Thoughts On The New ‘Lilo & Stitch’
Disney’s latest live action remake, Lilo & Stitch, has received some internet backlash over changes to the original plot structure as well as the decision to omit certain characters entirely. The biggest, and most shocking adjustment, is to the film’s ending. If you don’t want any *spoilers*, quit here while you’re ahead, but if you want to dive deep into the world of internet criticism, here are five TikTok creators deconstructing these major creative decisions, and how they change the overall message of the story.
@theyonkotable
In a really concise comparison between the films, @theyonkotable deconstructs Stitch and the aliens’ necessity to the plotline of the original film, the dual meaning of his name in relation to keeping the Pelekai family together, which becomes unnecessary in a new resolution centered around the foster care system.
@nsdf10
Another super succinct critique dives into how Nani’s ‘burden’ shifts between the films, from needing community support to caring for Lilo. He also draws comparisons to the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act which was created in response to the disproportionate removal of Indigenous children from tribal communities and governs custody, foster care, and adoption cases for American Indian children.
@jstoobs
With a degree in animation, this creator speaks to the stylistic challenges of converting the very specific look and feel of Lilo & Stitch into a live action film. On the decision to have Nani give up custody of Lilo and leave Hawaii to go to college, she makes the point that the adult realities of the foster care system are too complex for the simplified format of children’s media, as well as problematic, given the long history of indigenous families being separated by the state.
@grizzlyreviews
This creator offers an original counterpoint to online criticism that focuses on Lilo remaining in her community under the care of a family friend, as well as whether it is a realistic expectation for 19-year-old Nani to be able to raise her sister alone. His background in marine biology also gives him a unique perspective on Nani’s decision to leave her home to pursue the same degree. Finally, he argues that non-Native Hawaiian creators should make space for native creators to determine what is insensitive or not to their own communities.
@popculturebrain
This creator summarizes recent interviews with director Dean Fleischer Camp on the decision to cut the Gantu character from the remake as well as send Nani to college in the end of the film. It sheds light on the creative process, which included several iterations before the final product viewers see in theaters.
