Summary
Nani Pelekai may not be an official Disney princess, but the co-star ofLilo & Stitchis as crucial as Cinderella or Ariel, and just as heroic as Merida or Mulan. With aLilo & Stitchlive-action remake in the works, everyone will get a reminder of an indisputable fact I’ve come around to since rewatching my favorite Pacific Island-set Disney movie. As great as it is,Moanadoesn’t have my dream Hawaii house, so it never really stood a chance.But what I realized upon rewatchingLilo & Stitchis that Nani is the movie’s real hero.
While much of the talk about thelive-actionLilo & Stitchmay be about the Nani casting controversysurrounding choosing a lighter-skinned actor for a dark-skinned character, hopefully, some of the conversation will be about how Nani, voiced by Tia Carrere in the animated movie and played by Sydney Agudong in the film, is the true hero. In a movie with a superpowered blue alien, a young girl whose love and bravery help to save the day, and a social worker/former savior of the world,it’s the beleaguered older sister Nani I’ve come to realize is the hero.
This Lilo & Stitch Theory Gives A Sad Twist To One Of Its Most Memorable Scenes
One of Lilo & Stitch’s most memorable scenes takes a sad turn thanks to a theory, but it makes the overall story a lot better and more interesting.
Nani Pelekai Was Just A Kid When She Took Responsibility For Her Sister In Lilo & Stitch
Nani Has To Balance Being A Caretaker, A Young Professional, And A Grieving Daughter
When you’re young watchingLilo & Stitch, it can be easy to think of Nani as a wet blanket. She’s constantly thwarting Lilo and every time the young girl tries to have a little fun, Nani is there to stop her. But now I’ve come to understand just how heavy a burden Nani is carrying. Only a little older than 18 in the movie, Nani is Lilo’s legal guardian after their parents die.Nani must hold down a job and be a mother figure to a girl who is lashing out, while a social worker threatens to split them up.
It’s an incredibly real portrait of a young person tasked with a down-to-earth struggle, not a fantastical one that’s usually found in children’s movies.
Nani does all this while presumably quietly grieving her parents, though she has little time to actually contend with those feelings considering how she has to devote her time to Lilo. Even dating is difficult for Nani, who has no time to pay attention to an interested coworker, as her life is constantly interrupted by the demands of raising her sister. It’s an incredibly real portrait of a young person tasked with a down-to-earth struggle, not a fantastical one that’s usually found in children’s movies.
As I rewatchedLilo & Stitch,I came to see just how much Nani gives up for her sister. The things I laughed at before or sided with Lilo on when I was younger, like Nani chasing down Lilo and throwing her in her room, were now understandable. She’s stressed out, unsure, and barely hanging on, and to have to carry those feelings and still be a loving sister is exceptionally heroic.
Tia Carrere will return for the live-action remake as a new character, Mrs. Kekoa, a friendly neighbor to Nani and Lilo who understands Nani’s struggles.
Everybody Forgets That Nani Is The One Who Gave Stitch To Lilo In The First Place
It Was Nani’s Idea To Go To The Animal Shelter
Let’s also remember that it’s Nani who gets Stitch for Lilo in the first place.Understanding that her sister needs a friend, Nani brings Lilo to the animal shelter, where she immediately takes to Stitch. I guess rambunctious creatures are attracted to one another. Despite some misgivings about Stitch not actually being a dog, Nani gets him for Lilo. In a scene I love, that speaks to the closeness of the sisters, Nani attempts to pay for Stitch, but Lilo insists she wants to buy him. Of course, she needs to borrow the money.
Nani rolls her eyes but hands Lilo the money for the transaction. It’s the type of sibling moment inLilo & Stitchthat feels real to me. You’re annoyed by a younger sibling, but if there’s a chance to make them happy, you’re still going to play along with whatever goofy game they want.
Lilo & Stitch
Cast
Lilo & Stitch, released in 2002, explores the relationship between a young Hawaiian girl, Lilo, and Stitch, a mischievous alien experiment posing as her pet. As Stitch adapts to Earth’s customs, the pair navigate themes of family and friendship, while evading extraterrestrial pursuers.
