A heartbreaking sacrifice and mid-credits scene give weight to the live-action "Lilo & Stitch," which makes major changes from the Disney original.

Step aside, Moana, Elsa and Simba. In recent years, Stitch has quietly become one of Disney’s most popular — and most merchandised — characters.

The loss of Captain Gantu isn’t just a bummer for fans so much as it recalibrates the whole moral thrust of Lilo & Stitch. Gantu and social worker Cobra Bubbles (played in the new film by Courtney B.

Those teams were popular with audiences. But not as popular as Elvis & Lilo & Stitch. Released in 2002, Disney's animated feature film "Lilo & Stitch" introduced audiences to a lonely young Hawaiian girl and Elvis fan named Lilo,

That's great for those who want more of a human connection but not so much if you’re more jazzed about Stitch wrecking a bunch of stuff.  The updated “Lilo” pulls back on the sci-fi action to focus instead on the emotional story of two orphaned human siblings,

"Lilo & Stitch" was my go-to Disney movie growing up — like, I’ve probably seen it a million times at this point. And with the live-action movie finally dropping soon, I knew I had to celebrate the only way I know how: by letting you create your very own chaotic alien cousin.

When co-writers/directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders first brought Stitch into this world, it was an especially experimental time for the company following the much beloved Disney Renaissance. Movies like The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Treasure Planet also came out during this more eccentric and adventure-filled era.