Nani’s Controversial Choice in Lilo & Stitch: A Bold Move or a Mistake?

by

heads up: This article reveals details from the 2025 movie, Lilo & Stitch; the ending choice made by character Nani has sparked debate but ultimately holds coherence. The live-action adaptation of the original 2002 Disney animated film titled Lilo & Stitch is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), with a script by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. In this version, a young Hawaiian orphan named Lilo (Maia Kealoha) develops a friendship with the troublemaking alien Stitch (Chris Sanders). This story unfolds at a time when Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong), Lilo’s 19-year-old sister, is fighting to demonstrate her competence as a guardian to Child Protective Services.

The new version of Lilo & Stitch largely keeps the same key plot points as the original animated movie, but it introduces some significant alterations. One of the more impactful modifications is transforming Stitch’s creator Jumba (portrayed by Zach Galifianakis) into a villain instead of an ambiguous ally, while completely omitting Captain Gantu from the storyline. The new version also includes a character named Tūtū (played by Amy Hill), who is Nani’s neighbor and the grandmother of her love interest David Kawena (Kaipo Dudoit). However, one of the most significant changes, as well as one of the most debated, concerns Nani’s final choice.

Nani Going To College & Leaving Lilo Has Been Controversial

The Internet Has Not Been Kind To This Major Change

A significant twist in the finale of Lilo & Stitch unfolds with Nani’s decision to attend college, focusing on marine biology. This leaves Lilo under the care of Tūtū, a woman who has developed a close relationship with Lilo due to her frequent babysitting and fostering Lilo’s interests, such as adopting Stitch. Both Tūtū and social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere) support Nani in making this choice, believing it is the most beneficial for Lilo.

In the concluding part of the film, it becomes clear that the sisters maintain their bond following this choice, as demonstrated by Nani employing the leftover portal gun from Jumba to visit Lilo and bid her goodnight. Contrary to the original storyline, where the duo stayed together and formed a family with Stitch, Pleakley, and Jumba, this decision represents a significant shift in direction for Nani, who relinquishes her role as caregiver to Lilo. This move sparked considerable controversy on social media, with reactions to Nani’s choice highlighted below:

In the context of X, Jaden the Celestial echoed the sentiments of numerous fans by stating that Nani’s actions contradict the consistent theme in both the original film and its remake, which is “‘Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.’” However, Jaden proposes a fictional dialogue where a more casual Nani might counter with something like, “Sure, but our parents had to desert us by passing away in that unmentioned car crash, so yeah… enjoy living with the neighbors while I jet off to Marine Biology school!

In her article for Slate, Nadira Goffe emphasized a crucial point from her write-up on the movie, focusing on Nani’s choice, which underscores the historical trauma Native Hawaiians have experienced through forced relocations, institutionalized medical confinement that often led to child seizure, land dispossession, and, as reported by Maile Arvin, a Native Hawaiian historian and scholar, the operation of federal boarding schools designed to assimilate Native children in order to suppress resistance to American colonialism during the territorial period.

Why Nani’s Decision Makes Sense For Her In Lilo & Stitch

The Live-Action Movie Tries To Give Her The Best Of Both Worlds

In the 2025’s remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” while Nani’s decision-related criticisms hold weight, considering both the franchise’s textual context and the genuine concerns of Hawaiian people, it’s understandable why filmmakers chose to significantly modify this storyline. This is primarily because the live-action remake carries different viewer expectations compared to an animated production. In an animated series, a character like Nani can maintain a more static existence as she belongs to a world that is a stylized representation of reality.

In contrast to cartoon characters like Bart Simpson or Doug Funnie who often wear the same outfit daily without seeming unusual, it feels peculiar if a live-action character consistently wears the same attire. By casting an actor to portray Nani on screen, this representation underscores her youth and unfulfilled aspirations while also accentuating the fact that she is struggling to cope with the responsibility of caring for Lilo in a way that animation might not convey effectively.

In this new version, the film establishes Nani with a stronger support network right from the start compared to her situation in the 2002 movie. This added support comes mainly through characters like Tūtū and Mrs. Kekoa, who are not present in the original Lilo & Stitch. Furthermore, the movie ensures that Nani can pursue her personal aspirations while simultaneously showing that she remains deeply connected to her sister and plans to continue living close by to be an integral part of her life, even during and after her educational journey.

Moreover, having a marine biology degree equips her with the skills necessary to secure a job that can provide for not only herself, but also for her expanded family, which now consists of Stitch, Pleakley (played by Billy Magnussen), and Lilo as well.

What The Director Has Said About Nani’s Decision

Dean Fleischer Camp Defends The Ending Of Lilo & Stitch

In an attempt to reinforce the intended message behind Nani’s choice in the new movie ‘Lilo & Stitch’, Dean Fleischer Camp additionally posted on social media, linking to a Forbes article by Laura Sirikul discussing the movie’s ending. He commented that “For those who might have doubts about our film’s conclusion, this insightful piece perfectly captures the essence.” Here is an extract from the article:

In Hawaiian tradition, ohana signifies not just blood relatives but also encompasses the wider community and chosen family. Tutu has been a constant presence in their lives for many years, lending an air of authenticity to the story since the close-knit Hawaii community would indeed be there to provide support. The conclusion resonates with the phrase’s essence as Nani, a character, doesn’t forsake her own life or aspirations. It is essential to remember that individuals like Nani and their dreams should not be neglected or discarded. She put everything on hold to take care of her sister – a role often overlooked in narratives. The struggle, burnout, and sacrifices made by caretakers are frequently disregarded as well.

The article further highlights aspects of the film that reinforce this transformation. For instance, it mentions that at first, Nani resists the idea of her going to college, but ultimately Lilo persuades her to do so. Moreover, the article notes that Stitch is now part of Lilo’s life, providing her with another character she is closely connected to, implying that she is no longer as isolated as she was initially when Nani was her main guardian.

The Meaning Of Nani’s New Ending In Lilo & Stitch

Nani’s Decision Is Central To The Live-Action Remake

Dean Fleischer Camp appears to endorse the notion that the underlying purpose of the movie isn’t to heartlessly divide Lilo and Nani, but rather for them both to secure their desires and necessities while maintaining their sisterly bond. Whether or not the film successfully met its objectives in a convincing way is open to interpretation. Nevertheless, many alterations made in Lilo & Stitch were specifically designed to reinforce Nani’s choice, resulting in an ending that feels authentic and fitting for the movie as we know it.

Source(s): Slate, Forbes, & Various X posts (see above)

Read More

2025-05-30 19:38