Lilo & Stitch” gained recognition in 2002 as a heartwarming tale of a lonely human girl named Lilo and her dog-like alien named Stitch as they adventure in Hawaii.

Recently,The Hollywood Reporter announced that a live-action “Lilo & Stitch” film is in the works, 16 years after the original.

In anticipation of Disney’s live-action remake of the classic film, here are 17 surprising things about the original “Lilo & Stitch.”


Daveigh Chase was the voice of Lilo.

Foto: Daveigh Chase voiced Lilo.sourceKevin Winter/Getty

You might know the actress better as the little girl in” The Ring,” or perhaps as the voice of Chihiro in the English version of “Spirited Away.

Fun fact: both "The Ring" and "Lilo & Stitch" were released the same year.


The estimated budget for the film was $80 million.

Foto: The film had a large profit.sourceDisney

It is estimated that Disney spent nearly $80 million creating the animated film, which has since gone on to earn an estimated $273,144,151 worldwide.


The voice of Stitch was provided by the film's director.

Foto: Chris Sanders both directed the film and voiced Stitch.sourceKevin Winter/GettyImages

The multi-talented Chris Sanders wrote the script for "Lilo & Stitch," directed the production, and even lent his voice to the character in the film.


The story was originally set in rural Kansas.

Foto: It's hard to imagine the film anywhere but Hawaii.sourceDisney

Initially, the writers wanted the film to take place in rural Kansas, where Stitch would be isolated from wreaking havoc on the things around him. Later, the setting was changed to Hawaii's Kauai island.

"The very first pitch was about an alien in a forest somewhere and all of his interaction was with these woodland creatures who wanted nothing to do with him," screenwriter Dean DeBlois told IGN.


The writers incorporated the idea of "ohana" after a trip to Kauai.

Foto: "Ohana" is a prevalent theme throughout the film.sourceDisney

According to co-writer and co-director Dean DuBlois, a tour guide explained the idea of "ohana" to them and how the concept was an important part of the island's lifestyle.

"It was always gonna be about family and this destructive force coming into a frail, crumbling family and just accelerating its destruction, but then being affected enough by the idea of a family that he could transform in the end. But it wasn't until we went to Hawaii that we were exposed to the idea of 'ohana' and that's something that the Hawaiian people carry around with them. It's alive and present and it's this all-embodying philosophy that if you live several islands away, you're as much my brother and sister as my immediate brother and sister," DuBlois told IGN.


Some of the actors helped rewrite dialogue.

Foto: Carrere and Scott Lee helped incorporate Hawaii slang into the film.sourceDisney

The voice actors for Nani and David, Tia Carrere and Jason Scott Lee, helped rewrite the Hawaiian characters' dialogue to include Hawaiian colloquialisms and slang.

Carrere is a native Hawaiian and Lee was raised in the state.


After the 9/11 attacks, one scene was completely redone.

Foto: The scene was changed following the New York City attacks.sourceDisney/Vox

The scene with Stitch and Jumba flying a spaceship through Kauai to escape capture was completely redone after the 9/11 attacks. Originally, the scene shows the duo in a Boeing plane flying through the city center.


Pudge the fish was almost killed off.

Foto: Creators decided against killing off Pudge.sourceDisney

Remember the cute fish that Lilo feeds at the beginning of the movie? Well, he was almost killed off in a scene where Lilo introduces him to Stitch.


Lilo and Nani have a last name.

Foto: Their full names are Lilo and Nani Pelekai.sourceDisney

According to Stitch's dog license at the shelter, Lilo and Nani's last name is "Pelekai."

Their last name is dedicated to Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes in Hawaii, and Kai, which means seawater in Hawaiian.


CIA agent Cobra Bubbles was inspired by a "Pulp Fiction" character.

Foto: Fans were quick to notice the two characters are similar.sourceDisney

Cobra Bubbles was voiced by actor Ving Rhames, who played the gangster Marsellus Wallace in the cult classic "Pulp Fiction."

Fans of the film noticed that Rhames' character in "Lilo & Stitch" was modeled after Wallace in the film.


There are a lot of hidden Mickeys in the film.

Foto: On Youtube, Neiterall found multiple hidden Mickeys.sourceNeiterAll/Youtube

Throughout "Lilo & Stitch," fans noticed many subtle references to Mickey. On YouTube, one fan found as many as 30 instances where Mickey appeared.


Both the directors make cameos in the film.

Foto: Oh My Disney pointed out Sanders in the film.sourceOh My Disney/Youtube

Did you spot Sanders and DeBlois running away from Stitch on the beach? Well, here it is.


Lilo & Stitch was first created in 1985.

Foto: The film was unsuccessfully pitched as a book first.sourceDisney

Sanders first created Lilo & Stitch for a children's book in 1985, according to "The Story Room: The Making of 'Lilo & Stitch.'"


"Lilo & Stitch" was nominated for an Oscar.

Foto: The film was an Oscar nominee.sourceDisney

Although they lost the Academy Award to "Spirited Away," the film was nominated for Best Animated Film. Funnily enough, Daveigh Chase was the lead voice in both films.


There's a nod to "Mulan" in the film.

Foto: Oh My Disney found that a poster in Nani's room alludes to "Mulan."sourceOh My Disney/Youtube

Perhaps because Sanders and DeBlois both worked on "Mulan," there are several nods to the film in "Lilo & Stitch," including a poster in Nani's room.


Dumbo also makes an appearance.

Foto: Oh My Disney also pointed out a "Dumbo" reference in the film.sourceOh My Disney/Youtube

Perhaps as a nod to the water-color backgrounds, Dumbo makes an appearance in the film as a stuffed animal in Lilo's room.


The license plate of a fire truck in the film has a hidden meaning.

Foto: "A113." is by no means random.sourceDisney

Listed on the license of a fire truck in the film is "A113." "A113" refers to a classroom number at the California Institute of Arts, where many master animators at Disney and Pixar learned their craft.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.