There Was A Lilo and Stitch ANIME?! 

I refuse to acknowledge that Lilo would just let Stitch leave. They're ohana, dang it!

I honestly hate the idea of Stitch abandoning Lilo. She got a boyfriend and that made him jaleous ? What happened to Ohana ? Now that doesn't mean anything ?

The ending made me so upset. Lilo would never turn her back on Stitch. It doesnt matter if she grew up

It's on Disney+ Japan

this anime made me so angry XD the fact they had Stitch just ditch Lilo for another girl because she "left him at a beach and was late coming back."

There's was also the Chinese spin-off "Stitch & Ai" and the Japanese manga "Stitch & the Samurai". But honestly, I would love to see a proper animated revival of the Lilo & Stitch franchise someday. Also, Angel was a not that good in the anime, in fact, she can be downright horrible towards Stitch, to the point where she cheated on him at times.

For all Madhouse taking such care to do the characters correctly, to have Lilo say that was a significant misstep. Ohana means family. Nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

I remember I use to like it, but looking back I wish it was a AU instead of being decades later. Love your content.

Tbh lilo and stitch is one of my favorite movies. Stitch is just a mood in general with he acts. And I love how the second movie played with him.

Not gonna lie that part where adult Lilo said “even if he were here I wouldn’t want to see him” and then you adding the GTA WASTED sound and visual right after that was pretty funny and made me laugh.

I've never seen the anime, but I've heard enough about it to the point where I don't want to watch it. It's so weird to see Stitch with someone else who isn't Lilo.

Well, by the images shown from Chis Sanders portfolio he liked to draw three things: Small Gremlins, Tropical Themes, and Waifus. Explains the very unique artstyle of the series.

I can totally get behind Stitch going to Japan and learning all about it, I just can't get behind how they treated his relationship with Lilo. If they were just able to work around that properly I could have seen this being a hit on both sides of the sea.

I remember watching an episode of this with my brother and we both ended up disliking it purely because Lilo wasn't in it 😂

I remember watching Lilo and Stitch again and again and again as a kid. It was the only cartoon featuring people that looked like me in environnements that I knew. My dad was in there running the music school. I was sure these places were depictions of real ones in my neighborhood. While other movies were only fictional, that one was so real and just hit different. Removed the little blue koala bear^^. I'm glad we had it, especially now that I know its difficult history.

"While you're at it, cancel the live action remake." Your wish was granted already milord!

Bro I remember seeing this on the TV and I was so heartbroken "Where the hell is Lilo?!?!"

Side note my college professor worked at Disney for Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Lion King and Many big Names. He ofcourse teaches animation and his 5 minute alarms before class ends is a joy c: He has this cool crew jacket when animating Hercules. So he does tell us some things he learned from Disney as an animator and assistant .

Yeah, apparently Japan as a culture entirely disliked Lilo because of her personality and her actions. While the movie did blow up, many parents and adults in general were apprehensive of letting children see Lilo's actions. While understandable given her broken family, they were still worried about kids taking after Lilo and being disruptive or hostile because, well, honestly Lilo IS a problem child. So I'm not all too surprised the anime version removed Lilo.

Here's how to make the idea of "Stitch in Japan, without Lilo" work. Stitch and Family decide to go on vacation to Japan. Something happens that causes Stitch to be accidentally left behind. Maybe its a Home Alone thing where the family thinks Stitch is with them, only to realize he's not when they get home. Stitch is lost in a Japan, and is helped out by a local girl. Lilo spends the entire show (offscreen since Japan didn't want her) trying to get back to Japan and get Stitch back. Throw in a line about how "the best thing to do when you're lost is to stay where you are" to explain why Stitch stays in Japan. Final episode has Lilo and Stitch reunite and Lilo becomes friends with local Japanese girl. Lilo and Stitch go home and everyone remains in touch. No dumb fallout between Lilo and Stitch, and everyone remains in character.

Lilo would NEVER abandon Stitch and Stitch would never leave Lilo. It hurts the whole story we went through with them to just have Stitch leave and Lilo move on. I’m sure it’s well written but… it just doesn’t feel right.

Madhouse never phoned in a single project that they worked on. It's absolutely insane what kind of quality that production company was capable of putting out especially with their consistency.

The dub really should've stuck with having the show be an alternate universe where Stitch landed somewhere else. Hell, had Disney had a dub of it made now, they could've easily advertised it as an alternate universe story.

My largest problem with this series is how it swiped its ass with happy ending of Leroy and Stitch movie.

I’ve seen original creator Chris Sanders many times at San Diego Comic-Con. He’s really nice and he mentioned at one time that he’s aware of Stitch! being adapted in Japan by Madhouse. He said that even though he was not involved with that series, he’s happy how his creation has gone global.

I remember discovery the existance of this 5 years ago and watching it. I almost dropped it in the 1st season as it felt like it could have been its own show that only slapped stitch characters, though it does progressively get better afterwards when they include more characters related to the stitch franchise.

At 0:56 In the Japanese promo image and 1:06 on the short Yokai, The instrument they're holding is an Okinawan Sanshin. The Ukulele of Japan. Some evolution of the Chinese Sanxian into the (then independent) trading kingdom of Ryukyu. And I might actually own one myself all the way In Britain...

As weird as it may sound, this anime was my first proper introduction to Stitch as a character. I only later learned it was an anime. That was a weird realization.

I really hated the "Stitch!" Anime and tbh I still kind of do. It really bugged me that the show got rid of Lilo by having her abandon Stitch. She would never do that. Even though in one episode they reunite it always left a sour taste in my mouth. The phrase: "Ohana means family and family means nobody ever gets left behind or forgotten." Is thrown away since Lilo is completely forgotten about throughout the rest of the series.

10:30 Correction: Madhouse didn't animate Wolf Children, it was Studio Chizu. That movie was their very first anime production.

I remember watching this when I was younger and absolutely loving the design choices they made. Edit: I also remember having to ask my mom to watch it with me just so she understood why I liked it so much.

There were actually 2 if you count the Chinese series as anime or anime-like.

My high school has a sister school in Okinawa and when I visited, I remember seeing Lilo and Angel on signs all over the airport. That was my first introduction to the Stitch anime. Geographically and even a little bit culturally there's some overlap between Hawaii and Okinawa especially, and I remember thinking it was cool that a show from one island culture could speak so much and resonate so much with the other.

It's still hard to believe Disney allowed this, let alone coproduced it, but I'm so glad that they did. It's one of the funniest anime I've ever seen, and I wish it got more attention.

Fun fact, Lilo and Stitch was nominated for the Academy Award for Best animated film, but it lost to Spirited Away, which also started the voice of Lilo and the voice of Jumba

I like how the English dub screwed up a lot in translation they had to rework it later in the actual series

It kinda makes sense that stitch got popular in Japan. Have ya seen what they have on kids shows, they got ultraman slapping people in rubber monster costumes

Though MadHouse Animated Seasons 1 & 2, Season 3 was animated by Shin-Ei animation, the Studio Behind Shin-Chan & Doraemon. They changed a lot of things with the anime including the art style and adding new Experiments exclusive to the anime (Also, Best Season). Also, the Lilo moment in the 1st Episode was altered thanks in due to the dub, that Scene doesn't exist in the Japanese version. But still, I'm glad Saberspark looked at this anime and saw what I did when I was doing research on it and found that this series isn't as bad as people say it was, just mishandled.

Is it just me or is Stitch far more popular than Mickey by now? At least when it comes to merch sales, I see at least five or more people each day wearing a shirt with a Stitch artwork/design on it. It simply feels like Stitch is omnipresent in regards of Disney fashion.

Believe it or not but the anime was the first time I ever watched Lilo and Stitch. It birthed my love for anime and honestly, I'm okay with that.

I'll be sure to check it out! One clip that really peaked my interest was the elaboration of how Jumba used genetic templates from existing space creatures!

I actually liked the idea that this takes place decades after the original movie and Lilo has grown up and has a child of her own. I always enjoy a show that ages with the audience. we see these characters get older and older as it goes on. feels like you've been part of the adventure too.

"There was a Lilo and Stitch Anime?!" Me: Ah finally, he discovered it

When I first discovered that it was a series I thought it was a bumper possibly or something that crosses over characters but when I found out it was an actual anime I nearly flipped because I loved LILO and stitch as a kid and it blew me away a whole series outside of the mainline story was made.

and they ditch Lilo even though her bond with Stitch was the heart and soul of the movie. so much for "ohana" :(

Since you've reviewed the anime, I'd like to see if it's possible for you to do a review on the Chinese season. Yes. This is real. There was 13 episode animated Chinese series called Stich & Ai that came out in 2017. And it takes also takes place after the events of the original series but in a separate continuity from this anime.

The amount of effort put into this video is truly felt. Thank you for this work of art

Oh....i remember this gem.... I became SO obsesed with this show for like *2 years* and yet i was still convinced that this was a fever dream

I love this series, I always watch it after my fake nap every 3pm when I was younger.💜

It's very telling how creatives have to go out of their way to hide their work from their overseers, just to make sure it's not ruined.

I never thought about it, but Stitch does look like a yokai. Maybe that´s why he got so popular over there, some of the biggest franchises in Japan are all about the yokai. A crossover with Kitaro for an OVA is something I'd watch. Also there was a Latino dub of this, but I didn't watch much of it because it was at the same hour another channel aired Samurai Jack.

This brought back memories of going on RU-vid every week to find STITCH! anime episodes immediately after each one's debut in Japan. I watched the English Dub until I noticed they skipped episodes. They also took scenes from more than one episode, then combine them into one. I know the English dub skipped the Swirly episode. In any case, thank you for the trip down memory lane. I believe a separate short Stitch anime series exists in China.

This isn't the first time Disney got involved with Madhouse. Madhouse also worked on "The Fantastic Adventures of Unico" (1981) and "Unico in the Island of Magic" (1983) based on Osamu Tezuka's Unico Manga alongside Sanrio Film/Sanrio Animation. During Disney Channel's infancy, Disney used to frequently air both Unico Movies during the mid to late 1980s. This resulted with Unico gaining a dedicated cult following with Western Audiences (mainly from the United States). Not only did American fans managed to actually get an official English translation of the original Unico manga in 2012. But the upcoming new Unico Manga called "Unico: Awakening" is actually an American/Japanese collaborated manga. The manga serves as a reintroduction to Tezuka's Unico to a new generation of readers!

Chris Sanders actually was involved in the "Stitch!" anime. While Ben Diskin voiced Stitch in the anime, Sanders voiced Experiment 010: (Felix) in the English dub.

You know I was hoping for the live action remake was still going to release so that people would be like to the anime “Perhaps I treated the Anime too harshly!”

I remember watching this anime when i was younger on Disney Channel. My memories are blurry but I remember the feeling of excitement and love every time it came on.

The anime was good but I enjoyed the original cartoon series better. I hope when and if the live action Lilo and Stitch movie comes out Saber will review it.

All I gotta say is...I love this anime. It touched me so hard and I actually cried...10/10.

Thanks for covering this hidden gem. I loved it as a kid growing up in Argentina.

Saberspark, making us watch a sponser at the start rather than in the middle of the video just when it started to get good and we all go mad. I Appreciate the effort and mindfulness.

Seeing Stitch reuniting with Lilo brought me tears of joy

I like that the anime kept a lot of the aspects of the original lilo and Stich. The look and way they are animated pay really well homage to the original while incorporating the classic Japanese animation style as well.

Man this brings back some memories! At first it was strange seeing Stich and co all anime-ish... but it grew on my sisters and myself as well! Not gonna lie thou, I liked the original series because of the fluidity of the animation and gave this series a bit less because the animation wasnt as smooth. Still a great Saturday morning watch!

Stitch's heart got shattered there.

I knew about this for a long time. I only saw the episode where Lilo came into play. I've been wanting to give this a chance and your video certainly inspires me to give it a proper shot.

"Definitely love the puffy design in the arms.. and legs" oh yeah me too my guy me too

Lilo and Stitch has a special place in my heart now, mainly because it takes place in hawaii and my grandma was obsessed with anything Hawaii. Plus I remember first watching this as a kid with my parents and its almost like a core memory yet I never know this got an anime

I remember this thing. I absolutely loved it, I remember hunting down as many episodes on youtube as I could when I was a wee bit younger. It was nice.

I’m from Denmark and I saw this show on tv. There’s also a Chinese version called Stitch and Ai. I didn’t get that far in that

Man I remember finding out this existed and binging a not-insignificant amount of episodes, I.. didn't like it, too much character assassination despite story-wise taking place after the actual events of lilo and stitch rather than being a complete AU

I loved this show back in the day. It was my “watch before going to school in the morning” show, and there is no higher honour.

I found out about this yesterday from Deathbattle and just happened to watch Lilo and Stitch the day before lol. It’s like I’m seeing it everywhere now.

Whelp, looks like drawn together wasn't coming in July. Saber was right after all!

You got a Hawaiian girl, Lilo, you got a Japanese girl, Yuna, you got a Chinese girl, Wang Ai Ling... OKAY STITCH, TIME TO GO TO AMERICA, we folks love aliens and UFOs! 😂 Lets not forget that stitch has his own manga from Tokyopop.

The key to good Disney content is to not let anyone know what you're doing! Disney produces so much Studio Interferance that it's practically a meme.

i remember watching this after school with my sister when i was a kid. never thought id see it covered by saberspark :)

Been waiting for a video on this! When i was really little I would watch episodes of this anime even before I was a bit Lilo and stitch fan. I re-watched it and out of everything in the show the scene with the big gacha machine! Nostalgia hit me like a truck! Though I do prefer the og show this one still has a special place in my heart! ❤ Still gotta watch that 3rd show tho-

It's crazy how I just discovered this last month and wondered why no one was talking about it

Can’t believe I’ve tricked you into letting me help write about western to anime adaptations twice now. This was a joy to do research and write about ❤

My brother and I watched this! So excited to see you talk about it!!

I honestly wish that Disney and Square Enix would give us a Kingdom Hearts anime adaptation for Disney+ at some point. Who else agrees with me?

Pretty interesting anime

I remember seeing this series before I had ever seen the original Lilo & Stitch movie(s) and the cartoon. Gotta say I have very fond memories of it and I am definetly grateful it introduced me to the franchise❤

I was watching this for years on RU-vid glad it's finally being covered

"It feels like a Fanfiction." Yes. And we should treat it like that. Somebody was lucky to get his Fanfic animated. Good for them. But it will never be as great as the OG. (How dare they write Lilo like that!)

Yes, and I grew up with this. Was so confused when I started to hear about the actual Lilo and Stitch 😅

I was waiting for this video and it came!

I'm surprised people haven't talked about this show, I remember watching it over and over again when I was a kid.

Yeah I still can't get over that they tore Stitch out of Lilo's life and then did the "Twist reveal" about Lilo grown-up with a kid for melodrama. If they just didn't do that, I would've still been skeptical but willing. The problem is I really love Nani and Lilo so while I can accept them needing to be apart for certain reasons, even that, and Stitch getting bored and even acting out, I just don't like the idea of them turning their backs on him entirely, even as a misunderstanding or whatever. It definitely works better as an Alternate Universe and I don't know why they didn't just do that if they didn't want to include Lilo and her sister in with more cameos. Edit: And I agree Stitch's "fish out of water" scenario works to introduce us to any culture, with friction then harmony so they really could do a million AUs lol. Like even just Lilo being grateful that he found a new friend and playmate while she has to deal with adulthood and maybe HER DAUGHTER getting to tag along the new adventures if they visit on vacation like come on! And then Lilo still being happy to see him even if she's really busy. Just please... I mean Stitch going his own way to spend time with Angel wasn't being portrayed as him hating Lilo or whatever so why do this?? It's been years since I saw those episodes in full so I don't remember the entire context but it just angers me so much. I was all for trying new antics with a new girl until the opening episode tried to info-dump this idea and I gave up not long after. Then when I saw the adulthood reveal episode later on it didn't make things better. Lilo would hang out with Luz if she had the chance as a teenager don't you dare tell me she grows up to become a less sincere and more boring version of Camila Noceda, my awesome nerd mama of choice.

The Original T.V. Show Cast did NOT Return for it!

I actually watched this as a kid in the Philippines, and I liked it more than the original cartoon show that ran here shortly, and the Lilo and Stitch movies I had on DVD.

we went to paris last may and visited disneyland as one of our touristic destinations. the merch stores had so much stitch to the point that he was competing with mickey as the mascot. like multiple versions of stitch plushies, angel plushies, stitch ears, rainbow stitch keychains (like i said, it was may so pride month soon). like there were more stitch than stables like goofy, donald etc. this explains a lot

We should've gotten an American Dragon anime. They would've done it right.

I love this channel!

If I recall, I remember when it was supposed to premiere in November in Australia. A delay meant it premiered in December. While arguably not as perfect or not meant to be canonized (or meant to be an alternate universe), it was talk of the town in many fandom circles back then. Ambitious, maybe… chaotic, well… but at least if Japan was happy with this direction, that’s fine by me.

I watched this as it was airing as a kid it was the best thing ever to me

Fun fact: The voice actress for Yuna, Eden Riegel, still works other Disney projects today.

I really liked this one, Stitch is a perfect character to be transitioned to anime

I love how when u tell people about the Lilo and Stitch anime, cause people around me seem to have no idea what I ever talked about. And I seem to be one of the few people who have seen the, as far as I can tell, a removed trailer to a stitch in china, do not quote me on the removed part, it’s just been years since I watched that 30 second video about Stitch meeting someone new in China

I got to watch more of this than the OG cartoon, it aired a lot here in Brazil