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Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch
DVD Launch Party It seems a foregone conclusion that even the most mediocre of animated theatrical films will be followed soon after by a direct-to-DVD/video sequel, so it's no surprise that 2002's hit animated feature Lilo & Stitch was quickly revived for Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. Set in the same island location and reuniting most of the original voice cast, this follow-up effort covers essentially the same themes as the original: friendship, family, and the magic of Hawaii. Surprisingly, this sequel defies convention and is actually pretty darn good. Instead of taking one character and spinning him off into a loosely related sequel with a new cast of singing and dancing woodland creatures, Stitch Has a Glitch starts where the original left off, and with the exception of "Bubbles" and an upgrade in voice talent for Lilo (now the ubiquitous Dakota Fanning), it brings together the same characters and places them in new situations. Like the original, this film has heart and does not exist simply as an excuse to reuse popular characters and turn a quick buck. Clearly a lot of effort went into making this a worthy addition to the growing franchise, and the positive messages of love and friendship and family are retained in an effective manner. Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch isn't going to win any Academy Awards, but it is a fun and entertaining film, and anyone (especially kids) who enjoyed the first one will almost certainly be pleased with the new addition.
  With a quality release to support, it's not too difficult to understand why Buena Vista Home Entertainment gathered representatives from the cast and crew on the North Shore of Oahu and threw a Hawaiian luau to celebrate its release on DVD, August 30, 2005. A lighthearted and laidback party, this luau lived up to the phrase, "fun for the whole family". At one end of the gathering area was a massive projection screen where the film would be shown once it got dark, and in front of it a large section in the grass where parents and their children could lay out on the provided "Lilo & Stitch" towels and enjoy the stage. On the other side of the area was a three-piece Hawaiian band calmly filling the gathering with the soothing sounds of island tunes.
  Spread throughout were numerous activity stations where kids and adults alike could participate. If you wanted to learn to make a lei, beautiful and friendly instructors were on hand to teach you. If hula was your thing, you could join with others and test your skills. And if you wanted a henna tattoo, artists were glad to draw your favorite design in whatever respectable location you chose. These activity stations weren't necessarily focused on authenticity so much as entertainment -- it's a kid's film after all -- and they served their purpose well. It sure seemed like everyone with whom I spoke was having an enjoyable time at the event. A luau wouldn't be complete, however, without the most important ingredient: food. And my goodness, the pork they served at this shindig was spectacular. Aside from a loose understanding of the basic process, I have no idea how they cook a pig to taste so darn good, but what I put on my plate at the event was almost -- almost -- better than bacon. I'd love to recount for you the numerous tasty foods I sampled, chasing them down with all kinds of delicious deserts, but I honestly do not know what half of the stuff was. All I know is that I was expected to eat it, and so I did. Living up to those expectations proved to be a very rewarding experience, and previous thoughts of grabbing a late-night snack from the hotel restaurant were quickly squashed. Celebrating the event were writer/directors Tony Leondis and Michael LaBash, producer Christopher Chase, and vocal stars David Ogden Stiers (Jumba), Kevin McDonald (Pleakley), Jason Scott Lee (David) and Stitch himself, Chris Sanders. Each of them seemed really pleased to be there, and for me the highlight of the night was talking with Tony Leondis and witnessing just how thrilled he was that his film was being received so well. He had such a genuine passion for the project, in which he had invested 3 years of his life, and it was so refreshing -- and a little bit moving -- to see how much he valued the experience and how pleased he was that Buena Vista was throwing so much support behind the work.
  Cast and crew weren't the only public figures to partake in the celebration. Miss Hawaii brought her crown to the event, turning heads everywhere she went ... because her tiara was so shiny. And it wouldn't be a Hawaiian event without that ever present representative of the islands herself, American Idol's own Jasmine Trias. I spoke with her briefly, and she was very sweet and made for a very positive representative of the "aloha spirit". Finally, like any good carnival atmosphere, mascot-sized versions of Lilo and Stitch roamed the grounds, posing for pictures with anyone who was unconcerned with the awkward size discrepancy. As the sun went down, the film went up, and the crowd patiently watched the world premiere of Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. By the time the credits rolled, it was clear everyone had enjoyed the show, and the evening was capped with a fantastic fireworks presentation over the gorgeous ocean view. It was a successful event, and a fun time was had by all.
Audio Discussions with Cast and Creators Earlier in the day, journalists were invited to participate in roundtable discussions with the writers and voice cast. Audio from those sessions is presented below:
USAGE NOTE: Click on the speaker icons on the left to launch a popup mp3 player, or if your browser supports inline ActiveX content, simply press the "play"
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button on the inline players to the right.
Tony Leondis & Michael LaBash