Lilo & Scratch

Lilo & Scratch
A hole shaped like Stitch, with a cat-like alien named Scratch standing on it. Behind it, Stitch is seen running from it.
Teaser poster
Directed by
Produced byNathan Curtis
Starring
Music by
  • Haim Mazar
  • Grace Fisher
Production
company
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date
  • November 25, 2026 (2026-11-25) (with Hexed)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Lilo & Scratch is a 2026 American animated science fiction comedy short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Malcon Pierce. Set shortly after the events of Lilo & Stitch (2002), the short film follows Stitch (Chris Sanders) as he battles with Scratch, an alien that looks like a cat who Lilo (Maia Kealoha) adopts. It is the first work in the Lilo & Stitch franchise produced under Walt Disney Animation Studios since the original film.

Lilo & Scratch is scheduled to be theatrically released on November 25, 2026 alongside Hexed, also directed by Veerasunthorn.

Premise

Set shortly after the events of the 2002 film, the short film follows Stitch as he battles with Scratch, an alien that looks like a cat who Lilo adopts.

Voice cast

Production

During the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 26, 2026, it was reported that a new Lilo & Stitch animated short film, Lilo & Scratch, would be attached to screenings of Disney's upcoming animated film Hexed. The film marks the first theatrical short from Walt Disney Animation Studios in five years and is a direct follow up to the original Lilo & Stitch (2002). Hexed director Fawn Veerasunthorn helmed the short film alongside Malcon Pierce. Director of the original film and voice of Stitch, Chris Sanders returned to reprise his role. Maia Kealoha takes on the role of Lilo's animated counterpart after portraying her in the 2025 live-action film.

For the short film, Walt Disney Animation Studios developed a new animation pipeline that combined hand-drawn traditionally animated characters with computer-animated models seamlessly. Veerasunthorn's goal was for the film to look as close to the original 2002 film as possible while creating a workflow that allowed for artists to use a variety of tools and mediums at their disposal. Alex Kupershmidt, who was the supervising animator of Stitch on the original film, returned to animate on the short by hand, on paper. He pushed for the team to push the visuals and make them more cartoony. All instances of computer-animation in the film were designed to appear as close to 2D as the artists could make them. For example, in a scene where Stitch, who is a computer-animated model, and Scratch, who is hand-drawn animated, are interacting both were made to look indistinguishable from one another. The backgrounds in the short film were painted both traditionally and digitally depending on the artists choice of medium.

In August 2026, Haim Mazar, who previously composed Versa with director Pierce, was revealed to be composing for the short film. Grace Fisher, a disabled artist and composer, also composed the short film.

Release

Footage from Lilo & Scratch was screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 26, 2026, also known as "626 Day" or "Stitch Day" in reference to Stitch's codename, with the short's first two minutes shown. It is scheduled to be theatrically released alongside Hexed on November 25.

Reception

Awards and nominations

Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
2026 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Original Score – Short Film (Animated) Haim Mazar and Grace Fisher TBA


Notes

References

  1. 1 2 Veerasunthorn, Fawn [@fawnv]; (June 26, 2026). "Happy 626 day! I've been sitting on this news and finally we can share that a brand new theatrical short "Lilo & Scratch" will debut in front of Hexed in theaters this November! A fun directing collab with @malconpierce, produced by @nathanscurtis, and production designed by @kevinyang07. All around a dream come true to get to work on a project that led us to meeting @chrissandersart whom I've admired my entire career. Chris reprises his iconic role of Stitch and I can't wait for you guys to experience this wild ride! Thank you @annecyfestival for giving us this opportunity to share the first 2 minutes at the Bonlieu today 🎉🎉🎉". Retrieved October 22, 2026 – via Instagram.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Balaga, Martin (June 26, 2026). "Disney Spotlights Hexed at Annecy, Announces New Short Lilo & Scratch – Still Starring Stitch". Variety. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Taylor, Drew (June 26, 2026). "New Animated 'Lilo & Stitch' Short Attached to Disney's 'Hexed' This Fall". TheWrap. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Magazine, Animation (June 26, 2026). "Annecy: Disney Animation Unveils New Footage from 'Hexed,' Announces Stitch Short Voiced by Chris Sanders". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Reif, Alex (June 26, 2026). "Stitch Has Met His Match, and It's a Cat: Disney Unveils New "Lilo & Scratch" Short at Annecy". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Haim Mazar Scoring Disney's Lilo & Scratch". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Mazar, Haim [@haimmazarmusic]; (November 4, 2026). "Our first official Lilo & Scratch post! 🎉 Thrilled that our score has been nominated for an HMMA! It was a joy composing with @graciefish_ and we can't wait for everyone to see the film alongside Disney's Hexed and hear our music. A huge thank you to our wonderful Disney collaborators for making this possible!". Retrieved November 5, 2026 – via Instagram.
  8. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 26, 2026). "Disney Unveils Fresh Hexed Footage & Surprise Theatrical Short Lilo & Scratch With Chris Sanders". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2026.