Fans are calling out Disney for changing Lilo & Stitch’s ending in live-action movie – here’s where they’re wrong | OPINION

Warning: The below contains spoilers for the Lilo & Stitch live action movie. You can catch it in cinemas now!

“Ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.”

It’s the heartwarming sentiment that drives Disney’s beloved animated classic Lilo & Stitch (2002).

A message that 23 years later, carries on to the film’s live-action reimagining.

Only some fans would disagree, and I mean, strongly disagree – all because Disney decided to change Lilo & Stitch‘s ending.

I get it. Fans, myself included, are protective when it comes to live-action remakes. These films represent our cherished childhoods and characters we care so much about.

Last weekend, live-action Lilo & Stitch broke global records, opening as the No. 1 film around the world.

I personally loved the film. I laughed, I cried and even dragged my 29-year-old tradie boyfriend along for the (Hawaiian) ride.

But here’s where there’s a problem: In a world where “no one gets left behind”, Lilo’s older sister Nani does leave Lilo behind… to study at university.

And so, some fans didn’t get the fairytale ending they were expecting, or at least, their version of it. Here’s where I disagree.

In the cartoon film, Nani retains custody of Lilo and they live as one big extended family with aliens Jumba and Pleakley.

To understand how this new ending has divided fans, you only have to look at the comments section of the official Lilo & Stitch Instagram page.

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“In the original Lilo & Stitch, Nani fights tooth and nail to keep her family together,” wrote one follower in a comment that’s amassed over 200 likes. “But in the live-action remake? Nani gives up custody. No fight. No resistance. Just surrender.”

“According to Disney, Ohana means that family apparently does get left behind,” said a second.

“It changes the entire plot of the movie. She was fighting for lilo to not be taken away, the fact that she just gives her away makes no sense,” wrote a third movie-goer.

While one viewer went so far to say: “You destroy the meaning of Ohana 😢.”

One fan clapped back: “The neighbor said she was ohana 2 mins in the movie.”

And that’s why the ending makes so much sense to me!

Of course I wanted Nani and Lilo to stay together, but after Lilo nearly drowned, accepting help was the only way Nani could cover the medical expenses.

She didn’t give Lilo up to the state. David’s grandmother Tūtū, who lives next door, who picks Lilo up from school, introduces Lilo to the concept of ‘ohana’ and is the one who took Lilo to adopt Stitch in the first place, offers to adopt Lilo.

Perhaps that was Nani’s only option.

Nani is a teenager, who has also lost her parents and has given up her education and potential career to be a solo guardian.

It’s admirable, it’s brave but we could see she was struggling – she couldn’t pay the bills, keep a steady job and it put a strain on their relationship. 

Let’s not forget Lilo literally tells Nani she likes her better as a sister than a mother. It’s clear, their relationship works better as sisters.

Accepting help is not a bad thing, especially help from your extended family.

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There’s no saying Lilo won’t be with Nani after four years of studying. She’s going to do great things and follow her dreams. (Plus, she has Jumba’s portal gun and can actually visit Lilo whenever she needs to).

‘Ohana’ means no one gets left behind. Not even yourself should be left behind or forgotten.

And it seems some fans agree.

“Let’s be honest, Nani is suppose to be 19? She’s going to college so she can better their lives so she doesn’t have to work crappy jobs!” wrote one Disney follower.

“They showed that Nani could still visit her with the teleportation gun. Lilo was never left behind. Nani could do what she needed to do to get ahead to be a better provider,” said a second.

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While a third summed it up perfectly: “She didn’t give up. She tried endlessly to make it work. She wanted what was best for Lilo and that’s real life.

“Nani deserved a fighting chance as well,” they continued. “She was just a teenager… It takes a village to raise a child, let alone when you are a child yourself.”

So, was Disney right to change the ending of a classic film? See the movie for yourself and you decide.

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is in cinemas now.

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