Most Disney direct-to-video sequels are, frankly, a bit of a mess. You know the ones. They usually feature downgraded animation, a plot that feels like a rejected TV pilot, and a strange obsession with the main characters' children. But then there's Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. Released in 2005, this movie did something almost no other "cheap" sequel managed to do: it actually felt like the original film. It didn’t try to introduce a bunch of new experiments yet—that was saved for the Stitch! The Movie pilot and the subsequent TV series. Instead, it stayed on Kauai. It kept the stakes intimate. It dealt with the terrifying reality of a loved one literally falling apart.
Honestly, it’s a heavy movie for something sold in a plastic blue DVD case at Target.
The Weird Timeline of Stitch's Glitch
People get confused about where this fits in the canon. Since Stitch! The Movie came out in 2003, you’d think that’s the first sequel. Technically, it was the first released. However, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch is a direct chronological sequel to the 2002 original. It ignores the other 625 experiments entirely. Jumba and Pleakley are living in the house as part of the family, but the "Ohana" is still small and fragile. This choice was brilliant. By stripping away the "gotta catch 'em all" energy of the TV show, the writers were able to focus on the bond between a girl and her dog-alien.
The plot centers on a literal malfunction in Stitch’s molecular structure. Because Jumba was arrested before Stitch was fully "charged," his molecules are now flickering. He loses control. He turns back into the destructive monster he was programmed to be against his will.
It’s a metaphor for a lot of things. Chronic illness. Behavioral disorders. The fear that you’re "bad" even when you’re trying your hardest to be "good."
Why the animation looks so good
You might have noticed this movie looks better than Cinderella II or The Hunchback of Notre Dame II. There is a reason for that. Disney’s Australian studio (DisneyToon Studios) handled this, and they were at the top of their game. They actually used the watercolor background style from the first movie. Most sequels switched to digital, flat colors that looked cheap. By sticking to the soft, bleeding colors of the Hawaiian landscapes, they preserved the "vibe" of the original.
It’s the only sequel that truly captures the warmth of the 2002 film.
The Emotional Gut-Punch of the Hula Competition
The B-plot involves Lilo trying to win a hula competition, just like her mother did. This isn't just a "win the big game" trope. It’s about her grief. She’s trying to find a connection to a mother who isn't there anymore. When Stitch starts "glitching," he accidentally ruins her chances.
This leads to some of the most heartbreaking dialogue in the franchise. Lilo, frustrated and feeling unsupported, tells Stitch he’s being "bad." Stitch, who is literally dying and losing his mind, is trying to tell her something is wrong, but he can't find the words. It’s brutal.
- Lilo is mourning.
- Stitch is failing.
- Jumba is panicked.
- David is... well, David is just trying his best to be a good boyfriend to Nani.
The scene where Stitch decides to leave Earth because he thinks he's too dangerous is a direct mirror to the first movie, but with much higher stakes. In the first movie, he was running away from the law. Here, he’s running away from the people he loves to protect them from himself.
Dakota Fanning and the Voice Cast Shift
If you listen closely, Lilo sounds different. That’s because Daveigh Chase, the original voice of Lilo, was busy filming the Lilo & Stitch TV series. The producers brought in Dakota Fanning.
Fanning was the "it" child actress of 2005. She brings a slightly more mature, grounded tone to Lilo. Some fans hate it. They miss the raspy, weird energy of Chase. But for this specific story—which is much darker—Fanning’s performance works. She nails the scene in the finale. You know the one. The one in the spaceship where Stitch goes limp.
The rest of the cast stayed the same. Chris Sanders is still Stitch. Tia Carrere is still Nani. Kevin McDonald and David Ogden Stiers (RIP) are still the perfect comedic duo as Pleakley and Jumba. Having the original voices for the adults makes the movie feel "official" in a way many Disney sequels don't.
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The Elvis Factor
You can't have Stitch without Elvis Presley. The soundtrack here is underrated. While the first movie used the big hits, Stitch Has a Glitch goes for some slightly deeper cuts and covers. The "Rubberneckin'" remix is basically the anthem of the movie's upbeat moments. It keeps the DNA of the franchise intact.
What This Movie Teaches About "Brokenness"
Jumba refers to Stitch as a "faulty machine."
But the movie argues he’s a person.
When Stitch’s eyes turn green and his fur starts glowing, he's terrified. He isn't choosing to be a jerk. He’s experiencing a medical crisis. For kids watching this, it's a very accessible way to talk about things like seizures, or even just "big feelings" they can't control. The resolution—Stitch being saved by the love of his family (and a very convenient molecular chamber)—might feel like a "deus ex machina," but in the world of Disney, it fits the theme. Love is a physical force in this universe.
Addressing the "Stitch is Dead" Rumors
For years, there’s been a weird internet creepypasta/theory that Stitch actually died at the end of this movie and the rest of the series is a dream.
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That’s nonsense.
The movie is clearly meant to be a high-stakes drama within the established world. He survives because Jumba is a genius and Lilo's love provides the "spark." It’s meant to be a miracle, not a tragedy. If you watch the post-credits or the way it leads into the other films, it's clear Stitch is very much alive.
Critical Reception and Why It Holds Up
At the time, critics were surprisingly kind to this one. It holds a much higher Rotten Tomatoes score than almost any other Disney sequel from that era. It doesn't feel like a cash grab. It feels like a "lost chapter."
If you’re doing a marathon, you should watch them in this order:
- Lilo & Stitch (2002)
- Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005)
- Stitch! The Movie (2003)
- Lilo & Stitch: The Series
- Leroy & Stitch (2006)
This order preserves the emotional arc of Stitch going from a lonely monster to a beloved family member, and then finally to a hero who protects his entire "cousin" species.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to revisit this 2005 classic, keep these things in mind. The film is currently streaming on Disney+, which is the easiest way to see it in high definition. The original DVD, however, has some great "making of" features that explain how they replicated the watercolor style.
- Check the aspect ratio: The Disney+ version is presented in widescreen, which shows off those beautiful Australian-animated backgrounds much better than the old 4:3 cropped TV versions.
- Watch the short film: Most digital versions include The Origin of Stitch, a short film that provides more backstory on Jumba's lab. It's technically a prequel to the prequel.
- Listen for the nuances: Pay attention to the hula song Lilo performs. The "He Mele No Lilo" and the new songs were vetted by cultural consultants to ensure the Hawaiian representation remained as respectful as the first film.
This movie remains a standout because it didn't try to be bigger than the original. It just tried to be as deep. It succeeded. It reminds us that even when someone is "glitching," they are still part of the Ohana. And Ohana means nobody gets left behind or forgotten—even when their molecules are literally vibrating apart.
Go watch it again. Bring tissues. Even if you're an adult, that ending in the pod still hits like a freight train. It's a rare example of a sequel that understands why we loved the characters in the first place. It wasn't the aliens or the lasers. It was the heart.