Walt Disney Animation Studios made a massive splash at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, treating attendees to an exclusive first look at its upcoming fall feature, Hexed, and dropping a major surprise for longtime fans: a brand-new, theatrical Lilo & Stitch short film.
The plot kicks into gear when Lilo brings home a seemingly innocent rescue cat named Scratch, who quickly reveals herself to be a chaotic alien in disguise with a dangerous appetite for Pudge, the weather-controlling fish. When Lilo leaves Stitch in charge, a wild, laser-blasting, multi-armed battle breaks out in the kitchen.
Groundbreaking Hybrid Animation Style
What stole the show at the presentation was the project’s groundbreaking, seamless 2D/CG hybrid animation style. The filmmakers paired beautifully hand-painted watercolor backdrops with specialized 3D models of Lilo and Stitch that are nearly indistinguishable from their hand-drawn originals. To make things even better, original Lilo & Stitch supervising animator Alex Cooper Schmidt returned to hand-animate scenes on paper, pushing the physical comedy as far as possible. Co-creator Chris Sanders officially returns to voice Stitch, while young actress Maia Kealoha (who starred in the 2025 live-action remake) lends her voice to Lilo.
A First Look at a Pernatural Mishap
The film centers on Billie Doe (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), a scrappy, independent 15-year-old who discovers she possesses volatile supernatural abilities. The screened footage explores the deep tension between Billie and her type-A, cautious mother, Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones), who secretly gave Billie a magical bracelet as an infant to suppress her world-altering powers. When Billie accidentally breaks the bracelet during a high school mishap, her powers go haywire, whisking her away to Hexe, a stunning, hidden sanctuary for witches.
Nostalgic Designs and Eccentric Mentors
The creative team revealed that the character designs draw heavily from the pushed, exaggerated proportions of Disney’s classic Milt Kahl era, opening the door for massive physical comedy. While navigating this new world, Billie is guided by a magical journal named Elias Quire (voiced by Stephen Fry), an enchanted feather quill named Ms. Quill (voiced by Tracey Ullman), and a martini-loving, three-eyed mentor cat named Beef Roger Crummchuk. Chock-full of ’90s witchy nostalgia and striking visual staging, Hexed promises a heartfelt, mother-daughter narrative wrapped in signature Disney polish.
Aman Rawat covers entertainment stories across movies, television, streaming platforms, music, celebrities, and pop culture. His reporting keeps readers updated on what’s trending, what’s releasing, and what’s making headlines in the entertainment world.