13 March 2012

Protecting the nice from the naughty

When the animated feature Lilo and Stitch was released in 2002, many of the trailers featured Stitch crashing trailers and famous scenes from other Disney films. We should have known that it wouldn’t have ended in the realms of cartoons!The video and DVD of Lilo and Stitch, that’s right, I said video, hit stores on December 3, 2002, just in time for the holiday gift giving season. As part of the promotion of the home theater release a gigantic Stitch, complete with Santa hat, found a copy of the film for himself right in front of Disney-MGM Studios. I apologize, by the way, for that goofball sitting on the fence/bench in front of the inflated Stitch. I’m not sure who he is, or what he thinks he’s doing.Oh, wait, here he is again. Stitch… and that goofy kid. In front of the gates wasn’t the only place that Stitch could be found in Disney-MGM Studios in 2002. Back along New York Street, Stitch could be found scurrying around atop the Empire State Building section of the street’s backdrop. Of course, if these proportions were correct Stitch would in fact be closer in size to King Kong than a pet dog.

In the end, Stitch would leave Disney-MGM Studios and start escaping into the Magic Kingdom in 2004. Still, for a brief, chaotic period Stitch ran amok in Disney-MGM Studios and showed us how to let out our wild side!

5 comments:

Kerry F said...

Thanks for showing some cute Stitch photos. I get tired of other sites slamming Stitch as a character because "his" attraction isn't the most well executed. Which I 100% agree with. I don't like it either. But it's one of my favorite Disney movies, and he's one of my favorite characters. He doesn't get enough credit!

Rich T. said...

Every time I find myself growling, "Haaaate Stiiitch!!!" I have to remind myself that the original movie was a lot of fun.

He did, however, help usher in the Shrek era and an endless parade of belching, farting creatures "stickin' it to the man." Yeah, lick that nostril, Stich; gross is apparently the new brilliant.

If Disney hadn't followed up the original film with the obnoxious TV series, lousy video sequels and a really sub-par theme park attraction, I think more folks would have fonder memories of the character. Those original movie trailers were awesome!

Estelle said...

I absolutely loved when MGM had all of the Stitch stuff everywhere. I think I took a billion pictures that trip... although I did miss the Santa hat.

It was also nice because we used to go to WDW every single summer and things were RARELY different from year to year. So Stitch's appearance was like a special treat.

- Estelle @ ThisHappyPlaceBlog.com

Unknown said...

Actually the Stitch that climbed the Empire State building at Disney Studios hangs in my garage. We were lucky enough to happen upon him at an art collectors shop in Indianapolis IN. Stich is actually about 8 foot square in size. He is printed on a metal sheet with metal bracing. We feel extreamly fortunate to have found him. Now we just need to find the proper place to display him....

Ryan P. Wilson said...

Dan - I'd love to see pictures of Stitch in your garage if you have them! I'd say you could display him in my house, but I'm fairly certain my wife would murder me if I even suggested it!