Ten Things About Disney’s Animators’ Collection Doll: Lilo

By Amos Staff

1. The Animators’ Collection dolls were originally released in 2009. These were sketched and influenced by Disney animators. In most cases, the dolls represent a younger version of the character.

2. The Lilo doll was originally released in 2014 as one of the third edition of Animators’ dolls. The Lilo Animator doll set included sandals, her canvas duffel bag, and Scrump, her handmade rag doll. (The definition of “Scrump” is something that is shriveled or cooked to a crisp; or, as a verb, shriveled, shrunken.)

3. Lilo and Stitch was a feature film released in 2002. It was one of the few animated films produced primarily at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (MGM Studios) in Orlando, Florida.

4. Stitch is also known as Experiment 626. “Stitch Day” is celebrated by Disney fans on June 26th. (Stitch was not included with the animator doll.)

5. The animation style varied from many canonic Disney animated films; the style of the characters was based on the creator’s, Chris Sanders, artistry. Due to budget constraints, Lilo was one of the few recent animated films to feature a watercolor background. (This ties its background work to the earliest animated Disney films, which also used watercolor background art.)

*Back side of the Lilo Animator Doll box: the doll was designed by Byron Howard and his partial bio is on the box.*

6. The Animators’ collection doll was mostly designed by Byron Howard. He didn’t create Lilo but was a supervising animator for the film. His credits also include Pocahontas, Mulan, Zootopia, Encanto, and Tangled. He is the first LGBT director to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature twice for his work on Zootopia and Encanto.

*The doll was released with two different box styles.* (*Unclear if the dolls had different skin tones on release.)*

7. The Lilo Animators’ doll was manufactured by Jakks Pacific. (JAKK on NASDAQ). Jakks Pacific is a licensee of many high popularity franchises. (It’s also, weirdly, the owner of 80s stationery giant Pentech.)

*Circa 1986-1987 Pentech Retracto-Brites. (They should still make these. They were five stars, 100 percent awesome.)*

8. A live action version of Lilo and Stitch is reputed to be in the works.(Editor note: Please. Don’t.)

9. Scrump’s similarity to a voodoo (vodou) doll is remarked upon often in fan forums. Scrump’s mysterious smile is also a theme discussed in fan forums.

10. An anime spin-off of “Stitch” has Stitch leaving Lilo (after Lilo failed to show up to a meeting during her college graduation). He then teams up with Yuna. (Editor note: this storyline horrifies us. Of course Lilo and Stitch would never leave one another and are friends forever. Family forever, Ohana. Lilo and Stitch forever, Ohana.)