Latest news with #Stitch
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
The Labubu effect: Cute sidekicks rule multiplexes, from Lilo & Stitch to Fantastic Four
(Clockwise from left) Stitch in Lilo & Stitch, H.E.R.B.I.E. in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon. NEW YORK – This summer has been invaded by a group of adorable furry monsters with sharp teeth. They are known as Labubus, and they are everywhere. The trendy key-ring dolls, from Chinese purveyor Pop Mart, have received endorsements from Barbadian pop star Rihanna and American singer Cher, and are omnipresent on social media. In a way, they have also infused the movies. Not literally, of course, though I wouldn't put it past some executive to be developing a Labubu franchise right now. No, it is more that the spirit of Labubus is everywhere on-screen. The blockbuster business has been overtaken by cuteness – sometimes ugly, chaotic cuteness in the style of the Labubu craze, but cuteness nonetheless. Nearly every major movie released since May features a cute sidekick, there to make audiences coo with delight. The season opened with Disney's live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, featuring the charmingly manic blue alien Stitch. It became a box-office success in part because of fans' enduring love for the extraterrestrial with a penchant for causing a ruckus. You could say Stitch is the original Labubu. They do look an awful lot alike. Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities. PHOTO: AFP In June, another remake was buoyed by a CGI cutie: Toothless, the title star of How To Train Your Dragon, whose oversized eyes and pointy chompers have a Labubu-esque quality. Also like Stitch, Toothless looks wild but, at times, acts as a pet, be that a cat or a dog depending on the moment in the story. Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon. PHOTO: UIP Speaking of dogs, Superman now has one in James Gunn's adaptation of the Man of Steel. Krypto, based on the American writer-director's own pup Ozu, is arguably the most traditionally cute of the bunch. After all, he looks like a regular scruffy dog, just one in a cape, but he is also a menace who bites feet and thinks any flying gadget is a toy. Krypto the superdog in Superman is inspired and modelled after director James Gunn's dog Ozu. PHOTO: WBEI The summer's other big superhero flick also has a winsome little buddy: H.E.R.B.I.E., the robot for the title crew in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He is made of metal, but has been designed for maximum awws, with a sweetly chirping voice and spinning reels for peepers. H.E.R.B.I.E. in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. PHOTO: THE WALT DISNEY CO There is more. In Pixar's Elio, a human boy befriends a slug-like alien named Glordon, who is sweetly naive despite descending from a race of warlords intent on conquering the galaxy. And Jurassic World Rebirth introduced Dolores, an Aquilops who, unlike the T. rex, enjoys candy and human companionship. What is with this inundation? Of course, cuteness is a solid marketing tactic. One reason Stitch, who debuted in the 2002 animated version, has become such a beloved character in the Disney stable is the volume of merchandise featuring him. The same could be said for Toothless, who even has a Labubu crossover toy. For what it is worth, Pop Mart is also in the Stitch business. Stitch in Lilo & Stitch. PHOTO: THE WALT DISNEY CO Meanwhile, the Labubu fad has started to merge with movie marketing. Celebrities are now being asked to interact with the toys during their press tours. The stars of both the sports racing drama F1: The Movie and horror reboot I Know What You Did Last Summer – two films in which adorable characters would be extremely out of place – have been subjected to this. F1: The Movie cast member Javier Bardem holding up a Labubu and gleefully declaring 'I got Baba' made me smile, even if the interaction felt like a forced viral moment. Sure, all this cuteness is in many ways a crass ploy for moviegoers' dollars, but it works for a reason. There is a comfort in the twee, especially when it is a little bit askew or offbeat. These characters allow people to switch off their brains and simply exist in their charming, oddball worlds . When every piece of news that hits the phone is largely depressing, it is a relief to spend a couple of hours gallivanting with Toothless or playing hypothetical fetch with Krypto. Their brand of chaos is the fun kind, not the nightmarish type. Of course, not every summer movie creature can work this kind of magic. The Jurassic World Rebirth social media team tried to turn Dolores into a phenomenon, with early X posts like one captioned: 'Protect Dolores at all costs!' The comments included questions about who Dolores was, and the mini-dino did not get any more popular after the film's release, possibly because she did not have a very distinctive personality. But when the characters are successful, they allow even adult viewers to regress into a childlike state of wonder, which partly explains why most of these movies have taken in huge amounts of money. The notion that these things have traits that society has deemed unlovable – Glordon's buggy form, for instance – makes them all the more lovable. It also may be why Labubus have become the accessory du jour. Their faces look as if they are about to create havoc, but their bodies are snuggable. They are like your personal Stitch: There by your side to make you giggle with the spicy-sweet personality you project onto them. Isn't that the fantasy all these movies sell? It sure would be fun to have your own little impish companion around at all times. NYTIMES
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Lilo And Stitch 2 Live-Action Movie Is In The Works, Confirms Disney
Last Updated: Disney has announced via social media that a live-action Lilo and Stitch 2 is in development. A live-action Lilo and Stitch 2 is in the works. Disney has confirmed via social media that it's currently working on another movie in its popular Lilo and Stitch film franchise. In a promotional video for the new movie, Stitch is seen excitedly driving into the parking lot of the Disney film studios. The fictional character then performs a series of sharp turns, with his tyre marks confirming that Lilo and Stitch 2 is now in development. Disney captioned the Instagram post: 'should've known he couldn't keep a secret. 'a 626 day surprise: #LiloAndStitch 2 is now in development! (sic)" Despite this, Disney hasn't revealed any further details about the project, such as the film's cast or the release date. The studio has already enjoyed huge success with the Lilo and Stitch franchise, including the original movie back in 2002. The live-action Lilo and Stitch remake premiered last month and quickly became a big success at the box office. The film – which featured the likes of Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B. Vance and Zach Galifianakis – has already grossed more than $900 million. Dean Fleischer Camp directed the live-action Lilo and Stitch remake, and he previously revealed that he jumped at the opportunity to helm the project. The 41-year-old director told Deadline: 'It's always been my favourite Disney animated film, and it's always been the one that I felt like I could do a live-action adaptation of because when I saw the original in theatres, I was in high school, and it didn't look like any other animated Disney movie I'd ever seen. 'The characters felt so authentic and a little rough around the edges in a way that I now know is the influence of Chris Sanders' actual, original art style. But at the time, I just thought, wow, this is such a different look for a Disney movie. 'It's also the thing that made it seem like there's a great opportunity here to tell a live-action version of these characters because, unlike most Disney animated films, it takes place in contemporary society. It stars real, mostly humans going through some real stuff that many other humans go through daily. So, it felt like a great opportunity. I jumped at the chance." The director actually loved how his movie turned out. He shared: 'I think we were all coming from a place of real love for the original. It's always been my favourite Disney movie. And so, I think there were a lot of those, and sometimes you have to let go and kill your darlings and it just doesn't work out for one reason or another. But I think the main things that we were really focused on, we got, and I'm proud that we nailed it." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Lilo & Stitch's Cast Reveals Who Was The Set Prankster. It Was None Other Than…
Lilo & Stitch's creator shared that he imagined Stitch as a green, forest dweller not as the blue extraterrestrial being. The cast of Disney's live action movie Lilo & Stitch gathered at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26. At the event, they shared some fun behind-the-scenes stories, adorable moments and even gave fans an exciting update on the sequel to the superhit movie. Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo, Tia Carrere (Mrs. Kekoa) and Sydney Agudong (Nani), along with Chris Sanders, the creator of the 2002 Lilo & Stitch animated film and the voice behind Stitch, were in attendance. Lilo & Stitch, which was released on May 23, has become a huge box office hit of 2025. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide in July and has joined Disney's growing list of billion-dollar blockbusters alongside Moana 2, Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2. Here's what the cast shared about at Comic-Con. Stitch Was Envisioned Green Chris revealed that Stitch, the extraterrestrial agent, was originally envisioned green and not blue, living in a forest. He created earlier sketches of the character while he was still in art school. And the story came to life when he began adding twists on typical tropes. ''What if one of our villains became a hero?' That was the engine that started the whole thing," he shared. The Agudong Sisters Competed For The Role Of Nani At the panel, actress Sydney Agudong, who played Nani in the live-action film, shared, 'I don't know if this is known to a lot of people, but it was down to my sister and I for Nani." She recalled that when she bagged the role, the first thing she wanted to do was to hug her sister Sienna. Besides her, Sydney also became an elder sister to Maia Kealoha, both on-screen and off-screen. Maia Kealoha Was The Set Prankster Eight-year-old Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo in the film, loved pulling pranks on the sets, as told by her castmates. She pranked everyone, from the film's director Dean Fleischer Camp to her own mother. Actor Zach Galifianakis, who was the voice behind Dr. Jumba Jookiba, said in a BTS video, 'She would greet me with, 'Hello dummy!' And I thought, 'I really like this kid.'" Maia Kealoha Bonded With Stitch Even though Stitch is all CGI, Maia had a puppet to act with during the shoot. She recalled how she set a tradition of planting a kiss on it every day on the set. 'Every day I would kiss his nose," she said, which eventually became a heartfelt moment in the film. Lilo & Stitch 2 Officially In Works Following the success of Lilo & Stitch, the makers announced its sequel on June 26, a nod to the alien character's moniker, Experiment 626. In an Instagram video, Stitch was seen driving a pink-coloured convertible with '2 FAST" as the license plate. 'Should've known he couldn't keep a secret. A 626-day surprise: #LiloAndStitch 2 is now in development!" read the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walt Disney Studios (@disneystudios) 'I have begun writing it," said Chris at the event. Lilo & Stitch 2 is expected to hit theatres sometime in 2026. First Published: July 26, 2025, 17:32 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
25 Affordable Carter's Outfits For Stylish Toddlers
A summer gauze set for your suave Stitch enthusiast. They'll wear this outfit almost as many times as they ask to watch Lilo and Stitch again. Price: $14.99 (originally $38; available in sizes 2T–5T and in three character options) A ruffly combo that'll keep your little one effortlessly breezy — literally. No shame if you're already looking for a matching one in your size. Price: $28 (originally $46; available in sizes 2T–5T and in two colors) An active skort and tank to introduce your little mini me to the glory of athleisure wear early. Are you heading to the pickleball courts or to the ice cream shop? The world is your oyster. Price: $21.48 (originally $44; available in sizes 2T–5T) A dino set that's so cute you just might want to take a wee little chomp out of it. I mean look at those little dino print shorts. 😍 Price: $12.79 (originally $32; available in sizes 2T–5T) A terry dress in a baby-soft material even if your toddler is demanding teenager-level attention nowadays. Price: $14.39 (originally $22; available in sizes 2T–5T) A pair of ~tropi-cool~ pajamas that'll have your favorite toddler looking like an island explorer every night. Price: $18 (available in sizes 2T–5T and in seven styles) And a darling polka-dot swimsuit with an adorable ruffle flower for your little 1950s beach diva. Add a pair of round sunnies and get ready to hear "pass me the crackers, dahling." Price: $6.39 (originally $14; available in sizes 2T–5T and in three styles) And a pair of water shoes so puddles, sand, or sprinklers are no match for your summer fun. Just rinse 'em off and keep on playing. Price: $9 (originally $12; available in sizes 4–12 and in two colors) A sweet bow-tie dress that I low-key wish was in my size. There's nothing wrong with looking like you're headed to a posh garden party even if you're just headed to the park. Price: $16 (originally $32; available in sizes 2T–5T) A pair of sandals with a flower appliqué to jazz up those cute little toddler stompers. Price: $18 (originally $36; available in sizes 4-12) A How To Train Your Dragon play set for your kiddo who can't stop talking about Hiccup and Toothless. This set will have them ready for their own epic adventures — even if it's just in the backyard. Price: $15 (originally $30; available in sizes 2T–5T and in five character options) A pair of dino romper PJs — just because they're a toddler doesn't mean they can't have an adorable romper anymore. As a mom whose kids are out of the romper stage, let me tell you: enjoy this stage for as long as you can. 😭 Price: $12 (available in sizes 2T–5T and in four patterns) A short-sleeve color-changing rain jacket for keeping them extra ~rawrsome~ for any rainy day. Just put that hood on and watch them turn the world into their own little Jurassic Park. Promising review: "So cute, quality is top notch and the design couldn't be any cuter!! Bring on the rain." —SarahPrice: $28 (available in sizes 2T–5T and in five styles) A Barbie tutu dress because EVERY summer should be Barbie summer. This dress is totally Ken-ough for any occasion. Price: $23 (originally $30; available in sizes 2T–5T and in a Disney Princess version) A ~berry~ soft PJ set that'll make those bedtime snuggles so soft, you'll want to rock them to sleep forever. Price: $18 (available in sizes 2T–5T) A Hawaiian-themed short set for making them look like they're on island time. Toddlers in Hawaiian shirts?? I'm not crying over the cuteness — you are. Price: $11.99 (originally $32; available in sizes 2T–4T) A skort because your toddler loves to twirl hard *and* play hard. The detail in the skirt still gives plenty of daintiness — even if that daintiness is climbing onto a slide with reckless abandon. Price: $16 (originally $26; available in sizes 2T–5T) A tie-front top aka a look that somehow always looks both fashion-forward and timelessly classic — just like the kid who's wearing it. Price: $5 (originally $6; available in sizes 2T–5T) A solid tee because every shirt doesn't have the be plastered with trucks, dinosaurs, or baseballs to look great. Just mix and match to your heart's content and enjoy a little effortless parenting. Promising review: "I always buy these in a bunch of different colors. You can mix and match with anything." —JessPrice: $5 (originally $6; available in sizes 2T–5T and in 16 patterns and colors) And a pair of stretchy chinos — your basic short that's going to look good with pretty much any shirt. Plus they're nice and stretchy for big play or big potty emergencies. Price: $14 (originally $28; available in sizes 2T–5T and in two colors) A double set of fleece pajamas for your little one who can't stop banging into the wall trying to twirl like a ballerina. Price: $20 (available in sizes 2T–5T and in seven styles) A pair of colorblocked sneakers to add a much-needed dose of the rainbow to your toddler whose favorite color changes daily. Price: $23 (originally $38; available in sizes 4–12) A button-down baseball shirt for your T-ball enthusiast. They may not be able to hit the ball eight times out of 10, but this shirt will certainly make them think they can. Promising review: "Love the blue baseball set I bought for my 14-month-old son. I plan on having him wear it for a family member's upcoming birthday." —SeattlePrice: $12 (originally $24; available in sizes 2T–5T and in two designs) A two-piece play outfit for your rough-and-tumble, Disney Princess–loving energy machine. Price: $18 (originally $30; available in sizes 2T–5T and in five character options) A "food critic" tee in case you want to make light out of your toddler's *ahem* refined palate. Price: $5 (originally $6; available in sizes 2T–5T and in 29 styles)
Ottawa Citizen
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Pellerin: Why can't OC Transpo be more like F1?
Article content It's summertime, and the living should be easy. With carefree sensations like a movie about speed or a new, record-breaking roller coaster. Not a hard, painful Death Spiral of Doom like Ottawa commuting times so long that riders get dinged twice for fares. Article content The movie of the summer, at least for those of us who don't care about superheroes or whatever species Stitch is supposed to be, is Jerry Bruckheimer's ode to fast cars, F1. I went to see it on Monday night with my movie buddy, with whom I've unfailingly enjoyed great films since the summer of Barbenheimer, in sharp contrast with my teenagers who insist on dragging me out to clunkers like the baffling 28 Years Later. Article content Article content Article content Reviews of F1 are generally positive, especially from people who had been feeling the urge to sit in a theatre for 156 minutes of Brad Pitt doing that thing with his lower lip while driving very expensive cars very fast around very pointless bends. Article content I kid, of course. That's in keeping with a mid-summer column in which we are supposed to enjoy the wind in our hair and levity in our hearts and nothing heavy on our minds or infuriatingly slow traffic gumming us up on the bus while our transfer window ticks by. Despite the occasional overflow of corniness, the narrative arc made F1 interesting, and I enjoyed the interplay between Pitt's character and that of his old buddy played by the excellent Javier Bardem and the slightly arrogant rising star portrayed by the impressive Damson Idris. Article content You know what else is fun and happy this summer? The new ride at Canada's Wonderland. I took the teens to experience the brand-new AlpenFury on Tuesday and wow, it's a great (and record-breaking) launch coaster that shoots you straight up 50 metres into the sky at 115 km/h only to drop you right back down but inverted and also spinning. Article content Article content We giggle-screamed the whole entire 80 seconds and spent about 10 minutes putting our hair back together on our heads afterwards. It is, not to put too fine a point on it, a gem of a ride. Article content Article content One big improvement in modern theme parks is the ability to pay extra for quicker access to the big rides so you don't spend your day waiting in line. It's a perfect option for those of us who only care for drops that cause us to regret eating that spicy breakfast burrito back in 2012. And it keeps admission prices down for folks who prefer not to get their skeletons rattled. The kids and I rode a lot and waited little in the course of a 10-hour day. Pure bliss. Article content The complete opposite of riding OC Transpo from the suburbs to work downtown. Recent media stories detailed how an increasing number of commutes are taking so long that riders get charged twice for fares. Article content The transfer window on transit is 90 minutes. That's how long you get to ride when you tap your card upon boarding your first bus or train. One man told CBC he used to take the LRT from the University of Ottawa to Tunney's Pasture, then an express 200-series bus to Barrhaven. That bus route got cancelled so now the man has to take two buses from Tunney's to his home. A journey that can take two hours. OC Transpo can refund passengers who get dinged twice on the same journey, but it takes time and it's a pain. Article content Summertime is when the living is supposed to be easy, not an incredibly slow Proletarian Chariot to Nowhere. At a minimum, the transit window should be extended at once. And express routes brought back. But that's just a Band-Aid. I know a transit system is not like a theme park or a Hollywood movie, but between F1 speeds and two hours to go from UofO to Barrhaven, there's a lot of room for improvement, regardless of season.
