At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this Friday, Disney did something rare. They didn't just show a trailer. They brought back a cultural icon.

Directors Jason Hand, Fawn Veerasunthorn, and Malcon Pierce took the stage to pull back the curtain on Hexed, their upcoming magical feature. But the real surprise arrived in the form of a short film: Lilo & Scratch. It features the return of the original 2002 Stitch, voiced once again by Chris Sanders.

It’s a calculated move. Disney is betting that pairing a new, untested IP with the warm, fuzzy nostalgia of a fan-favorite character will get audiences back into theater seats this November.

The Return of a Classic

Lilo & Scratch isn't just a quick cameo. It’s a full-scale reunion. Alongside Sanders, the short features Maia Kealoha, who voices Lilo. The premise is simple: Lilo introduces a new rescue cat to their home, leaving Stitch to manage a feline with a surprisingly demonic streak.

For the production team, the short was a labor of love. “We assembled all the Lilo & Stitch fans at the studio,” said Veerasunthorn. They even brought in Alex Cooper Schmidt, the original supervising animator for Stitch. His advice to the team was blunt: “This is a cartoon. Push it very, very far.”

A New World in 'Hexed'

While the short leans on the past, Hexed is Disney’s attempt at a new franchise. The film follows Billie, a teenager living with her strict single mother, who discovers she possesses latent magical abilities.

The footage screened at Annecy focused on the film’s inciting incident. Billie is pulled through a wooded portal into the land of Hexe. There, she encounters Ms. Quill and Elias Quire, voiced by industry heavyweights Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry. The studio is clearly aiming for a high-fantasy aesthetic, leaning on the vocal gravitas of its veteran cast to ground the magical world.

Why the Pairing Matters

Disney’s theatrical strategy is shifting. Original films face a steeper climb at the box office than established franchises. By attaching a Lilo & Stitch short to Hexed, the studio is creating a built-in incentive for families to show up on November 25.

It’s a classic distribution tactic. Use the old to sell the new.

Whether this will be enough to turn Hexed into a breakout hit remains to be seen. The competition is fierce. But for the animation nerds at Disney, the goal is clear: capture the magic of the original while building something that can stand on its own.

Key Takeaways

  • Nostalgia as a Hook: Disney is attaching the Lilo & Scratch short to Hexed to drive theatrical attendance for its new original film.
  • Creative Continuity: The short features original Stitch voice actor Chris Sanders and original supervising animator Alex Cooper Schmidt to ensure the character feels authentic.
  • Star Power: Hexed features a high-profile voice cast, including Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry, as the studio looks to establish a new fantasy franchise.

Disney’s next major test comes this November. The studio has the talent. Now, they need the audience to follow them into the woods.