At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Disney Animation did something it hasn't done in five years. It announced a new theatrical short. The project, titled Lilo & Scratch, brings back the chaotic energy of the 2002 original, with Chris Sanders returning to voice the iconic blue alien.
For a studio that has spent the last half-decade focused almost exclusively on feature-length tentpoles, the return to the short-film format is a pivot. The story picks up shortly after the events of the first film, introducing a new family pet—a cat—that triggers a familiar, destructive chase across the island. It is a return to form. It is also a reminder of the studio’s enduring IP.
The 65th Feature: A New Kind of Hero
While Lilo & Scratch offers nostalgia, the studio’s primary focus at the festival was its 65th animated feature, Hexed. Directed by Jason Hand and Fawn Veerasunthorn, the film moves away from the traditional "noble" Disney protagonist.
Billie, the film’s lead, is a rebellious teenager who discovers she has magical abilities. She is voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, supported by a cast that includes Rashida Jones, Tracey Ullman, Alan Tudyk, and Stephen Fry.
"She’s not like our regular Disney characters," Hand told the audience. "If she breaks something, she doesn’t apologize. She would just sweep it under the rug."
This is a deliberate departure. The studio is leaning into a character who pushes against limits rather than one who seeks to uphold them. The narrative centers on a mother-daughter relationship, but one defined by fallibility rather than the typical "superhero" parent dynamic.
Flipping the Witch Narrative
Hexed takes place in a realm where magic is governed by a strict, often misunderstood set of rules. Billie enters this world knowing nothing about her own heritage, only to find that her natural instincts clash with the established order.
"We’re flipping the expectations," Veerasunthorn explained. "Billie might think, 'If I’m a witch, I would do this.' And people go, 'What are you talking about? We don’t do that here.'"
The visual style is designed to accommodate physical humor, a necessity for a story that involves portals, magical accidents, and a character who is constantly trying to hide her true nature. The team presented work-in-progress footage that emphasized this "witchiness"—a feeling of being an outsider in a world that fears your potential.
Why the Shift Matters
Disney is currently navigating a transition. The studio is balancing the need to leverage its massive library of existing characters—like Stitch—with the pressure to create new, original worlds.
Hexed represents a "True North" goal for the directors: exploring parents as complex, flawed individuals. It is a mother-daughter love story, but one that acknowledges the friction of growing up.
Key Takeaways
- Lilo & Scratch marks Disney’s first theatrical short in five years, featuring the return of original Stitch voice actor Chris Sanders.
- Hexed, the studio’s 65th feature, centers on a rebellious protagonist who defies traditional "noble" Disney character archetypes.
- The film explores a complex mother-daughter dynamic, focusing on the realization that parents are fallible people rather than infallible heroes.
Disney has set the release for Lilo & Scratch for this fall. For the animation team, the next hurdle is finalizing the complex magical rules of the Hexed universe before the film’s eventual wide release. The studio’s ability to balance the comfort of a familiar alien with the risks of a new, rebellious witch will determine if this dual-track strategy pays off at the box office.
