When you think about how siblings are depicted in a lot of programs, oftentimes it’s not always the best relationship. Some instances will show us the older ones bullying and teasing the younger ones or the baby of the family being the ultimate pest. I’m an only child, but I grew up wanting sisters, especially since my best friend was the oldest of five girls and I admired their bond. But as a child, things were much different, as Cinderella depicted what life is like when your sisters are awful. While Disney gave us a perfect example of terrible kin, they also gave us Lilo & Stitch, a storyline with the best siblings ever at its core. Let’s explore why the relationship between Lilo and Nani is complex yet the best we’ve seen.
Disney has long brought us uplifting stories that we grew up watching at all ages. In many instances, we weren’t even old enough to understand the underlying tones. It isn’t until you grow up and rewatch them that you realize how deep some of their messages really are. In Lilo & Stitch, Nani and Lilo lose their parents, forcing Nani to step up and take care of her baby sister. We get to see the real frustration that ensues when a barely old enough teen has to take on the role of a parent all while still trying to live her own life.
The responsibility that comes with being a guardian is a lot especially at her age, but Nani refuses to allow child services to step in and take Lilo from her. This is quite the mature conflict to embed into a children’s animated flick, especially given how unserious Stitch is. Many of us have never had to take care of a child as a teenager, so seeing Nani boss up and do just that shows how strong her love is for Lilo, who can quite the handful at times (Stitch doesn’t make things any easier). Nani’s selflessness is something we could all learn from as she tries to navigate her situation as best she can, although her sister is a bit too young to understand the severity of it.
Perhaps one of the bigger reasons the girls are the best siblings is Nani’s choice to make her little sis happy, which requires taking on an additional responsibility. Since Lilo is an outcast and wasn’t quite making friends in her hula class, Nani helps her by taking in a pal of her own. Lilo wasn’t taking their new dynamic well and began acting out. Nani had to give up a portion of her dreams to care for her sister so the tension was definitely high. The teen is already going through so much with trying to juggle her life and her new role as a guardian, so buying a blue koala-alien as a pet probably doesn’t take the load off, rather adds to it.
This truly speaks volumes about Nani’s character and how much Lilo really means to her since she was willing to add to her own plate. Disney has several animated titles that include siblings, like Ariel and her sisters in The Little Mermaid or Tadashi and Hiro in Big Hero 6. While each had their own story to be told, none of them hit quite like Lilo and Nani’s. We are able to explore a true bond through and through on an extremely realistic and mature level. While it is a kids movie, it tackles an issue that is everyone’s worst nightmare: What do children do if they lose both parents at the same time?
Quite honestly, we need more films that depict relationships like the one between Nani and Lilo. As an adult rewatching it, I thought, “Wow, I don’t think I’d be able to handle the situation the way Nani did… ain’t no way…” Her sacrifices for Lilo who, at times, was an ungrateful handful of a little sister, is enough to make any teen give up or run away. A true display of raw and unconditional love between the two girls is beautiful and heartwarming to say the least. It was real and authentic and the message wasn’t lost through the colors and goofy comedy of a children’s movie.
They have always been top two best siblings and no others come remotely close. They will have you laughing one minute then pull at your heartstrings the next. With more relatable situations and cultural stories on the rise, Disney will have to really lock in if they aspire to create siblings that’ll remotely scratch the surface of what Nani and Lilo gave us.
While the animated version definitely hit us in the feels, I’m truly hoping the live action version that’s set to release later this year can do the same. Although the film sparked controversy surrounding colorism with the casting of Sydney Agudong as Nani, the studio has a big responsibility on its hand to do this project justice since they even touched it to begin with. Will it be as good as the animated version or will it flop? Only time will tell.
Catch Lilo & Stitch in theaters May 23, 2025.