Stitch (Chris Sanders) is definitely an offensive character. He is destructive and aggressive. He destroys “everything [he] touch[es]”. He pushes Lilo (Daveigh Chase) around and makes San Francisco just to tear it apart. He is also offensive when he is in front of the court at the beginning of the movie (play-on-words... hehe).
Stitch belongs to Lilo. She is defensive. When she is late to hula class, she is defensive about why she is late. When she hits the other little girl, she only does this after she calls Lilo “crazy”. Lilo runs away when her sister chases her. After she adopts Stitch, she defends him and wants to keep him in the family.
Jumba (David Ogden Stiers) and Pleakley (Kevin McDonald) is another offensive and defensive pair. Jumba is offensive. He pursues Stitch on Earth. He is constantly pushing Pleakley aside. He lures Stitch to him with the spotted chicken leg thing. Jumba is the one wielding the weapons.
Pleakley is defensive. The mosquito population is his main concern; he wants to protect them and humans who feed mosquitoes. He is the one worried about blending-in. He wants costumes that will make them invisible on Earth. At the luau, he wants everyone to “go about your business” and not look at him.
Nani (Tia Carrere) and David (Jason Scott Lee) is another pair to think about. Nani is defensive. She tries to show Mr. Bubbles (Ving Rhames) that Lilo belongs with her. She is constantly battling to keep her sister. Maybe this makes her offensive. Hmm...
David, I think, is the offensive in this couple. He pursues Nani constantly trying to date her. He is also the one who suggests surfing to make the bad day better. He swims down to save Stitch from drowning in the ocean.
I believe these characters need the opposite in their partner. “Opposites attract” right? Well the opposition with these pairs seems to balance each character out because each has his/her partner.
Check out a religious take on this movie. It considers themes and characters. The site is a little confusing to navigate. Look on the left for the links to the actual analysis.
As always, Feminist Disney has a word on the subject, but a positive one for a change.
See you next week!