Theme Park Scope

A brand-new poster just debuted for Disney Animation’s Lilo & Scratch.

The new short film with Stitch, Lilo, and one very mischievous cat. It hits theaters with Hexed on November 25. Here’s what we know and why Stitch fans should be excited.

Stop what you’re doing, because Stitch is back in a brand-new animated short, and the poster alone has me grinning. A new poster just debuted for Disney Animation’s Lilo & Scratch, and the short film arrives in theaters alongside Hexed on November 25, 2026.

Let’s talk about that poster, because it’s doing a lot of storytelling. Stitch looms over the whole thing, his huge dark eyes and scowl peering down from the top of the frame. Down at the bottom, sitting there looking as sweet as can be, is a tiny pink-orange kitten with big dark eyes and a hopeful little smile. That’s Scratch. And then there’s the title, which is the best part: it reads Lilo & Stitch, but “Stitch” has been scratched out with a black slash and “Scratch” is scrawled right underneath in jittery black handwriting. Stitch’s four orange and red arms frame the kitten, with glowing green lights on the gear at the ends. The whole thing says “someone has been replaced,” and I love how cheeky it is. At the bottom it reads, “See the all-new short film with Hexed, November 25.”

Disney announced the short on June 26, 2026, which is 626 Day for the Stitch fans keeping track. The setup is simple and adorable. Lilo brings home Scratch, a mischievous, mysterious cat, as the newest member of the family. When Lilo leaves Stitch in charge while she runs errands, the cat causes chaos, and Stitch may have finally met his match. From the preview shown at Annecy, Scratch tries to eat Pudge, the weather-controlling fish who now lives in a fishbowl with Lilo and Stitch, and Stitch tries to protect him, which leads to a kitchen showdown. Things escalate, Stitch reverts to his alien form, and Scratch ends up with even more arms. Yes, you read that right. More arms. I need to see this.

Here’s the detail that is making longtime fans emotional: this is the first Disney Animation project to bring Stitch back since the original 2002 film. The short takes place immediately after the events of the 2025 live-action movie, and the team has aimed to match the look of the 2002 original. That means hand-drawn and CG animation over watercolor-style backgrounds, the same dreamy, painted look so many of us remember. Chris Sanders, who created Stitch, is returning to voice him, and Maia Kealoha, who played Lilo in the 2025 film, is back to voice Lilo. Fawn Veerasunthorn and Malcon Pierce direct the short, and fans got a first look at a two-minute preview at Annecy.

The short is attached to Hexed, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 65th animated feature, so you’ll see it by buying a ticket to the movie in theaters on November 25. The short screens exclusively in theaters, so if your crew can’t get enough of Stitch, put that date on the calendar. The poster shows a PG rating for the film with a note for some action, which is helpful to know if you’re deciding whether it’s right for your kids.

I also think this is a perfect fit for a Thanksgiving week outing. It’s a short, silly, high-energy Stitch story, which means even the littlest Stitch fans can enjoy it without needing a long attention span. And for the adults who grew up on the original, getting a hand-drawn style Stitch adventure on the big screen again is a treat.

If you love theme parks, you already know Stitch is everywhere in them. From meet-and-greets to merchandise and attractions, he’s one of the most beloved characters at Disney parks. A new short is bound to keep that energy going, and I’d be shocked if Scratch doesn’t end up with a fan following of her own.

A tiny, innocent-looking cat who wrecks Stitch’s day is the kind of chaos I want from a Stitch story, and the poster nails the joke with that crossed-out title. I love that Disney Animation is going back to the hand-drawn, watercolor look of the original, because it feels like a love letter to the people who’ve been Stitch fans since 2002. I’m also excited that Chris Sanders is voicing Stitch again, since it makes it feel authentic. Get to your seat on time so you don’t miss a second of the short and mark your calendars for November 25, because I think this one’s going to be a crowd-pleaser.

Stay with Theme Park Scope for more Stitch news, Disney updates, and everything happening in the parks. Tell me in the comments: who do you think wins, Stitch or Scratch? I have a feeling it won’t be Stitch, but I want to know what your family thinks!