Despite the internet reaching a partial consensus regarding Disney's Lilo and Stitch and its ending, the film's director is standing firm on his stance. Rather than acknowledging that a shot-for-shot adaptation would've gone over better with audiences, Camp is defending his artistic vision.
During an interview with Variety, Dean Fleischer Camp spoke in depth about his approach to the live-action adaptation of Lilo and Stitch, particularly the story's end.
According to Camp, he wanted to "expand the meaning of ohana," which is commendable because something got lost in translation over the years. Generally understood as the Hawaiian word for family, the term is often reduced to those who are blood related. Camp, however, attempts to prove that family isn't limited to said constructs.
By introducing Tutu (Amy Hill) to the story, her role as an informal foster parent emphasizes that community members can also be family. The final scene wherein Tutu agrees to become Lilo's caregiver supports such a claim since she doesn't have to take on the obligation. Tutu has the option to neglect Lilo, except she doesn't because the Pelekai sisters are part of her ohana, whether they're related or not.
Expanding ohana is perfectly fine. Families grow all the time, be it through traditional or unconventional means. No one would argue with the Pelekai family growing as the story progresses forward, either. That's how things worked out in the animated adventure, too. In fact, the live-action version's credits includes a montage of Cobra Bubbles, Pleakley, David, Stitch, and the Pelekai sisters working together to rebuild their destroyed home.
Ohana Is Keeping Family Together, Not Tearing It Apart
The problem is that a separation taints their ohana's happy ending. While an argument can be made that Nani (Sydney Agudong) gains new opportunities by relinquishing custody of Lilo, it raises the question: did she actually have to give her ward up? Nani winds up visiting home using the portal gun anyway, making the custody disputes unnecessary, especially given that the end credits rolled with images of Nani back in Hawaii helping rebuild the Pelekai family home.
Furthermore, Nani could've gone away to college and left Lilo with Tutu under a similar arrangement. Ms. Kekoa (Tia Carerre) didn't have to deem Nani "unfit" to care for her sister, nor did Tutu have to push the elder girl away.
Several people online have noted that Nani didn't have to relocate to pursue her dreams of becoming a marine biologist. Since the state has lots of educational programs available to its residents, Nani could've stayed close to home while still pursuing her dreams. Institutions such as the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) are just a few colleges she could've attended.
Tutu neglecting their existence—or at least disregarding them—points to a lack of logic behind Nani's relocating to California. Because on top of ignoring several convenient institutions for the elder Pelekai to attend, there's little to no enforcement of the separation order.
As mentioned, Nani is still present during the rebuild and sneaks back for movie nights by using the portal gun. Had the custody arrangement been vital to the plot, it would've been enforced in some way. But instead, Lilo's foster care agreement appears to be nothing more than a formality.
The question now is: why even bother with separating Lilo from Nani? There seems to be no reason behind hanging a veiled threat over their heads, introducing unnecessary tension. And all the adoption aspect did was upset moviegoers who understand that "ohana" also means keeping family together. It was Nani's goal throughout the entire live-action version, which makes the final decision to separate the Pelekai sisters all the more questionable.
Disney's Lilo and Stitch is currently in theaters.