Stitch & Ai

Stitch & Ai (Chinese: 安玲与史迪奇; pinyin: Ān líng yǔ shǐ dí qí; lit.: 'An Ling and Stitch') is a Chinese animated spin-off of Disney's Lilo & Stitch franchise that was produced in English with the assistance of American animators. It is the franchise's third television series, after the Western animated Lilo & Stitch: The Series and the Japanese Stitch! anime series. The thirteen-episode series features a Chinese girl named Wang Ai Ling in place of the original 2002–06 Western continuity's Lilo Pelekai and the anime's Yuna Kamihara, and is set in Huangshan, Anhui.

Stitch & Ai
A promotional poster for Stitch & Ai featuring the show's main characters. From left to right: Dahu, Jiejie, Jumba, Pleakley, Ai, and Stitch.
Chinese安玲与史迪奇
MandarinĀn líng yǔ shǐ dí qí
LiterallyAn Ling and Stitch
Genre
Based onLilo & Stitch characters
by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
Written byMarc Handler[1]
Directed byTony Craig[2]
Marc Handler[3] (voices)[1]
Voices of
Composer(s)
Country of originChina
Original language(s)English (original production)[9]
Mandarin Chinese (dubbed; first released version)[9]
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Wang Gang
  • Pei Duo
  • Tian Tian
  • Tony Craig
  • Marc Handler[1]
Producer(s)Cao Jie
Wu Wensheng
Running time22 minutes
Production company(s)Anhui Xinhua Media
Panimation Hwakai Media
DistributorDisney Media Distribution
Release
Original network
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original releaseMarch 27 (2017-03-27)[10] –
April 6, 2017 (2017-04-06)[11]
Chronology
Related shows

The series first aired in China with a Mandarin Chinese dub from March 27[10] to April 6, 2017.[11] The original English-language version first aired from February 5[4] to 27, 2018, in Southeast Asia on that region's Disney Channel. Twelve episodes of the series later received a free digital streaming release in the United States via DisneyNow on December 1, 2018,[12] although it was later removed from the service in June 2019.

Plot

Stitch & Ai follows the events of Lilo & Stitch and its subsequent film and television sequels up to and including Leroy & Stitch.[13] The series shows Stitch kidnapped by the Jaboodies, a faction of alien criminals who want to use him to have their own destructive genetic experiment. However, thanks to a rival faction called the Woolagongs trying to kidnap Stitch themselves by stealing him from the Jaboodies, Stitch escapes back to Earth, ending up on China's Huangshan mountains. There he befriends Ai, a spirited local girl who is at risk of being separated from her older sister Jiejie. Stitch becomes Ai's "dog", and the two help one another dealing with the other's problems; Ai helps Stitch deal with the space criminals, while he helps her stay in the mountains with her family. Jumba and Pleakley later show up initially trying to bring Stitch back to the United Galactic Federation, but Ai and Jiejie convince the two aliens to let Stitch stay with them. Although Jumba and Pleakley also stay to keep a watch on Stitch and to help out him and his new family, Jumba gets concerned that a previously-unrevealed metamorphosis function that he secretly programmed in Stitch—a function that, among other possible transformations, causes the experiment to grow into a giant beast when his destructive programming is triggered in a large city—could be unleashed if the space criminals figure out how to subconsciously manipulate Stitch into triggering it.

Continuity

The series has various flashbacks to key scenes in the franchise which appear in episodes 1, 2, and 13. The flashbacks consist of closely re-animated sequences, copying the originals to the best of their ability. Flashback scenes include:

  • "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" from Lilo & Stitch
  • "Jumba's Trial" from Lilo & Stitch
  • "Stitch's Escape" from Lilo & Stitch
  • "The Birth of Stitch" from Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch
  • "626 Simulation" from The Origin of Stitch
  • "Jumba & Stitch" from The Origin of Stitch

In co-ordinance with this, there are occasional cameos from previous characters of the Lilo & Stitch franchise, including Captain Gantu, the Grand Councilwoman, Cobra Bubbles, and the Ice Cream Man.

Characters
See also: List of Lilo & Stitch characters § Characters introduced in Stitch & Ai
  • Stitch (史迪奇; Shǐ dí qí) – An alien genetic experiment also known as Experiment 626. He was kidnapped by space criminals who want to use him so they can have their own evil genetic experiment, but he manages to escape back to Earth, ending up in China. He befriends a local girl named Ai, who takes him into her family. He is voiced in English by Ben Diskin,[4] who also voiced the character in the Stitch! anime, and in Mandarin by Li Zhengxiang.
  • Wang Ai Ling (王安玲; Wáng Ān líng) – A Chinese girl who lives in the Huangshan mountains. Her aunt wants to move her to the city, but she wants to stay in the mountains. Ai befriends Stitch, taking him in as her "dog", and helps him ward off the space criminals that want him. She serves as this series's counterpart to Lilo Pelekai. She is voiced in English by Erica Mendez,[4] who tweeted that she is a fan of Stitch and getting to voice his companion in a series was "a dream come true" for her.[14] In Mandarin, the character is voiced by Jiang Sunwei.
  • Wang Jiejie (王婕婕; Wáng jié jié) – A young Chinese woman who tries to take care of her younger sister Ai after their parents' death. She works at a tea shop for a man named Mr. Ding. She serves as this series's counterpart to Nani Pelekai. She is voiced in English by Laura Post[4] and in Mandarin by Li Yan.
  • Qian Dahu (钱大胡; Qián dà hú) – Jiejie's boyfriend and Ai's drum instructor. He serves as this series's counterpart to David Kawena, with an element of Moses Puloki with regards to his teachings of a local tradition. He is voiced in English by Lucien Dodge.[4]
  • Jumba Jookiba (强霸卓奇霸) – The Kweltikwan creator of Stitch. He is sent by the Grand Councilwoman to retrieve Stitch from the space criminals that captured him. However, after reuniting with Stitch in China and meeting his new family, Jumba decides to let Stitch to stay with Ai, sticking around himself to assist and watch over him. He is voiced in English by Jess Winfield, who previously served as screenwriter and executive producer for Lilo & Stitch: The Series and its films Stitch! The Movie and Leroy & Stitch, and voiced the same character in the Stitch! anime.[4] In Mandarin, the character is voiced by Cheng Yuzhu.
  • Wendell "Wendy" Pleakley (温帝独眼霹雳) – A Plorgonarian former United Galactic Federation agent and Jumba's partner. He is also sent by the Grand Councilwoman to retrieve Stitch alongside Jumba. After Jumba decides to let Stitch stay with Ai, Pleakley also stays with Stitch's new family and tries to help out. He is voiced in English by Lucien Dodge[4] and in Mandarin by Hu Qian.
  • Daiyu (姨妈) – Ai and Jiejie's aunt who believes that Ai should not be living in the "dirty" mountains and move to the city, despite her nieces' protests. She is voiced in English by Laura Post[4] and in Mandarin by Yan Lixuan.
  • Meiying (美英; Měiyīng) – Ai's rival who serves as this series's counterpart to Mertle Edmonds. She is voiced in English by Cherami Leigh and Xanthe Huynh.[4]
  • Mr. Ding – Jiejie's employer who runs a tea shop. He is voiced in English by Richard Epcar.[6][4]

Kyle Hebert, Bobby Thong, Sarah Anne Williams, Deborah Crane, Jacob Craner, and Steve Kramer provide additional voices.[4]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
(Mandarin Chinese dub)		English air date
(Southeast Asia)
1"Hello – Goodbye"
Chinese title: "安玲遇见史迪奇"[15]		Tony CraigMarc HandlerMarch 27, 2017 (2017-03-27)[10]February 5, 2018[16]
Stitch is held captive on a spaceship above Earth by a gang of space criminals who want to use him. However, a rival space gang attacks the ship wanting Stitch for themselves, accidentally freeing him in the process and allowing him to escape back to Earth. Upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere, Stitch lands in China's Huangshan mountains where he meets Ai, who has been told by her aunt Daiyu that she will be moving out of the mountains to live in a city. The two quickly bond as the girl shows the blue alien around the mountains, but they soon find themselves pursued by the criminal aliens.
2"Teacher's Pet"
Chinese title: "家是最重要的"[17][15]		Tony CraigMarc HandlerMarch 28, 2017 (2017-03-28)[18]February 6, 2018
Ai, who's happy to now have Stitch in her life, brings him to her school where she is ready to show her class a strobe light she made. However, they find that her teacher has been possessed and mutated by an alien sent to capture Stitch, leading to Stitch and Ai fighting the possessed teacher in the classroom. Meanwhile, at Mr. Ding's tea shop, Jiejie tries to convince Daiyu to not move Ai to the city, deciding to bring her to Ai's school to show that Ai is getting a good education there.
3"Gotcha!"
Chinese title: "外星访客"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 28, 2017 (2017-03-28)[19]February 7, 2018
To be provided
4"The Scroll"
Chinese title: "神奇的竹简"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 29, 2017 (2017-03-29)[20]February 8, 2018
Jumba and Pleakley come to Earth to get Stitch. However, Jumba is sidetracked by ancient scrolls that detail monsters, which peaks his evil genius curiosity. Jumba creats a Qui Ling ("chi ling") to save Stitch from the two factions.
5"Spirals"
Chinese title: "爱的力量"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 29, 2017 (2017-03-29)[21]February 12, 2018
Jumba creates a dragon, which disobeys him. He then realizes the dragon needs a mate or it will turn evil for 100 years. They succeed in this, but have to fight off one of the factions threatening the newborn dragon egg.
6"The Lock"
Chinese title: "同心锁"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 30, 2017 (2017-03-30)[22]February 13, 2018
Ai takes Stitch to a bridge where several locks are. Friends write their names on the locks and lock them on the bridge as a symbol of their unbreakable friendship. Unfortunately, Stitch does not agree with where to place the lock, resulting in them fighting over it and dropping the lock below the bridge.
7"Dragon Parade"
Chinese title: "舞龙庆典"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 30, 2017 (2017-03-30)[23]February 14, 2018
A dragon puppet for the festival is ruined by accident thanks to Stitch's mischief. Jumba substitutes the puppet with a genuine dragon.
8"Tell the World"
Chinese title: "告诉世界"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 31, 2017 (2017-03-31)[24]February 15, 2018
To be provided
9"The Phoenix"
Chinese title: "凤凰"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAMarch 31, 2017 (2017-03-31)[25]February 20, 2018

To be provided

Note: This episode remains unreleased in the United States.
10"Dream On"
Chinese title: "梦境"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAApril 5, 2017 (2017-04-05)[26]February 21, 2018
One of the factions sends an agent down to knock out and capture Stitch. His ray gun instead zaps Ai, bringing her imaginary friend to life.
11"Creatures"
Chinese title: "傩戏"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAApril 5, 2017 (2017-04-05)[27]February 22, 2018
Stitch decides to be naughty and mass produce mythical creatures Jumba has been working on. The end result is ruining the nuo opera the town was planning to put on. Cobra Bubbles radios the Galactic Alliance, ready to apprehend Stitch. However, after witnessing Stitch remedy his mistake and lead the creatures into Jumba's pocket dimension, he calls off the attack.
12"Brothers"
Chinese title: "兄弟" [17][15]		Tony CraigTBAApril 6, 2017 (2017-04-06)[28]February 26, 2018
Pleakley finds an alien cube, which gives Ai and Stitch "brothers" named Ling and Scratch. They all get along until Scratch starts convincing Stitch to act bad.
13"Monstrosity"
Chinese title: "我有家了"[17][15]		Tony CraigTBAApril 6, 2017 (2017-04-06)[11]February 27, 2018
Ai learns that the "brothers" the cube created for her and Stitch are actually aliens in disguise that have activated the destructive programming in him. Stitch grows into a monster and attacks the city, but Ai is able to get through to the real Stitch. Stitch uses his new form to destroy the aliens' weapons, scaring them into fleeing as they now know they can't use the program to control him for their own means.

Production

Stitch & Ai is produced by Anhui Xinhua Media[29] and Panimation Hwakai Media[29][4] in association with Disney[4] with additional work by Showfun Animation, Shanghai Fire & Ice Media, and Shanghai Aoju Media.[4] The series began broadcast on CCTV-14 on March 27, 2017.[29] Unlike Stitch!, this series was produced in co-operation with American Disney animators to maintain a sense of visual continuity to the original American-produced films and TV series.[4] The series was produced as part of an effort by Disney to enter the Chinese animation market.[30] It was originally produced in English then dubbed into Mandarin Chinese.

Tony Craig, an executive producer of Lilo & Stitch: The Series who directed two episodes of the show ("Spike" and "Shoe"), and directed and produced its respective pilot and finale films Stitch! The Movie and Leroy & Stitch, served as director for Stitch & Ai.[9][2] Victor Cook, who was a director for both seasons of Lilo & Stitch: The Series, was initially signed onto the Chinese series and even visited China to assist making the eighth episode.[31] At first, Cook contacted Craig to storyboard the first episode, but when Cook had to drop out due to other commitments, he had Craig take over directing.[2] Craig joined during pre-production, and had to delay joining in full due to a prior employment issue, although Panimation waited for him.[2] Craig oversaw the storyboards, animatics, animation, most of the designs, and all the editing sessions, but he was not involved with the dialogue recordings, which happened in Los Angeles while Craig lives in North Carolina.[2]

The show made its English premiere on Disney Channel Asia on February 5, 2018.[16][4] The series (except for the ninth episode "The Phoenix") later became available in the United States for free streaming on DisneyNow on December 1, 2018.[12][32] It was later removed from the service in June 2019.

Notes

    References
    1. Handler, Marc. "Handler's Resume" (PDF). MarcHandler.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
    2. Croyle, Joshua. "Interview with Tony Craig: Director of Stitch & Ai!". JoshuaCroyle.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
    3. "Takao" (June 24, 2017). "Disney's Stitch returns in new Chinese series Stitch & Ai". ToonBarn. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017. It was directed by Marc Handler, who previously handled localization work on BattleClaw, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Naruto, Battle B-Daman and a bunch of other series.
    4. "Takao" (February 13, 2018). "Stitch & Ai debuts in South East Asia". ToonBarn. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
    5. Epcar, Richard. "Richard Epcar – Voice Acting Resume" (PDF). RichardEpcar.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
    6. Epcar, Richard. "Richard Epcar – Characters Resume" (PDF). RichardEpcar.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
    7. Tavera, Michael. "Tavera's Resume" (PDF). MichaelTavera.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 11, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
    8. "Stephen James Taylor Scores 'Stitch and Ai' for Disney China" (Press release). Los Angeles, California: Soundtrack Music Associates. January 16, 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
    9. Bennett, Steve (March 29, 2017). "CONFESSIONS OF A COMIC BOOK GUY – TIME FOR TEENS". ICv2. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
    10. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 1". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 27, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    11. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 13". CCTV.com (in Chinese). April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    12. ""Stitch & Ai" Has Surprise Release on DisneyNOW". LaughingPlace.com. December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
    13. Croyle, Joshua. "Discussions with Tony Craig: Executive Producer "Lilo & Stitch: The Series" and "Stitch & Ai!"". JoshuaCroyle.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
    14. Mendez, Erica [@tsunderica] (February 5, 2018). "Oh... the subsequent tweet didn't go through, but tl;dr.... I love Stitch SO MUCH. Getting to be his companion in a series was a dream come true" (Tweet). Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via Twitter.
    15. 安玲与史迪奇（精品儿童广播剧）. lrts.me (in Chinese). Retrieved December 15, 2018.
    16. "Disney Channel Asia – Stitch & Ai Promo". YouTube. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
    17. "An Ling and Stitch official CCTV program page". CCTV.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    18. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 2". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    19. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 3". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    20. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 4". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    21. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 5". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    22. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 6". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 30, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    23. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 7". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 30, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    24. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 8". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 31, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    25. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 9". CCTV.com (in Chinese). March 31, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    26. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 10". CCTV.com (in Chinese). April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    27. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 11". CCTV.com (in Chinese). April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    28. "An Ling and Stitch – Episode 12". CCTV.com (in Chinese). April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    29. 《安玲与史迪奇》27日起全球首播. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). March 27, 2017. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
    30. Mo Hong'e (2018-09-11). "Disney shares its secrets with leading Chinese animators". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-09-12 – via ecns.cn.
    31. "流程流程流程！重要的事情说三遍！—— Victor Cook". qq.com (in Chinese). December 22, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
    32. "Watch Stitch & Ai TV Show". DisneyNow. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
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