Character Relationship Map: Lilo & Stitch

Characters

• Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha) — protagonist

  Lonely Hawaiian girl who adopts an alien experiment, teaching him about family and ohana.

• Nani (played by Sydney Agudong) — protagonist

  Lilo's older sister struggling to maintain custody while balancing work and family duties.

• Stitch (played by Chris Sanders) — supporting

  Genetically engineered alien experiment 626, initially destructive but learns love and loyalty.

• Jumba (played by Zach Galifianakis) — supporting

  Mad scientist creator of Stitch, exiled to Earth to recapture his rogue creation.

• Pleakley (played by Billy Magnussen) — supporting

  Alien expert on Earth culture assigned to assist Jumba in capturing Stitch.

• Mertle (played by Emery Ho‘okano-Briel) — minor

  Popular local girl who often bullies Lilo and excludes her from play.

• Tūtū (played by Amy Hill) — supporting

  Lilo and Nani's grandmother, offering wisdom and family support.

• Cobra Bubbles (played by Courtney B. Vance) — supporting

  Intense social worker assigned to evaluate Nani's fitness as Lilo's guardian.

• Mrs. Kekoa (played by Tia Carrere) — supporting

  Community member or neighbor interacting with the Pelekai family.

• David (played by Kaipo Dudoit) — supporting

  Nani's supportive friend and surfer who helps her through tough times.

• Grand Councilwoman (played by Hannah Waddingham) — supporting

  Leader of the Galactic Federation who sentences Jumba and oversees Stitch's case.

• Mertle's Friend #1 (played by Elle Hipa) — cameo

  Schoolmate of Myrtle, part of her social circle.

• Mertle's Friend #2 (played by Arianna Jordan Ignacio Acidera) — cameo

  Another peer in Myrtle's group, often seen together.

• Mertle's Friend #3 (played by Aubrey Rose Madarang) — cameo

  Third member of the school clique, background presence.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Nani → Lilo (sibling)
• Tūtū → Nani (Family Grandmother) — Elder family member ready to assume guardianship duties.

  Kekoa tells Nani she can transfer Lilo's guardianship to David, Tūtū and Bubbles, letting her stay home.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Pleakley → Jumba (related)
• Cobra Bubbles → Lilo (related)
• Cobra Bubbles → Pleakley (related)
• Nani → Jumba (related)
• Stitch → Lilo (related)
• Pleakley → Nani (related)
• Pleakley → Lilo (related)
• Pleakley → Stitch (related)
• Cobra Bubbles → Stitch (related)
• Nani → Cobra Bubbles (related)
• David → Stitch (Social Friend) — Companion who saves Stitch's life using human ingenuity.

  David revives Stitch by jump-starting his lungs.

• Lilo → Mrs. Kekoa (Social Guardian Evaluator) — Official facilitating guardianship transfer to preserve family unity.

  Kekoa tells Nani she can transfer Lilo's guardianship to David, Tūtū and Bubbles, letting her stay home.

• Nani → Pleakley (Social Neighbor) — Co-habitant tasked with oversight and cultural exchange.

  Pleakley living with the Pelekais to watch over Stitch.

Story Analysis

A lonely girl and a destructive alien experiment learn that family means never giving up on each other.

Plot Progression

1. Exile and Adoption — Jumba's creation is exiled to Earth, where a lonely girl adopts him as a dog, unaware of his true nature.
2. Family Under Pressure — Nani struggles to keep custody while managing work and Stitch's chaos, facing social worker scrutiny and job losses.
3. Chase and Sacrifice — Alien hunters close in, leading to a destructive confrontation and a tragic ocean crash that tests Stitch's newfound loyalty.
4. Redemption and ʻOhana — Stitch's selfless act saves Lilo, earning him a place in the family and a second chance on Earth.