He argued that before Frozen was ever released, their film was the first to do it.
Chris Sanders’ 2002 film “Lilo & Stitch,” which he also co-wrote and co-directed, has something to say about Disney’s 2013 animated feature “Frozen,” which is reportedly getting a third installment in the franchise.
“To be clear, I think ‘Frozen’s’ great,” he said in an interview with The New York Times. “But it was a little bit frustrating for me because people were like, ‘Finally, a nonromantic relationship with these two girls,’ and I thought, ‘We did that! That has absolutely been done before.’”
Despite this, he said in the same interview that Lilo and Nani, the sisters in the movie, still struck a chord with reviewers. He attributed this to “those moments that were based in reality in a way that people could see themselves in, and it didn’t feel like they were cartoon characters.”
With over $1 billion in worldwide box office receipts, “Frozen” has established itself as one of Disney’s most commercially successful animated productions ever.
On the other hand, “Lilo & Stitch” also succeeded critically and commercially, debuting to just $500,000 behind the sci-fi thriller “Minority Report” starring Tom Cruise and going on to gross $273 million worldwide, according to the publication.
Reactions to Director Of "Lilo & Stitch" Gets Upset When People Praise "Frozen" For Sisterhood
Makes me so happy to see people recognise Lilo & Stitch as the absolute masterpiece it is
@ComicGirlAshley
Makes me so happy to see people recognise Lilo & Stitch as the absolute masterpiece it is https://t.co/F1qeWbCEmI
— Ashley Talks Comics! (@ComicGirlAshley) June 23, 2022
Frozen’s entire marketing strategy was pretending it broke new ground.
@kevinbolk
Frozen’s entire marketing strategy was pretending it broke new ground. https://t.co/PQfyof3LWQ
— Kevin Bolk (K-Bo.) (@kevinbolk) June 23, 2022
its bc lilo and nani are pacific islander/indigenous and elsa and anna r white there is literally no other reason. u seriously cannot tell me frozen was better than lilo and stitch
@nagatometal
its bc lilo and nani are pacific islander/indigenous and elsa and anna r white there is literally no other reason. u seriously cannot tell me frozen was better than lilo and stitch https://t.co/A6uI2FB1u7
— ode / naruto shippuden atm (@nagatometal) June 23, 2022
And Lilo & Stitch was SUPERIOR 😌💅
@KharloKong
And Lilo & Stitch was SUPERIOR 😌💅 https://t.co/0T4GkQWN4M
— Buss in Boots (@KharloKong) June 23, 2022
frozen a sisterhood movie abt 2 yt princess who’s major struggle was some ice…don’t make me laugh…
@klugfairy
frozen a sisterhood movie abt 2 yt princess who’s major struggle was some ice…don’t make me laugh… https://t.co/e9gtvk4yUt pic.twitter.com/VCpwPnTan0
— niahness 👑 (@klugfairy) June 23, 2022
19 YEAR OLD NANI WAS NOT OUT HERE GOING FROM JOB TO JOB TO MAKE A LIVING FOR HERSELF AND HER 6 YEAR OLD SISTER SO CPS WOULDNT TAKE HER, FOR PEOPLE TO BE OUT HERE TALKING ABOUT “Frozen is the first sisterhood movie!” Lilo & Stitch did it first. Goodbye.
@kdashlanie
19 YEAR OLD NANI WAS NOT OUT HERE GOING FROM JOB TO JOB TO MAKE A LIVING FOR HERSELF AND HER 6 YEAR OLD SISTER SO CPS WOULDNT TAKE HER, FOR PEOPLE TO BE OUT HERE TALKING ABOUT “Frozen is the first sisterhood movie!”
— K-Lanie Martinez (@kdashlanie) June 23, 2022
Lilo & Stitch did it first. Goodbye. https://t.co/jpHu9tMhV8
Disney adults would never admit that lilo and stitch clears frozen because they’re all subtlety racist
@stilltribematic
Disney adults would never admit that lilo and stitch clears frozen because they’re all subtlety racist https://t.co/NMFKhjbmzz
— 💫 terremoto el negro loco 💫 (@stilltribematic) June 23, 2022
They’re right & they should say it.
@keatingssixth
They’re right & they should say it. https://t.co/xNOJdrRK0Z
— Get Her, Jade! (@keatingssixth) June 23, 2022
Ah yes the ice queen who shut her sister out for years and the impulsive princes who can't take a hint which nearly got her killed is just as good an example as the big sis who had to be strong and a parent for her little sis who learned to appreciate her big sis more...right
@Bruno81384881
Ah yes the ice queen who shut her sister out for years and the impulsive princes who can't take a hint which nearly got her killed is just as good an example as the big sis who had to be strong and a parent for her little sis who learned to appreciate her big sis more…right https://t.co/FhI9AEzatv
— Bruno B. 🤎🧡💛🤍🖤 (@Bruno81384881) June 23, 2022
Frozen was always mid and I'm tired of people pretending like it's not. Lilo&Stitch and Nani were always the goats!
@5ky1ine
Frozen was always mid and I'm tired of people pretending like it's not. Lilo&Stitch and Nani were always the goats! https://t.co/qgAgLPUz3E
— Skyline @ XENOBLADE HYPE (@5ky1ine) June 23, 2022