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
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.
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
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 😌💅
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…
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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