[MouseMan]

Lilo & Stitch want to
take over your wallet
By Tim Ryan-Starbulletin

Films featuring superaction figures or animated characters apparently cannot survive by box office alone. The films are strongly marketed with merchandise through stores and fast-food outlets.

Walt Disney Pictures' upcoming "Lilo & Stitch" is no different.

Merchandise is available at Disney stores for the animated feature set in Hawaii, and an agreement is in place with McDonald's restaurants to distribute plastic characters with Happy Meals starting in about a week.

"Lilo & Stitch" characters are also popping up as plush dolls with a top price of $45 for the "Lilo & Stitch" 2-in-1 Switchin' Stitch. Squeeze one of its six legs and it will speak in either alien gibberish or English.

Then there's an "Aloha Stitch," a hula dancing Lilo, an inflatable toy surfboard, microwave popcorn and several books. Nine children's titles from Random House include "Trouble in Paradise," "The Junior Novelization" and "Be Good Stitch," priced from $3 to $9.

For adults, there are aloha shirts by Reyn Spooner, priced at $77.50.

If you haven't tired of the animated characters by then, coming in fall will be a Lilo & Stitch "Island Favorites" album, interactive games, a film score CD, and a "Lilo & Stitch CD Read-Along" with a 24-page multimedia storyteller that can be used on stereos and computers. The "Read-Along" features the voices of Jason Scott Lee, Tia Carrere and David Ogden Stiers.

The "Lilo & Stitch" characters are already performing at Disneyland and Disney World, where the company's Polynesian-themed restaurants are decorated with surfboards carrying the "Lilo & Stitch" logo.


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[iluvstitch]

Hilo Hattie specialty retailers in Hawaii have Lilo & Stitch merchendise. I thought this a little odd as they usually carry more unique items.

[Jesserin]

Lilo and Stitch is one of my personal all time favorites! I love that they're making a come back!

[SnoWhite]

I love Hilo Hattie we have one near me, it's a fun store

[iluvstitch]

Really? I thought they were just in Hawaii. I guess I don't know much!

[SnoWhite]

There are 6 stores in Hawaii and 5 in the continental US (2 in Florida!!)

[iluvstitch]

good to know.

[MickeysGirl]

iluvstitch Hilo Hattie's is at The Block at Orange, about 3 miles from DLR.

[iluvstitch]

Cool. I'll have to check that out

[WDWChrissy]

There use to be a Hilo Hattie Store in Miami, but it wasn't nearly as good as the originals in Hawaii.
When I was younger and still lived in Cali, my family would spend our summers in Maui or Hawaii (the big island). Hilo Hatties was a special treat! We ended up there at least 3 times a week looking at all the neat Mu'umu'us and Aloha Shirts and collecting shell leis.
It makes me miss Hawaii SO much!!!!