Every year on June 26, also known as “626 Day,” fans across the globe celebrate Stitch from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Lilo & Stitch, the cute yet bonkers galactic character that was given the experiment number 626.
In honor of the mischievous little blue alien that’s become a global phenomenon, Alex Kupershmidt, lead animator on Stich, offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the team brought the character to life.
Creating Experiment 626
Though he was made by the mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba in the original film, Stitch was created using traditional, hand-drawn animation techniques in real life. According to Kupershmidt, the team designed the character to look “almost like a stuffed toy” who moves more like a lizard.
Kupershmidt’s background in hand-drawn animation and the fundamentals he learned from Disney Animation classics — like Pinocchio and Fantasia — still guide his animation process, and he’s since supported the efforts to bring Stitch into the real-world in the live-action reimagining.
In addition to hand-drawn animation, watercolor backgrounds were featured exclusively throughout the original film, revisiting a format that Disney had not used since the 1940s. The studio later returned to this watercolor technique in 2023’s ‘Wish.’
Celebrating “626 Day”
Since crash-landing on screens in 2002, Stitch’s popularity has only grown. Fans can now celebrate International Stitch Day with the original film, its animated sequel, TV series, or the 2025 live action adaptation that shattered box office records.
For an in-person encounter, guests can visit Walt Disney World Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa. Or bring Stitch home with a wide range of ‘Lilo & Stitch’ products – from toys and apparel to pet accessories.
Learn more about the extraordinary character who spans The Walt Disney Company from David Greenbaum, President of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, and Clark Spencer, President, Walt Disney Animation Studios – who also produced the original animated film – in our video here.