MOVIELilo & Stitch - 'The Little Mermaid' Promotional Movie Trailer
SCENEStitch Surfing
FILM FORMAT35mm
YEAR2002
CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001636
FILM NOTES
Lilo & Stitch arrived from Walt Disney Feature Animation in 2002, a Hawaii-set story that broke from the studio's fairy tale mold with its sci-fi premise and family focus. Marketed heavily through crossover promotions, including this tie-in trailer referencing The Little Mermaid, the film became a sleeper hit and launched an enduring franchise built on Stitch's chaotic charm and the bond between Lilo and her sister Nani. Its promotional materials from this period are prized for capturing Disney's efforts to position the film within its broader animated legacy.
This cell, Stitch Surfing, comes from a promotional trailer pairing Stitch with Nani Pelekai, placing the alien experiment within the film's oceanic, island setting rather than a fairy tale frame. Trailer cells like this served to introduce audiences to tone and character chemistry ahead of release, often mixing familiar Disney touchstones with new material. Stitch remains one of the studio's most collected characters for his mischievous appeal, and Nani grounds him in the human family story. Collectors value early promotional frames for documenting how the film was first presented to the public.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Lilo & Stitch promotional trailer (2002).
Gauge
35mm; the strip holds three frames, each with four perforations visible on both the top and bottom edges.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched holes appear cleanly cut with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical soundtrack is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual variable-area (stereo) track with a Dolby noise-reduction signature; a narrow band of what appears to be a DTS timecode line is also visible adjacent to the optical track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers.
Base & colour
The base appears with a slight blue-cyan tint consistent with a dyed safety base stock; the dye image reads as fully saturated with no visible fading or colour shift.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or significant scratches are visible; the image surface appears consistent with a lightly projected print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the animated characters and setting are consistent with the film on record.
Era check
The dual variable-area optical track with apparent DTS timecode strip and blue-tinted polyester safety base are consistent with a 2002 theatrical release print production era.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063480
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
