Lilo & Stitch Turns 15: Can You Find 22 Easter Eggs and Hidden Mickeys?

Walt Disney Feature Animation's instant classic was released on June 21, 2002

By Zach Johnson Jun 21, 2017 12:00 PMTags

Can you believe Lilo & Stitch is 15 years old?

Walt Disney Feature Animation's instant classic surfed into theaters on June 21, 2002 and went on to earn $273.1 million at the global box office. Directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, the family film featured the voice talents of Zoe Caldwell, Tia Carrere, Daveigh Chase, Jason Scott Lee, Kevin McDonald, David Ogden Stiers, Ving Rhames and Kevin Michael Richardson.

Lilo & Stitch was the second of three animated features produced primarily at Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World near Orlando, after 1998's Mulan and before 2003's Brother Bear.

The movie was so successful that a direct-to-video sequel, Stitch! The Movie, was released on Aug. 26, 2003. It was followed by a TV show, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, which ran from Sept. 20, 2003 to July 29, 2006. A second direct-to-video sequel, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, came out on Aug. 30, 2005, and a third sequel, the TV film Leroy & Stitch, came out on June 23, 2006.

Part of the fun of watching one of Disney's animated movies is spotting various Easter eggs and Hidden Mickeys. In honor of Lilo & Stitch's 15th anniversary, E! News reveals 22 of them below:

Dr. Jumba Jookiba stands on an elevated platform featuring a yellow Hidden Mickey.

Stitch's spit is in the shape of a "D" for Disney.

The alien "hieroglyphics" above Stitch include a Hidden Mickey.

As Lilo and Nani watch a falling star, a Dumbo toy rests in the art easel.

The directors and producers write a special message on Stitch's adoption papers.

Lilo, Nani and Stitch by a restaurant called Mulan Wok, named after the animated film.

The Orlando postcard features Cinderella's Castle from Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

There is a Hidden Mickey Polaroid taped to Lilo's bedroom wall.

As Stitch destroys a model of San Francisco in Lilo's bedroom, he walks by a Hawaiian A113 license plate—a sly reference to the animators' classroom at the California Institute of the Arts.

Nani has a Mulan poster on her bedroom wall.

Find the Hidden Mickeys among the many melons (and in the grapefruit sign).

A Hidden Mickey appears on the truck's side mirror.

Director Dean DeBlois makes a cameo, running away as Stitch tears up the beach.

Director Chris Sanders runs past Cobra Bubbles on the beach.

Pleakley removes an octopus from his head, and the suction marks form a Hidden Mickey.

As Lilo and Stitch repair Scrump, a Hidden Mickey appears on the boot's heel.

Dr. Jumba Jookiba sits near a poster of Duke Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian who popularized surfing.

The firetruck's license plate is A113—yet another reference to classroom A1-13 at CalArts.

The dashboard on Gantu's ship reveals a Hidden Mickey.

Another A113 license plate appears, this time on a gas tanker.

Hidden Mickeys are nestled in the holly berries and included in the wrapping paper's design.

The Pelekai family's photos reveal their VW Beetle has an A113 license plate.

There are more Easter eggs and Hidden Mickeys, of course—you just have to keep an eye out.

Feeling nostalgic? Lilo & Stitch and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch are streaming on Netflix, and fans can buy or rent the movie on Amazon, Disney Movies Anywhere, iTunes and YouTube.