One of many many nice issues about changing into a mother or father is that you simply get to basically relive your individual childhood via the eyes of your child. You bust out outdated board video games you haven’t performed in years and choose up a crayon to paint or draw an image for the primary time in ages. You additionally get to rewatch all your favorite Disney movies — a few of which you haven’t seen because the days once they had been part of your large VHS assortment. (Sure, I’m that outdated.) So when my 4-year-old son requested to look at Lilo & Stitch, I used to be delighted. Not solely hadn’t I seen the movie in 1,000,000 years, however I keep in mind actually loving it and was desperate to see my son’s response to Sew’s many antics. It was all through this newest viewing that I spotted one thing: Lilo’s sister, Nani, is without doubt one of the greatest Disney characters of all time that nobody ever actually talks about.
All through the movie, Nani is regularly thrown into extremely annoying and inconceivable conditions that nobody ought to should take care of at her age. With each of their dad and mom gone, Nani was pressured to turn into the top of the family, taking up all monetary and parental tasks for her younger sister, Lilo. That could be a large burden to bear, and but it seems like she will get virtually zero credit score for her efforts. The place’s her line of Disney merchandise? The place’s the Nani-themed trip within the Magic Kingdom?
She’s underappreciated and neglected, however that ends right here and now. With the discharge of the live-action adaptation of Lilo & Sew, I say it’s excessive time to present this character the love she deserves.
She All the time Places Lilo First
As a younger girl, Nani’s most important priorities ought to’ve been relationship, hanging out with mates, and updating her MySpace web page. (This was what we had earlier than TikTok, my mates, and it was wonderful!) However being Lilo’s most important guardian meant placing her personal needs on maintain indefinitely and making her sister her high precedence. From selecting Lilo up in school after she bit a classmate out of anger to agreeing to get Lilo a canine in order that she may have a companion, Nani continually put her personal wants on the backburner if it meant serving to Lilo and their little household. Certain, she misplaced her mood infrequently, as sisters are recognized to do. However she was a continuing, loving presence in Lilo’s life — one thing she desperately wanted on the time.
She Fights For Her Household
Lilo and Sew didn’t all the time make it simple for Nani to carry down a job, given the numerous numerous antics they had been recognized to get into, deliberately or in any other case. However she was prepared to work wherever or do something to please the social employee in order that she and Lilo may keep collectively. Nani by no means offers up and by no means stops making an attempt to maintain their household collectively. Her motives are admirable and utterly selfless. She’s only a woman making an attempt to do the precise factor and be there for the folks she loves.
She’s the Embodiment of Ohana
Time and again, Lilo and Nani speak concerning the significance of “ohana,” which suggests household. And household means nobody will get left behind or forgotten. It is a heartwarming mantra for his or her household and one thing that completely encompasses who Nani is as an individual. There was one scene the place Nani bought fired from the luau after Sew made an enormous scene, and Lilo requested Nani if it was her fault that she had misplaced her job. Nani instantly reassured Lilo that wasn’t the case, explaining that her boss was truly a vampire and had wished her to hitch his legion of the undead. It is portrayed as a joke, however actually it is simply considered one of 1,000,000 examples of how beneficiant and sort Nani is as a result of she did not need Lilo in charge herself for what occurred. So, so far as I am involved, ohana and Nani are interchangeable.
Disney princesses and superheroes might get all of the reward and a spotlight, however Nani is proof that you do not want a crown or possess magical talents to be superb and function an incredible function mannequin for younger youngsters. Her superpower is love — a deep, unending love for her sister. And if that is not worthy of some lengthy overdue recognition, then I do not know what’s.
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