Things have changed in the world of Disney over the years as far as the treatment of orphans is concerned.

Snow White was lured into the dark forest by a swarthy assassin and left to fend for herself among the woodland folk.

Nowadays the thing a Disney foundling dreads most is a visit from social services (you never saw Dumbo get one when his mum was sectioned).

Orphan Lilo (voiced by 11-year-old Daveigh Chase) lives a life of constant bickering with her sister and legal guardian Nani (Tia Carrere).

Shunned at school by her classmates and in constant fear of being taken into care, she prays for "someone who won't run away".

When she is taken to the local dog pound, she thinks she has found her perfect companion in the form of Stitch.

He doesn't so much look like a lovable mutt as a vicious cross between Mickey Mouse, Pokemon and a piranha.

Which is no surprise, because the new family pet is a mischief-making escapee from the planet Turo.

Stitch's spec reads: "He's bulletproof, fireproof and can think faster than a super-computer.

"He can see in the dark and his only instinct is to destroy everything he touches." Lassie, he ain't.

This sees the studio mine its legacy of handmade films - all the characters are drawn frame-by-frame, and watercolour backgrounds have been used for the first time in 60 years.

"We wanted the dimension to come out of the story and the warmth and charm of the characters," says director Chris Sanders.

To a large extent he's succeeded - Stitch's prickly character evolves with the story and Lilo - as you might say - doesn't let you down.

Of course, there's a the cloying American homespun philosophy - "family means no-one gets left behind" - but young audiences will go home feeling pleasantly stitched up.

Tim Evans