The heart of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch centers on family, a.k.a. Ohana, and what that truly means. For some, it’s blood and legacy. For many others, it’s their found family and community. 

In the live-adaptation of the 2002 animated movie, Stitch (Chris Sanders) is an alien experiment created by a mad scientist, Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis), with the purpose of destroying everything in his path. After escaping persecution, Stitch finds himself stranded in Hawaii and adopted as a “dog” by Lilo (Maia Kealoha). Stitch and Lilo find a connection and what it means to be a family. 

“Ohana means Family,” Stitch tells The Nerds of Color during the film’s press junket. “Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”

Billy Magnussen, who plays Pleakley, the Earth expert assigned with capturing Stitch with Jumba, says the movie’s message meant a lot to him. He took his younger siblings to watch the animated movie when it first came out, and he understood the message then as he does now. 

“Being family doesn’t have to be blood,” says Magnussen. “It’s showing up. I think it’s really important to show up. I’m not saying show up at their house uninvited. But, yeah, that’s important. 

Magnussen says that Pleakley’s mindset about family is that he just wants a hug. Pleakley has always wanted to go to Earth after studying it for many years. He wants to be part of a community. 

“I think he’s fascinated with the world – Earth, as he should be,” says Magnussen. “I share that sentiment with him. I live here. I’m still fascinated by every culture out there, and every other archetypical design of a human being. We are all part of this big, beautiful blueberry.”

Galifianakis, who comes from a tight-knit family, says the entire movie showcases the meaning of family in Hawaiian culture. He thinks the mainland states could take a cue from how Hawaii is with their family and the importance of that, and “not being precedent over ego and what men want.”

“This is a family movie,” he says. “But, also for punk rockers that have nothing else.”

Check out the interview below:

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch premieres on May 23 in theaters everywhere.