Haim Mazar and Grace Fisher to Score Disney's 'Lilo & Scratch'

Composers Haim Mazar and Grace Fisher will score Disney's upcoming animated short "Lilo & Scratch," which will play ahead of Walt Disney Animation Studios' feature "Hexed." The pairing puts a 70-piece symphony orchestra, conducted by Mazar, alongside a nine-piece Hawaiian ensemble.

The short follows Stitch, who may have met his match in Scratch, a mischievous and mysterious cat whom Lilo introduces as the newest member of their 'ohana. Lilo runs off to do errands. Stitch is left in charge of the chaotic creature, which leaves a wake of destruction in its path.

What does the score actually combine?

According to the announcement, the music fuses two ensembles: the nine-piece Hawaiian group and the full symphony orchestra. Fisher and Mazar wrote a new original theme for the characters designed to be tailored to both groups, so the two musical worlds can meet in what Mazar calls "a cohesive and distinctive sound."

That claim of cohesion is easy to make and harder to prove on screen; the short itself will be the test. What is documented is the division of labor — Fisher brings what Mazar describes as a distinctive musical voice, while Mazar contributes experience across film, television, animation and Disney productions. He recently composed and conducted the studio's animated short "Versa."

Mazar said of his collaborator: "Grace is an incredibly talented composer with a unique musical voice and a wonderful instinct for storytelling. Our creative partnership developed naturally through a shared enthusiasm for the project."

Who is Grace Fisher?

Fisher's route to a Disney scoring credit is unusual, and the announcement is specific about why. A lifelong musician who studied piano, cello and guitar, she was preparing for a future in music when, at 17, she developed Acute Flaccid Myelitis, a rare illness that left her paralyzed from the neck down.

She learned to play instruments using her mouth and learned to compose through adaptive technology, rebuilding how she creates and pursuing a professional career as a composer. She also advocates for accessibility and inclusion in the arts, working to create opportunities for people of all abilities to participate in creative expression.

"Disney movies and parks were a big part of the magic and wonder of my childhood. To be a part of that legacy is incredible," Fisher said. She added: "When I lost the ability to play my instruments, I needed to find another way to create. Adaptive technology has allowed me to compose and forge an even deeper relationship to music. Haim has been a tremendous influence and mentor for me. He's so talented and knowledgeable and really raised the bar for me to push myself."

For Fisher, the project marks a milestone in that rebuilt musical journey. Whether the score's promise — two ensembles, one theme — holds together will be audible only when the short screens.

Who made the short?

"Lilo & Scratch" was written and directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn, director of "Hexed" and "Wish," and Malcon Pierce, director of "Versa." Nathan Curtis, of "Zootopia+," produced. Jared Bush, chief creative officer for Disney Animation, served as executive producer.

The credit signals where Disney Animation is placing its bets: shorts as testing grounds for new director pairings and new composing voices, positioned directly in front of a major feature release.