TV-Series
Description
Genetically engineered by Dr. Jumba Jookiba to match Experiment 626 (Stitch) in capabilities, Reuben (designated Experiment 625) is fundamentally flawed by inherent laziness and cowardice. He possesses Stitch's physical strengths—superhuman agility, retractable claws, wall-climbing, and heightened senses—yet consistently avoids exertion. Reuben instead channels his focus into sandwich preparation, a skill renowned for its delicious results, even impressing adversaries like Captain Gantu. His appearance features golden-yellow fur, a stout koala-like build, droopy ears, three antennae, a red nose, prominent buck teeth, and three-toed feet, providing visual distinction from Stitch despite their genetic kinship.
Activated by Captain Gantu and Dr. Hämsterviel in "Stitch! The Movie" to torture Jumba, Reuben's laziness renders him ineffective, leading to his role as Gantu's reluctant henchman. Stranded on Earth following a ship crash, he accompanies Gantu throughout "Lilo & Stitch: The Series," providing tactical knowledge about other experiments while dryly mocking Gantu's failures. Though largely passive, Reuben occasionally demonstrates his latent abilities, such as kicking Gantu across a beach or swimming competently. His loyalty remains ambiguous; he intermittently aids Lilo and Stitch, often motivated by self-interest like avoiding disturbances, yet secretly views Gantu as a companion and Stitch as a brother.
In "Leroy & Stitch," Gantu abandons Reuben on Earth to free Hämsterviel. Feeling resentful and lonely, Reuben converts Gantu's abandoned ship into a sandwich shop. Lilo later names him "Reuben" after offering a peanut butter sandwich, forging a bond. When Stitch faces overwhelming danger from Hämsterviel's army of Leroy clones, Reuben overcomes his inertia with Lilo's encouragement. He repairs the ship using latent engineering skills and pilots it to Turo to warn the Galactic Alliance. Reuben persuades Gantu to defect, participates in the battle against the Leroy army by weaponizing sandwiches, and helps deactivate the clones via musical intervention. Post-victory, he becomes Gantu's official galley officer, cementing his redemption and place within the Galactic Armada.
In the non-canon "Stitch!" anime, specifically "Zutto Saikō no Tomodachi" (Season 3), Reuben and Gantu, dishonorably discharged from the Galactic Armada, rejoin Hämsterviel for employment. Reuben appears consistently across seasons as Hämsterviel's henchman. During Season 3, Hämsterviel modifies Reuben to unlock his full combat potential, eliminating his laziness and instilling a "bad boy" persona. This altered Reuben defeats Stitch and temporarily attracts Angel, straining her relationship with Stitch. His transformation reverses upon witnessing incorrect sandwich preparation, restoring his original personality. The season concludes with Reuben imprisoned alongside Gantu, Hämsterviel, and the villain Delia after their defeat.
Reuben's character arc spans initial cowardice and apathy to moments of courage and loyalty, particularly toward Gantu and, situationally, Stitch. His intelligence, culinary obsession, and dry wit remain constants, alongside a secret sensitivity revealed through experiences of abandonment and bonding.
Activated by Captain Gantu and Dr. Hämsterviel in "Stitch! The Movie" to torture Jumba, Reuben's laziness renders him ineffective, leading to his role as Gantu's reluctant henchman. Stranded on Earth following a ship crash, he accompanies Gantu throughout "Lilo & Stitch: The Series," providing tactical knowledge about other experiments while dryly mocking Gantu's failures. Though largely passive, Reuben occasionally demonstrates his latent abilities, such as kicking Gantu across a beach or swimming competently. His loyalty remains ambiguous; he intermittently aids Lilo and Stitch, often motivated by self-interest like avoiding disturbances, yet secretly views Gantu as a companion and Stitch as a brother.
In "Leroy & Stitch," Gantu abandons Reuben on Earth to free Hämsterviel. Feeling resentful and lonely, Reuben converts Gantu's abandoned ship into a sandwich shop. Lilo later names him "Reuben" after offering a peanut butter sandwich, forging a bond. When Stitch faces overwhelming danger from Hämsterviel's army of Leroy clones, Reuben overcomes his inertia with Lilo's encouragement. He repairs the ship using latent engineering skills and pilots it to Turo to warn the Galactic Alliance. Reuben persuades Gantu to defect, participates in the battle against the Leroy army by weaponizing sandwiches, and helps deactivate the clones via musical intervention. Post-victory, he becomes Gantu's official galley officer, cementing his redemption and place within the Galactic Armada.
In the non-canon "Stitch!" anime, specifically "Zutto Saikō no Tomodachi" (Season 3), Reuben and Gantu, dishonorably discharged from the Galactic Armada, rejoin Hämsterviel for employment. Reuben appears consistently across seasons as Hämsterviel's henchman. During Season 3, Hämsterviel modifies Reuben to unlock his full combat potential, eliminating his laziness and instilling a "bad boy" persona. This altered Reuben defeats Stitch and temporarily attracts Angel, straining her relationship with Stitch. His transformation reverses upon witnessing incorrect sandwich preparation, restoring his original personality. The season concludes with Reuben imprisoned alongside Gantu, Hämsterviel, and the villain Delia after their defeat.
Reuben's character arc spans initial cowardice and apathy to moments of courage and loyalty, particularly toward Gantu and, situationally, Stitch. His intelligence, culinary obsession, and dry wit remain constants, alongside a secret sensitivity revealed through experiences of abandonment and bonding.