Lilo and Stitch has garnered an increasingly large amount of fans since the original movie premiered in 2002. Not only is there a live-action adaptation coming to Disney Plus, but there have been numerous sequels and spin-offs of the film. In the very first sequel, Stitch! The Movie, we are shown all of Jumba's other experiments besides Stitch, including Reuben.
Reuben, also known as 625, has become one of the franchise's most beloved characters. He may not be as brave or adventurous as Stitch, but he's still lovable for all of his own reasons. Though he's been with us for a long time, here are 10 things you may be surprised to learn about him.
Reuben's First Appearance
Though we first heard Reuben's voice in Stitch! The Movie, that wasn't his first appearance. Instead, it was in a magazine series called Disney Adventures. The series was released monthly and was often used to promote upcoming films. Right before the first Lilo & Stitch film was released, a comic came out that showed Reuben helping Jumba create Stitch.
The most notable difference between the first Reuben and the one we know now is his blue fur. While it's understandable he'd look like Stitch, given he was made right before him, it'd make it confusing to tell the two apart. His fur color may have changed, but we can see that his love of sandwiches stayed the same.
He Has Two English Voices
Rob Paulsen is probably the better-known voice of Reuben. He has voiced him in almost every film and television series Reuben has appeared in. The only time he hasn't is in the anime series Stitch! Being one of two foreign spin-offs of the franchise, Stitch! gave Reuben two additional voices.
In the Japanese version of the series, Reuben was voiced by Kōji Ochiai, who dubbed the voices of characters like Mordecai from Regular Show and the titular character of BoJack Horseman. The English voice actor for Reuben, Dave Wittenberg, has appeared in shows such as Gravity Falls, The Super Hero Squad Show, and Naruto.
He Has His Own Game
Back when the Lilo & Stitch television series was airing on Disney Channel, Disney produced many flash games for their website. Even though most of them have Stitch at the forefront, there is one that primarily focuses on Reuben. Making him the only experiment aside from Stitch to have a game, Reuben's game is called 625 Sandwich Stacker.
In the game, Reuben has to catch ingredients falling from the sky to make the perfect sandwich. But if he catches too many rotten ingredients, the whole sandwich falls apart. 625 Sandwich Stacker shows that Reuben's affinity for sandwiches transcends even into video games.
He's An Anti-Hero
Throughout the series, Reuben is almost always seen by Gantu's side. Going against Lilo and Stitch, Reuben and Gantu's main mission is to capture other experiments before they do. Rather, this is Gantu's mission. Reuben, on the other hand, has his mind on other interests.
Reuben would rather make sandwiches all day than catch experiments. To do this, he's occasionally helped Lilo and Stitch capture them, so he could go about his day. Sure, that may make him a lousy villain, but it also makes him a pretty good anti-hero.
His Colors Change
When Reuben is first introduced in Stitch! The Movie, Jumba tells Gantu and Hämsterviel that he has all the same abilities as Stitch. This may include additional limbs and super strength, but does it include the ability to change colors?
His original blue fur notwithstanding, Reuben's colors changed in 625 Sandwich Stacker. In the game, he has a blue tongue. In other media, his tongue is more of a muted purple color. Also, the inside of his mouth has more vibrant variants of green. It makes one wonder, what other powers could Reuben be hiding?
He's Unnamed Throughout The Series
We may be used to calling Reuben by his name now, but his name didn't come until well after his first appearance. In Stitch! The Movie and Lilo and Stitch: The Series, he's referred to only by his experiment number, 625. It wasn't until another sequel of Lilo and Stitch, called Leroy and Stitch, that he was given his name.
Reuben is given his name by Lilo when she needs his help to save Stitch. This also is the tipping point for him, as he decides to become a part of Lilo's ohana. While he may still love sandwiches, this point shows that there may be other things in the world that he cares about.
He's Named After A Sandwich
Almost every aspect of Reuben's identity is based on sandwiches, including his name. In Leroy and Stitch, Lilo decides to give Reuben his name. In Reuben's words, the name is based on "the classic corned beef and sauerkraut on rye".
Other names Lilo tried to give to Reuben are Patty, which is short for Patty Melt, Monte, short for Monte Cristo, and Pita. Perhaps Reuben made the right choice in sticking with the final option.
His Place Is With Gantu
Though Reuben decides to join Lilo's ohana, Reuben realizes that his place is ultimately with Gantu. At the end of Leroy and Stitch, Reuben joins the Galactic Armada, alongside Gantu. These were positions that promoted peace and goodness in the galaxy until they were fired in the Stitch! anime.
Here, they decided to return to a life of villainy together. At the end of the anime's run, they were both arrested by the Galactic Armada. It shows that whether he's good, bad, or simply looking out for himself, Reuben always has a friend in Gantu.
His Jersey Number Is 8
If Reuben were to ever get into professional basketball, we have an idea of what his jersey would look like. In a parody of High School Musical, Reuben, Stitch, and other characters from the franchise are playing basketball. When the ball accidentally gets stuck in the ceiling, Stitch tries jumping to get it to fall down.
When that doesn't work, everyone starts dancing to “We’re All in This Together”, which gets the basketball to come down. Normally Reuben is lazy, but it seems basketball is a way to bring even the most indolent experiments together.
He Appears At Disneyland
The final piece of trivia about Reuben is that he has appeared in several attractions at the Disney theme parks. One appearance was at the Magic Kingdom, where he was only shown momentarily in "Stitch's Great Escape!" He also appears as a meet-and-greet character at the Disneyland's in Tokyo and Paris, alongside Stitch, Lilo, Gantu, and more.
Lastly, he's seen in parade floats, including "Lilo and Stitch's Big Panic". No matter how you shape it, Reuben has become an impactful member of the franchise and we can't wait to see where he turns up in the future.