VITAL STATISTICS
Little-Known Facts
Height: Approximately 5 feet
Weight: Between 300 and 400 pounds (on Earth)
Age: Probably in his middle to late 30s
Origin: From the planet Keltekwan
Species: Vlenn
Physical Features: Purple skin with tan undertones, a large purplish koala-like nose in the middle of his face, four eyes (two primary, two secondary), large blunt-edged fangs, heavy build – a round stomach and thick limbs, digits on his hands but not on his feet.
Traits: Jumba is a genius through and through. He loves to invent things and although he’s a little crazy he manages to get things done in a timely fashion (according to his will). Although he may sometimes appear rough around the edges (he is an EVIL genius afterall), Jumba has a huge heart and would do anything for the people he cares most about. His distinctly Russian accent lends charmingly to his apparent speech impediment (he still jumbles up his English grammar) but it does not slow down his rapidly-firing brain impulses which work overtime because Jumba is always planning something, be it for good or evil.
- Prior to creating Experiment 177 (aka “Clip”) Jumba had long, flowing locks of beautiful black hair. Since then he has been bald with the exception of three long hairs which grow from the top of his head.
- Jumba likes to dance and he’s not afraid to bust a move every now and then.
Jumba’s Voice Actor
David Ogden Stiers
Mr. Stiers provides the voice of Jumba in Lilo and Stitch, Stitch! The Movie, and Lilo and Stitch The Series. He was born in Peoria, Illinois (about 4 hours south of where I live. ^_^) on October 31st, 1942. (Wow! Halloween!) His acting career spans across the country – from California to New York – and as a lover of classical music has conducted many orchestras. One interesting fact about Mr. Stiers is that he did not learn to drive until the early 1980’s, when a TV-movie role called for him to be seen driving.
Mr. Stiers’ other voicework (for Disney) includes Cogsworth and the Narrator from Beauty and the Beast, Governor Ratcliffe and Wiggins from Pocahontas, The Archdeacon from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Fenton Q. Harcourt from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. He was also the voice of Kamaji in Studio Ghibli’s English production of Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (Spirited Away) and voiced Mr. Jolly in Disney’s Teacher’s Pet series and movie.
How Jumba Relates to Other Lilo and Stitch Characters
Now that Jumba is a member of Lilo and Stitch’s ohana on Earth he has begun to develop relationships with other members of the household, along with alien antagonists who want to steal away his illegal genetic experiments.
Jumba and Lilo: One wouldn’t think of Jumba as much of a father figure because really he isn’t. But he is fond of Lilo and is more than willing to help her when she’s in distress. Jumba really is more of an uncle figure.
Jumba and Stitch: Jumba takes great pride in his accomplishments with Stitch, known to him as Experiment 626. Because he created Stitch, Jumba knows exactly what makes him tick and can make the best use of his skills and attributes. The only thing Jumba doesn’t know is the depth of Stitch’s heart, which has been unlocked by Lilo and creates a bond only those two share.
Jumba and Pleakly: I know I’m probably going to get a lot of feedback on this because of the very “ambiguous” relationship Jumba and Pleakly appear to have. While they’re living on Earth Jumba and Pleakly assume the guise of Lilo and Nani’s “Uncle Jumba” and “Aunt Pleakly”. Yes, Pleakly loves to cross-dress. Yes, he looks ravishing in a black wig, and Jumba would tell you that too. And yes, they do share a room and sleep in bunk beds. I’m not certain that it’s evidence enough to prove they’re gay, however. I believe they’re good friends and Jumba is very tolerant of Pleakly’s need to wear a mu-mu. I’m leaving those speculations open though because I don’t want to discourage fans from thinking what they want to think.
Jumba and Nani: Nani is a really good sport about housing aliens in her home, particularly aliens who are evil or genetically mutated to be evil. Sometimes she just doesn’t get what’s going on. Fortunately Nani realizes that when there’s an experiment tearing up all of Hawaii that Jumba more than likely knows what’s going on. Nani’s grateful for Jumba, but at the same time she probably feels that if it weren’t for his scientific meddling they wouldn’t be in that mess in the first place.
Jumba and Gantu: Jumba is probably just as irritated with Gantu tearing open the roof of the Pelekai home looking for activated experiments as any person would, but he usually seems more amused by it than the rest. Gantu and Jumba have inadvertently always been enemies (Jumba as the criminal genius and Gantu as the servant of the Galactic Alliance bringing piece according to his orders, then Jumba as a friend of Lilo and Stitch’s attempting to protect experiments and Gantu as the servant of Dr. Hamsterviel trying tirelessly to retrieve them), but other than calling him a “Big Dummy” to go with the theme of his new ohana, Jumba generally regards Gantu as nothing more than a nuisance, albeit a rather amusing one.
Jumba and Dr. Hamsterviel: Hamsterviel financed all 626 of Jumba’s experiments prior to his being stranded on Earth. Now Hamsterviel wants them back. Seeing as the two are at odds with each other, they can be nothing more than enemies.
Jumba and Experiment 625: Jumba seems to have developed nothing more than an analytical relationship with his genetic experiments, and 625 is no excuse. The only edge 625 may have on the others is that he’s lovably lazy and makes a really good sandwich.
Jumba and David: Although Jumba isn’t as close to David as he may be to Pleakly, the two do enjoy going surfing together once in awhile.
