Spy Kids

''Spy Kids'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of spy action comedy films created by Robert Rodriguez. The plot follows children siblings, who discover that their respective parents are spies and become involved in an espionage organization when their parents go missing.

Background

Influences

''Spy Kids'' was influenced by elements of the James Bond movies, through the genre of family films. Rodriguez has stated that the first movie was "a fusion of Willy Wonka and James Bond", while the second was the "'' Mysterious Island'' and James Bond mix".

The spy organization in the films is called the OSS. These initials are from the Office of Strategic Services, a former U.S. intelligence organization during World War II which later evolved into the CIA. The character Donnagon Giggles was named after William Joseph Donovan, the director of the original OSS.CIA: ''Look Back … Gen. William J. Donovan Heads Office of Strategic Services''
/ref> The initials in the ''Spy Kids'' universe are never specified on screen, but, in one of the books, they stand for the Organization of Super Spies.

Themes

One of the main themes of ''Spy Kids'' is the unity of family. The children have adult responsibilities, and a lesson is that keeping secrets from family members can have a negative effect on relationships. The first film also deals extensively with sibling rivalry and the responsibility of older children. There is also a strong sense of Latino heritage.

Technical innovations

The other films were shot with High Definition digital video, parts of the third film using an anaglyphic process to create the 3-D effect. Audiences were given red/blue 3D glasses with their tickets in movie theatres. Four sets of these glasses were also included in the DVD release. The third film was used as a test for a special Texas Instruments digital projector which can project polarized 3D, which does not require the red-blue lenses, later reused for '' The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D'' (2005).

Films

''Spy Kids'' (2001)

After retiring from espionage for ten years, Gregorio and Ingrid ( Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) are pulled back into duty for their important assignment despite the fact they were out of practice, and were captured. Their two children, Carmen and Juni ( Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara), stay with their uncle Felix Gumm ( Cheech Marin) and discover the truth of their parents' past, which they had neglected to tell them because they were afraid that if they knew, they would picture danger at every corner; and decide to rescue them. On their first mission, Carmen and Juni manage to bring around their estranged uncle, Isador "Machete" Cortez (Danny Trejo), a genius gadget inventor and Juni helps to redeem a TV show host named Fegan Floop ( Alan Cumming). Together, Carmen and Juni thwart the plan of Floop's notorious second in-command Alexander Minion (Tony Shalhoub) to develop an army of androids resembling young children (including Carmen and Juni themselves) for a mastermind named Mr. Lisp ( Robert Patrick) and his partner Ms. Gradenko (Teri Hatcher). The robots based on Carmen and Juni became part of Floop's show. The film was shot on location in Austin, Texas.

''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'' (2002)

As agents of the OSS, Carmen and Juni try to save the daughter ( Taylor Momsen) of the President of the United States ( Christopher McDonald) while facing a particularly hard competition with Gary and Gerti Giggles ( Matt O'Leary and Emily Osment), the two children of a double-dealing agent Donnagon Giggles (Mike Judge), whom Carmen and Juni helped to rescue them from the first film. Juni gets fired from the OSS after fighting with Gary over a smaller version of the transmooker, a device that can shut off all electronic devices even though it was Gary who started the fight. Juni loses his spot for the best spy kid of the year award, while Donnagon plans to steal the transmooker to take over the world. On their second mission, Carmen and Juni follow the trail to the mysterious island of Leeke Leeke which is home to Romero ( Steve Buscemi), an eccentric scientist who attempted to create genetically miniaturised animals, but instead ended up with his island inhabited by mutant monsters. Eventually, Donnagon is fired and Gary is suspended, and the transmooker is destroyed. Juni is offered his job back, but in order to take a break from the OSS, he retires to start his own private eye agency.

''Spy Kids 3D: Game Over'' (2003)

After retiring from the OSS, Juni is thrust back into service when an evil mastermind named Sebastian "The Toymaker" (Sylvester Stallone) creates a fictional video game called ''Game Over'', which hypnotizes its users. Carmen was sent on a mission to disable the game, but disappeared on Level 4. With the help of his maternal grandfather, Valentin Avellan ( Ricardo Montalban), who uses a wheelchair, Juni is sent after Carmen and helps her to disable the game in order to save the world. It is revealed that Sebastian was the one who disabled Valentin in the first place. Instead of avenging his former partner, Valentin forgives Sebastian who is redeemed.

''Spy Kids: All the Time in the World'' (2011)

The OSS has become the world's top spy agency, while the Spy Kids department has become defunct. Marissa (Jessica Alba), a retired spy, is thrown back into the action along with her two stepchildren, Rebecca and Cecil (Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook), when a maniacal Timekeeper ( Jeremy Piven) attempts to take over the world. In order to save the world, Rebecca and Cecil must team up with Marissa.

''Spy Kids: Armageddon'' (2023)

The fifth installment titled '' Spy Kids: Armageddon'', served as a relaunch of the franchise, involves a plot that centers on a multicultural family. Robert Rodriguez is again writer/director, while the project is a joint-venture production between Skydance Media and Spyglass Media Group. The film is scheduled for distribution on Netflix, making it the second ''Spy Kids'' project produced for the platform. Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson were set to star, along with Billy Magnussen and D. J. Cotrona. The plotline for the film: "When the children of the world's greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world". Production of the film wrapped in late August 2022, and was released on Netflix on September 22, 2023.

Though the movie does not include other characters from the franchise, Rodriguez confirmed that it takes place in the same continuity as the previous installments.

Future

In September 2023, Rodriguez confirmed that Netflix intends to develop additional ''Spy Kids'' movies, with the filmmaker expressing hope to begin production on a sequel the following year. Rodriguez explained that ''Armageddon'' incorporated a new family because so much time had passed since ''All the Time in the World'', and so he wanted to incorporate a new set of characters before returning to what came before; confirming that he intends to bring back "legacy characters" from the previous installments in future movies.

Television

''Spy Kids: Mission Critical'' (2018)

An animated series based on the films, ''Spy Kids: Mission Critical'', was released on Netflix in 2018. The first and second seasons both consist of 10 episodes and is produced by Mainframe Studios. Robert Rodriguez was one of the executive producers on the show.

Main cast and characters

Additional crew and production details

Reception

Box office performance

Critical and public response

The first and second film received positive reviews, the third and fifth film received mixed reviews, and the fourth film received negative reviews.

Home media

* September 18, 2001 (''Spy Kids'') on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
* February 18, 2003 (''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'') on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
* February 24, 2004 (''Spy Kids 3D: Game Over'') on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
* August 2, 2011 (''Spy Kids'', ''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'', and ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'') on DVD and Blu-ray Disc by Lionsgate (However, all 3 DVDs are still the original Buena Vista Home Entertainment copies.)
* November 15, 2011 (''Spy Kids'', ''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'', and ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' Triple Feature) on Blu-ray Disc by Lionsgate
* November 22, 2011 (''Spy Kids: All the Time in the World'') on DVD and Blu-ray by Anchor Bay Entertainment
* December 4, 2012 (''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'', ''The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D'' 3D Double Feature) on Blu-ray 3D Disc by Lionsgate
* September 22, 2020 (''Spy Kids'', ''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'', and ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' Triple Feature) on DVD and Blu-ray Disc reissue by Paramount

Books

Novelizations

Novelizations of the films ''Spy Kids'', ''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams'', and ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' were released by Disney-Hyperion. They were adapted by Megan Stine, Kiki Thorpe, and Kitty Richards.

The posters and end of the credits for each film say "Read the Talk/Miramax Books", telling the viewers to read the print retelling.

''KD Novelties'' personalized book

In 2002, KD Novelties made a personalized children's book based on ''Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams''.

''Spy Kids Adventures''

Between 2003 and 2004, Disney-Hyperion released ten novels of a book series titled ''Spy Kids Adventures'', written by Elizabeth Lenhard.

# One Agent Too Many
# A New Kind of Super Spy
# Mucho Madness
# OSS Wilderness
# Mall of the Universe
# Spy TV
# Superstar Spies
# Freeze-Frame
# Spring Fever
# Off Sides

Comics

Syndicated ''Disney'' magazine comics (2001-2004)

From 2001 to 2004, children's anthology magazines '' Disney Adventures'' and ''BBC Magazines''' ''Disney's Comic'' published over a dozen syndicated short comics that accompanied the first three films as well as additional stories for ''Disney's Comic''. They were written by Steve Behling and/or Michael Stewart, penciled and inked by Christine Norrie, colored by John Green (with the exception of the April 2002 issue's comic The Big Drop, which was colored by Atomic Paintbrush, and the ''Disney Adventures Comic Zone'' first issue's comic Tomorrow Trouble, which was colored by Hi-Fi Color Design), and lettered by Michael Stewart.

Spy Kids

* Pop! Goes the World! (September 2001, ''Disney Adventures''; November 2001, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* Deep Trouble! (October 2001, ''Disney Adventures''; December 2001, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia; July 2002, ''Disney's Comic'')
* Caught by the Web! (November 2001, ''Disney Adventures''; January 2002, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia; September 2002, ''Disney's Comic'')
* F.A.N.G.s a Lot! (March 2002, ''Disney Adventures''; June 2002, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia; August 2002, ''Disney's Comic'')
* The Big Drop! (April 2002, ''Disney Adventures''; July 2002, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* The Invisible Enemy! (May 2002, ''Disney Adventures''; August 2002, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* Fright Flight! (June 2002, ''Disney Adventures''; September 2002, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* The Menace of Micro-Man! (Summer 2002, ''Disney Adventures''; January 2003, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* The Mysterious Many-Man! (Q3 2002, ''Disney Adventures'' ''Super Comic Special''; September 2003, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* Tomorrow Trouble! (Summer 2004, ''Disney Adventures Comic Zone'')

Spy Kids 2

* Rodeo Ruckus! (September 2002, ''Disney Adventures''; March 2003, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia, ''Disney's Comic'')
* Face to Face with F.A.N.G.! (April 2003, ''Disney Adventures'', ''Disney's Comic''; December 2003, ''Disney Adventures Comic Book - All The Coolest Comics'' Australia)
* Nightmare at 30,000 Feet! (May 2003, ''Disney's Comic'')
* Cereal-ised! (June 2003, ''Disney's Comic'')

Spy Kids 3

* Top Gear! (July 2003, ''Disney's Comic''; February 2004, ''Disney Adventures'' Australia)
* That's Snow Spy! (August 2003, ''Disney's Comic''; Winter 2004, ''Disney Adventures Comic Zone'')
* Metal Menace! (September 2003, ''Disney's Comic;'' April 2004, ''Disney Adventures'')

''McDonald's'' comics (2003)

In July 2003, McDonald's published a six-issue limited series based on ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over''. It was distributed in McDonald's Happy Meals to promote the film, bundled with Happy Meal toys as well as anaglyph 3D glasses made for the comics.

# The Chip that Shook Up the World!
# The Diabolical Doctor Kent!
# The Outbreak of Silence!
# The Taking of the Presidency
# The Demise of Doctor Kent
# The Computer Planet

Video games

* ''Spy Kids Challenger'' (2002, Game Boy Advance)
* ''Spy Kids: Mega Mission Zone'' (2002, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
* ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' (2003, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
* ''Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' (2003, Game Boy Advance)
* ''Spy Kids: Learning Adventures'' series
** ''The Underground Affair'' (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
** ''The Man in the Moon'' (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
** ''The Candy Conspiracy'' (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
** ''The Nightmare Machine'' (2004, Microsoft Windows and Mac)
* ''Spy Kids: All the Time in the World'' (2011, Nintendo DS)

Related film series

Isador "Machete" Cortez, who appeared in all four ''Spy Kids'' film series as a supporting character, additionally had a series of two stand-alone films: '' Machete'' and '' Machete Kills'', also written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. However, the ''Machete'' films share little in common with the ''Spy Kids'' films thematically and are not considered direct spin-offs, the first film instead being an adult-oriented action exploitation film, with the second film introducing science fiction elements; both films additionally share several cast members and characters with the ''Spy Kids'' films. The idea for a ''Machete'' film came from a fake trailer promoting the '' Grindhouse'' double-feature by Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Trejo and Rodriguez have made two conflicting statements regarding its canonicity to the ''Spy Kids'' films; Trejo claimed that the films depict "what Uncle Machete does when he's not taking care of the kids", while Rodriguez said in a Reddit AMA that they are alternate universes. Regardless, Rodriguez claimed that he was prompted by an incident on the set of the first ''Machete'' film to start envisioning a fourth film in the main ''Spy Kids'' film series, casting Jessica Alba as Machete's sister Marissa, a different character to the one she portrayed in ''Machete'', with Trejo additionally reprising his role alongside her.

Notes

# The Walt Disney Company had to cut their own share on the fourth film with The Weinstein Company to 5% after the latter party lost their bid to reclaim Miramax Films."Miramax movies, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Ron Tutor"
NYDailyNews.com. February 3, 2011.

References

{{Robert Rodriguez

American children's films
Films directed by Robert Rodriguez
Works by Robert Rodriguez
Action film franchises
Comedy film franchises
Spy film series
Children's film series
Dimension Films films
Miramax franchises
Disney Publishing franchises
The Weinstein Company
category:film series introduced in 2001