Spy Kids (2001)

SPY KIDS introduces a wide array of never-before-seen fantasy characters who capture the imagination. Among these are the Fooglies, the stars of Fegan Floop' s television show, hulking creatures with multi-colored, multi-directional faces who look something like a human being put through a genetic blender. Wacky and weird, the Fooglies turn out to be part of Floop's secret plot against the OSS: in fact, they are 055 agents who have been "transmogrified"!

A bit more fearsome than the Fooglies are Floop's specially-designed Thumb- Thumbs, powerful robots who are literally all thumbs. These hilarious looking creatures are clumsy but threatening — especially because nobody wants to be trapped under a giant thumb. Stealthy and sly, the Thumb-Thumbs sometimes wear Ninja outfits and masks, appearing as strange cylindrical Shapes.

Of course, most vital to Floop and Minion's plot are the Robot Kids, a series of super-strong, kid-sized robots manufactured through special physio-electrical imaging to look just like the children of presidents and national leaders around the world. Not surprisingly two Robot Kids look just like Carmen and Juni Cortez, aside from their nerdy, uncool clothing.

Bringing each of these creations to life was a priority of the SPY KIDS production. To forge the Fooglies, the production team went low-tech, using masks, make-up and costume to produce their unique look. Later, each individual Fooglie was digitally enhanced to make their eyes and mouths move in ways most humans don't!

"When I first saw the Fooglies, I burst into tears," admits Elizabeth Avellan, who had seen drawings of Fooglies for years in the notebooks of Robert Rodriguez. "They were just so cute in person — and it was like having Robert's fantasy come to life."

When it came to the Thumb-Thumbs, the production used both actors in specially designed suits for some shots but also used digital imaging to create the full articulation and natural movement for their over-sized knuckles and joints. Explains make-up artist Greg Nicotero: "We spent a lot of time doing mockettes of the Thumb-Thumbs and I would send digital photographs to Robert Rodriguez and he would change them with Photoshop and send them back. Then, I'd work with the sculptors to get the size of finger nails or the knuckles exactly the way he wanted them. He'd always have great ideas but, of course, sometimes we'd have to remind him, 'hey, Robert, a guy's head has to fit in these costumes!"'

In fact, the Thumb-Thumbs were originally designed by Robert Rodriguez when he himself was only 12 years old. His drawing entitled "Thumb Thumbs Playing Eye Ball" won first prize in an art contest! "It was a very surreal image of a couple of creatures made out of thumbs dressed in soccer outfits, kicking an eyeball around. I must have dreamt it or something," Rodriguez explains. "But I've always held onto that drawing hoping I could do something with the idea. It was thrilling to see the Thumb Thumbs running around on the big screen in full-blown CGI life."

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