The “Spy Kids” film series, which emerged in 2001, is a beloved children’s action franchise from the early 2000s. These movies revolve around two kids who utilize cutting-edge technology to locate their missing parents, who are also secret agents. It was every child’s fantasy during that time! Over the years, the “Spy Kids” universe expanded to include a total of five films and a Netflix animated series (with some speculating that Danny Trejo’s R-rated “Machete” movies are part of it as well). The franchise is known for its memorable villainous minions.
As a gamer, I’ve encountered some unique characters: In “Star Wars”, I’ve seen clones with iffy aiming skills, just like me sometimes when I’m trying to snipe from a distance. From “Despicable Me”, there are Gru’s Minions who chatter away in Minionese, which can be as confusing as deciphering some ancient language at times. Then there’s Fegan Floop, the original antagonist from “Spy Kids”, and his Thumb-Thumbs. These guys are quite peculiar – they look like thumbs with two arms and legs that are also thumbs! They might not be the sharpest tools in the shed, much like Minions, and their clumsiness is understandable given they move around on thumbtips instead of regular feet, now that’s a challenge!
As a gamer, I’ve come across these unique characters known as Thumb-Thumbs, which originated from the creative mind of Robert Rodriguez, the genius behind the “Spy Kids” series. Interestingly enough, before he was crafting kid-friendly action adventures, Rodriguez found that his artistic skills weren’t up to the task of drawing hands properly in high school. However, he had a knack for sketching thumbs instead, a quirk that eventually became the basis for the iconic henchmen in the “Spy Kids” movies.
Robert Rodriguez only drew thumbs as a teen
Robert Rodriguez, during the promotion of “Spy Kids: Armageddon,” shared the origin of Floop’s Thumb-Thumbs. In an interview with Decider, he explained that due to his poor drawing skills, he would often sketch his thumb instead of hands, which resembled a head when drawn. He then rotated it and drew additional arms and legs, resulting in the unique limbs for the character. Additionally, Rodriguez shared that he had won a contest with this concept by adding an eyeball that functioned as a soccer ball, making the thumb-person a sports player.
Despite the absence of the original cast and Thumb-Thumbs in the latest “Armageddon,” director Rodriguez hasn’t dismissed the possibility of reintroducing the beloved henchmen in future films. In fact, he expressed his desire to bring them back, stating that they hold a special place for him as they were created during his teenage years. He believes they are genuinely kid-friendly, with an appeal that resonates deeply with their target audience. It was quite a surprise for Rodriguez to see his first ever creation not only on the big screen but also in the merchandise associated with the movie. Fingers crossed, we’ll be seeing the Thumb-Thumbs again soon!
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2025-06-11 13:30