G.I. Joe: Spy Troops is a 2003 direct-to-video CGI

Computer-generated imagery

Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...

 animated movie produced by Reel FX Creative Studios. Spy Troops is the first G.I. Joe movie to be released by Reel FX.

In 2003, Hasbro tried to follow Mattel’s success of the Barbie

Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....

 OVA

Original video animation

, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...

 movies by releasing a direct-to-video movie that tied into its own current toyline properties. Reel FX produced two G.I. Joe CGI movies. Spy Troops was first to be released, while G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom

G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom

G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom is a direct-to-video CGI animated movie and sequel to G.I. Joe: Spy Troops. It was released in 2004 by Reel FX Creative Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Like Spy Troops, the film was written around the theme of the toys released that year. In this case, it...

followed a year later. They were both sold direct-to-video, as well as offered by order through coupons enclosed with the action figures. These movies are distributed by Paramount Studios.

Plot

The plot revolves around G.I. Joe, America’s daring, highly trained special missions force. The Joes have just perfected a new technology: Mind Interface Remote Control (MIRC), which allows soldiers to flawlessly command vehicles from a safe distance. The title refers to the fact that the two opposing forces, the Joe Team and Cobra, make use of spies to achieve their objectives. Cobra sends Zartan

Zartan

Zartan is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, by Hasbro. He is a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander, and is one of the main villains in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic and animated series. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV...

 to infiltrate G.I. Joe headquarters and steal the MIRC technology, while the Joes also send their own spy to the enemy camp. The movie ends in a battle royale between Joe and Cobra forces, as G.I. Joe plans an assault on Cobra Mountain to get the technology back.

Reception

Spy Troops is generally panned by older fans of the series, but it is responsible for reintroducing G.I. Joe to a new generation of children. The criticisms generally revolve around the screenplay's juvenile tone—ironic coming from the pen of long-time Joe comic and file card scribe Larry Hama

Larry Hama

Larry Hama is an American comic book writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s....

, well-known for his efforts to make the G.I. Joe mythos as appealing as possible to an older demographic.

Although written by Hama, the story reboots the entire continuity of G.I. Joe. No references are made to the continuity of either the Sunbow

Sunbow Productions

Sunbow Entertainment was an animation studio, founded in 1980 and owned up until 1998 by Griffin-Bacal Advertising in New York. The first animation efforts by Griffin-Bacal were producing the animated commercials for Hasbro's G.I...

 or DiC

DIC

- Science :* Differential interference contrast microscopy, an illumination technique in optical microscopy* Diisopropylcarbodiimide, a reagent in organic chemistry* Digital Integrating Computer, a digital implementation of a Differential Analyzer...

 cartoon series. However, it did introduce elements from the comic book series to the cartoon, such as character designs from the current comic by Devil's Due Publishing

Devil's Due Publishing

Devil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publishers in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties that populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.Though...

, the subtle relationship between Snake-Eyes and Scarlett, and the rivalry between Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow. Duke

Duke (G.I. Joe)

Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...

 continues to take center stage as the G.I. Joe Team’s commander, just as he did in the Sunbow series. Many were also disappointed at the loss of Roadblock

Roadblock (G.I. Joe)

Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...

 from the series, being replaced by Heavy Duty

Heavy Duty (G.I. Joe)

Heavy Duty is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toy lines, comics and cartoons. Heavy Duty is the G.I. Joe Team's heavy ordnance specialist. He is described as being unafraid of any situation despite heavy enemy fire...

, when both could have been involved.

Cast

Actor	Role
Lisa Ann Beley Lisa Ann Beley Lisa Ann Beley is a Canadian voice actor, who has voiced various characters from anime. She grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, before moving to Vancouver, where she studied in the University of British Columbia's acting program.-Anime:...	Scarlett Scarlett (G.I. Joe) Scarlett is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character is one of the original members of the fictional team and toy line. She is a major character of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and the...
Doron Bell Jr. Doron Bell Jr. Doron Bell Jr. is a Canadian actor. He is known primarily for voice work, perhaps best known for his role as Odie in the fantasy television series Class of the Titans.-Selected filmography:...	Tunnel Rat Tunnel Rat (G.I. Joe) Tunnel Rat is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline. He has appeared in all cartoon and comic incarnations of the series.-Profile:...
Don S. Davis Don S. Davis Don Sinclair Davis PhD was an American character actor, theatre professor, painter and captain in the United States Army.-Career:He was perhaps best known for playing General George S...	Wild Bill Wild Bill (G.I. Joe) Wild Bill is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s.-Profile:According to Wild Bill's original file card, his real name is William S. Hardy, and his rank is that of army chief warrant officer CW-4...
Brian Dobson Brian Dobson Brian Dobson is the third of three brothers, the others being Paul and Michael, who are well known for their talent as voice actors.- Anime Roles :*.hack//Roots - AI Harald...	Flint Flint (G.I. Joe) Flint is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series. He was originally created as a character for the Sunbow cartoon series in 1984, and later introduced into the comic book and produced as an action figure in 1985.-Profile:...
Michael Dobson	Cobra Commander Cobra Commander Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...
Paul Dobson	Barrel Roll
Jim Foronda Jim Foronda James Edward Foronda is a Texas-based voice actor who primarily works on the properties of Funimation.His most well known role is that of Sergeant Denny Bloch on the hit series Fullmetal Alchemist...	Doctor Mindbender Doctor Mindbender Dr. Mindbender is a fictional character from the 1980s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comics, and animated series. He is a scientist who works for the fictional terrorist organization Cobra.-Profile:...
Phil Hayes Phil Hayes Phillip Lee Hayes is an English cricketer. Hayes is a left-handed batsman who bowls leg break. He was born in Bolton, Greater Manchester and educated at Bury College....	Torpedo Torpedo (G.I. Joe) Torpedo is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's original SEAL and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
Mark Hildreth Mark Hildreth (actor) Mark Hildreth is a Canadian actor and musician, based in the U.S. He has appeared in many movie and television roles. A graduate of The National Theater School of Canada, Mark Hildreth's theater credits include Hamlet , Bertram in All's well that Ends well , Richard of Gloucester in Richard III and...	Hi-Tech
Matt Hill Matt Hill Matthew "Matt" Hill is a Canadian voice actor. He is known for several roles, including Kevin Keene/Captain N in Captain N: The Game Master, Kira Yamato in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, Ed in Ed, Edd n Eddy, Raphael in Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Ryo Sanada in Ronin Warriors and Artha...	Beach Head
Alessandro Juliani Alessandro Juliani Alessandro Juliani is a Canadian actor, singer, and voice actor. He is notable for playing Tactical Officer Lieutenant Felix Gaeta on the Sci Fi Channel television program Battlestar Galactica, and Emil Hamilton in Smallville...	Dusty Dusty (G.I. Joe) Dusty is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's desert trooper and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
Peter Kelamis Peter Kelamis Peter Kelamis is an Australian-born Canadian actor and comedian.-Life and career:Kelamis was born in Sydney, Australia of Greek origin. In 1985, Kelamis enrolled in the University of British Columbia...	Polly
Blu Mankuma Blu Mankuma Blu Mankuma is an American actor. He has appeared in numerous Canadian and American productions filmed in Canada.Mankuma was born in Seattle, Washington...	Heavy Duty Heavy Duty (G.I. Joe) Heavy Duty is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toy lines, comics and cartoons. Heavy Duty is the G.I. Joe Team's heavy ordnance specialist. He is described as being unafraid of any situation despite heavy enemy fire...
Scott McNeil Scott McNeil Scott McNeil is a Canadian actor and voice actor. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...	Destro Destro Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional villain from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys from Hasbro. He is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the 2009 live-action film, G.I...
Colin Murdock Colin Murdock (actor) Not to be confused with Colin MurdochColin Murdock , is a voice actor who is often miscredited as Colin Murdoch.-Anime:* Cardcaptors - Spinner Sun* InuYasha - Ryokan, Sango's Father, Water God, Orochidayu* MegaMan: NT...	Zartan Zartan Zartan is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, by Hasbro. He is a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander, and is one of the main villains in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic and animated series. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV...
Ty Olsson Ty Olsson Tyler "Ty" Olsson is a Canadian actor. He's best known for being the voice of the dragon Ord on Dragon Tales and for portraying real life 9/11 victim Mark Bingham in the A&E television movie Flight 93.-Life and career:...	Storm Shadow Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe) Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
Jake Parker	Snake Eyes
John Payne John Payne (voice actor) John Payne is an English-born Canadian voice actor who works for Ocean Studios in Vancouver, Canada. He has played several roles in anime, most notably Ramba Ral in Mobile Suit Gundam and Rasetsu in InuYasha....	Duke Duke (G.I. Joe) Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...
Ward Perry Ward Perry Ward Perry is an anime voice actor who has voiced characters for a number of anime dubbed by the Ocean Group in Vancouver, Canada. He is mostly known as the voice actor of Dragonball Z Villain Kid Buu.-Credits:...	Agent Faces
Teryl Rothery Teryl Rothery Teryl Rothery is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as Dr. Janet Fraiser on Stargate SG-1.-Life and career:Rothery was born in Vancouver, British Columbia...	Baroness Baroness (G.I. Joe) The Baroness is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline by Hasbro, originally appearing in the first issue of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series by Marvel Comics in June, 1982. The Baroness is a villain, usually associated with G.I. Joe's enemy, Cobra.Baroness...
Lee Tockar Lee Tockar Lee William Tockar is a Canadian voice actor and visual artist who works for several studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is also a writer of children's literature, a musician, sculptor, illustrator and collected painter...	Shipwreck