SLC-S25/W5-Movie Snapshots| Animated Magic(Spies in disguise)

Hello steemians, Week 5 is already here, and I must say, this whole SLC journey has been an amazing ride from the start. From week one till now, I’ve enjoyed every single theme, but this week’s own hits different. "Animated Magic" is the theme, and as someone who grew up watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry, The Incredibles, Madagascar and Avatar: The Last Airbender, animation will always hold a special place in my heart. These movies aren't just colours and voices moving on screen.

There's a certain beauty in how animators tell deep and sometimes emotional stories with characters that aren't even real humans. Sometimes they make you laugh, sometimes you cry, but most times, you leave learning something unexpected. So, for this week’s task, I picked an animated film I had seen a while back, and I just knew it would be perfect for this contest — Spies in Disguise (2019), starring Will Smith and Tom Holland.

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What are animated movies or film?

Animated movies are films created using drawings, graphics, and some motion techniques to bring characters and stories to life. Unlike live-action movies that use real people, animation gives creators the freedom to explore anything — from flying dragons to talking animals, super gadgets, and magical worldsThey’re not just for kids anymore. Modern animated films carry mature themes too — family, identity, forgiveness, grief, betrayal — and Spies in Disguise is a perfect example of this. It blends humour, action, science fiction and valuable life lessons.

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Watch an animated film (any age group, any style)

The Movie: Spies in Disguise

🎬 Movie Details
Directed by	Troy Quane & Nick Bruno
Starring	Will Smith (as Lance Sterling), Tom Holland (as Walter Beckett)
Genre	Animated Spy Comedy / Action
Studio	Blue Sky Studios
Runtime	102 mins

The movie describes the story of Lance Sterling, a slick and confident spy known all over the world for his bravery and skills. He’s fast, smart, always clean and rarely makes mistakes. But when he’s mistakenly accused of betraying his own agency, things take a wild turn.In an attempt to clear his name and avoid being arrested, he goes to find a young scientist named Walter Beckett — a nerdy but brilliant tech expert in the agency, who had earlier been fired for his "weird" gadgets. Walter had developed a formula that could make someone completely unnoticeable. But instead of turning Lance invisible, the formula turns him into... a pigeon.

Yes. A pigeon.

From there, the action goes wild. Lance (now a pigeon) has to team up with the same nerd he once ignored, and both of them must stop a dangerous villain called Killian — a cyber-terrorist who’s planning to use a drone army to destroy every agent.

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Which age group prefers the animated film you have seen above and say why?

Which Age Group Prefers It and Why?

I think this movie mostly appeals to children and teenagers, but honestly, even adults can enjoy it. For younger viewers, the animation style is fun and colourful. There’s fast-paced action, funny pigeon moments, and cool spy gadgets. Walter’s inventions — like glitter bombs, inflatable hugs, and cat video distractions — will have kids laughing all through. Teenagers love the energy, the sarcasm in Lance’s character, and Walter’s emotional side. But adults like me can also relate to deeper themes like self-identity, working together despite differences, and non-violence. There’s also a good lesson for African parents and guardians here: not every animated movie is "just cartoon." This movie discusses emotional intelligence and how kindness can be a strength, not a weakness.

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Mention some of the challenges you went through while watching the animated film if there was no challenge, tell us the things that interest you In the movie

Challenges or Things That Stood Out?

No challenge at all watching this one — instead, I found myself smiling all through. But there are definitely some standout things:

1. Pacing & Action: There was never a dull moment. Whether it was Lance (as a pigeon) flying through Venice or Walter fighting off drones with non-lethal gadgets, the movie kept me glued.

2. Character Chemistry: The combo of Will Smith and Tom Holland worked like magic. One is loud, bold and street smart. The other is gentle, nerdy and deep. Their banter felt real, not forced.

3. Unexpected Message: The biggest surprise was the message the film passed. While most spy movies glorify violence, this one says the opposite. Walter believes there's always a better way — you can be smart, you can defend people, and you can still avoid hurting others. That hit me hard.

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Social Media Angle: Why It Matters

Though it’s not TikTok content per se, Spies in Disguise is one of those movies that can spark content creation. Imagine someone acting out how they would behave as a pigeon spy, or using filters to recreate scenes. The creativity this movie inspires is endless, especially among Gen Z who love remixing scenes with memes, voice-overs and animations. Even on Instagram and YouTube Shorts, this movie has inspired fan-made animations and edits.

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Best Scenes That Blew Me Away

The Transformation Scene: When Lance turns into a pigeon for the first time. His reaction was gold — disbelief, screaming, flapping his wings — I laughed till my sides hurt.

The Venice Chase: Picture this: a pigeon (with a spy's brain), dodging drones, flying through explosions, while Walter rides on a tiny scooter. The animation here was just perfect.

The Emotional Climax: Towards the end, Walter is about to risk his life to save Lance. It’s the turning point where Lance realises that strength isn't about being tough — it's about trusting others.

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Lessons from the Movie

1. Kindness Is Not Weakness: Walter’s approach was based on non-violence. In a world where strength is often shown through aggression, the movie flips the script and says — being kind is a form of strength.

2. Everyone Has Value: Lance initially thought he could do everything alone. But as a pigeon, he needed help — even from other birds. Walter, though strange at first, became the reason he succeeded.

3. Teamwork Works Wonders: The beauty of the story is in collaboration. Two people from different worlds — the fighter and the inventor — came together to save the world.

4. Believe in Your Ideas: Walter never gave up on his ideas, even when the agency mocked him. In the end, his inventions saved lives. That’s a big push to anyone who’s ever been laughed at for being different.

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Final Thoughts:

Spies in Disguise may be animated, but the message is very real. It teaches courage, trust, innovation, empathy and forgiveness — all inside a funny, fast-paced spy story. It proves that animated films are no longer just for children. They’re for anyone who’s open to learning life lessons in unexpected ways.

This is the kind of movie I’ll gladly recommend to others, especially youths. It mixes humour with sense, drama with depth.
In fact, if I had the chance, I would love to see a part two. Maybe this time Lance remains a pigeon by choice!

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Conclusion

Animation is powerful. It can shape minds, break stereotypes, and entertain at the same time. Through Spies in Disguise, we get to understand that you don’t always have to fight with fists or fire — sometimes, the heart wins better.
So if you haven’t seen the movie, I encourage you to check it out. Let the “animated magic” remind you of the beauty in creativity, and how even pigeons can save the world.

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Thank you for reading my entry!
Let me know what message Spies in Disguise passed to you if you’ve watched it. I’m eager to hear your thoughts!

I invite @imohmitch @promisezella @us-andrew to participate in this contest.