The Smurfs - 60 Years of Blue Happiness
2018 marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most famous and beloved little blue creatures in the world - The Smurfs.
Originally conceived to appear as one-time secondary characters in one ‘Johan and Pirlouit’ adventure, they became one of the first and most successful spin-offs in history.
With their cute round shapes, fairy-tale environment and catchy tune (who hasn’t sang it at least once?), the Smurfs are the personification of innocence, happiness and optimism.
But on a deeper level, the Smurfs represent all of human kind, our traits, conflicts, fears and desires, and this ambivalence (simplicity and depth at the same time) is part of what has made it successful with audiences of all ages from its very start.
Translated to over 20 languages, The Smurfs ( ‘Schtroumpf’ in French, ‘Smurfen’ in Dutch, ‘Pitufos’ in Spanish, ‘Puffi’ in Italian) are the creation of Belgian comics artist ‘Peyo’.
The son of an English father and a Belgian mother, Pierre Culliford studied at the Academie des Beaux Arts in Brussels before he began working at the animation studio Compagnie Belge d’Animation.
He adopted the pseudonym Peyo when his young nephew failed to pronounce his name, Pierrot, and called him ‘Peyo’ instead. The name stuck and the adopted it as his nom d’auteur.
In 1953, he presented his characters Johan and Pirlouit to the comics magazine ‘Spirou’, which began publishing them in story form along with ‘Poussy’, another of Peyo’s cartoons.
Combining the narrative fluidity of Herge and the visual style of Walt Disney - two of his major artistic influences - Peyo created a world of magic and fantasy where, in spite of all hardships, evil was always vanquished and goodness eventually prevailed.
For the ninth adventure of his ‘Johan and Pirlouit’ comic, the duo had to find a magic flute. Instead of having the flute created by a magician, Peyo decided to have it made by tiny magic creatures of the forest, lead by a wise 542 year old chief.
Although they only appeared in twelve pages of the story, the charisma of the blue critters soon eclipsed their hosts, and their particular form of speech (replacing verbs and nouns with the word ‘Schtroumpf’) was a hit among young readers.
Their impact was such, that Peyo decided to change the original name of the story from ‘The Magic Flute’ to ‘The Flute of Six Smurfs’, aware of the audience’s fascination with the imaginary term.
The word itself came up when, during a lunch with a friend and cartoonist colleague, Peyo forgot the word for ‘salt’ and used ‘Schtroumpf’ instead.
The word amused them, and both continued using it for the rest of their meal. Aware of its comic potential, Peyo used it in his cartoon - and the rest is history!
In 1959, only months after their first appearance, the Smurfs appeared on their first individual publication. The magazine was accompanied by the first merchandise and both achieved instant success.
In 1965, the first Smurfs full-lenght film, ‘Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs’, was released - a black and white feature which comprised five different cartoons previously made for television.
In 1959, only months after their first appearance, the Smurfs appeared on their first individual publication. The magazine was accompanied by the first merchandise and both achieved instant success.
In 1965, the first Smurfs full-lenght film, ‘Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs’, was released - a black and white feature which comprised five different cartoons previously made for television.
After this first film, several other shorts were created. Their second feature film, ‘La Flute a Six Schtrumpfs’ was released in 1976 in Belgium.
But the Smurf’s fame became a global phenomenon when, in 1981, Hannah-Barbera Productions released the Smurfs cartoon TV series.
But the Smurf’s fame became a global phenomenon when, in 1981, Hannah-Barbera Productions released the Smurfs cartoon TV series.
Just as it had happened with the magazines and comic books, they were an instant success, being translated into several languages and broadcasted all over the world.
In 2011 Sony Pictures released the first Smurfs film, this time in revamped 3D style and using the latest in computer animation. Although the look of the characters changed, they retained most of their original essence.
In a wink to its creator, Peyo was also included in the plot of the film as a researcher who studied the myths of the Smurfs.
In 2013 they released a sequel, ‘The Smurfs 2', and in 2017 a third film feature, ‘The Smurfs: The Lost Village’, was released.
Part of the appeal of The Smurfs is their apparent simplicity: they are rather uniform in size, shape and color, and they like simple pleasures : singing, strolling in the forest, eating sarsaparilla, etc. Their only enemies are the evil wizard Gargamel and his cat, Azrael.
But underneath each one of them lies a fiercely individual character, which is the source of many conflicts, some amusing and some more serious.
There are over 100 different Smurf characters, each one bearing a word to describe their main characteristic: Lazy, Brainy, Coward, Grumpy, Grouchy, Clumsy, Builder, Poet, Musician, Artist, Cook, and many more.
These distinctive temperaments and individual characteristics allow the public of all ages to feel identified with at least one of them, a factor that contributes to their massive appeal and success beyond frontiers.
In addition to creating the comics, Peyo was the writer behind most of their stories, directed two of its films (‘The Baby Smurf’ and ‘The Flute of Six Smurfs’), and worked as a story supervisor for the TV miniseries.
When his partnership with the editorial Dupuis ended in 1989, Peyo created the company ‘Cartoon Creation’ to publish more Smurf adventures, and oversaw great part of the business generated by his creations.
Sadly, Peyo died in 1992, at the age of 64, of a heart attack; but his son Thierry and his daughter Veronique have continued the legacy of their father under the commercial name ‘Peyo’.
In 2008, to commemorate Peyo’s 80th anniversary and the Smurfs’ 50th , the Belgian mint released a special 5 Euro coin with the Smurfs effigy.
There are two commonly asked questions about the Smurfs.
Why are the Smurfs blue? Merely as the result of an elimination process: green made them disappear in the forest, yellow made them look sickly, red made them look irate. Thus, Peyo decided that blue was the perfect choice. They wear white to create contrast with their own color and the rest of the environment - the only exception to this is Papa Smurf.
They also wear Phrygian caps in reference to freedom.
And, why is there only one Smurfette? The reason was simply because at the time when ‘The Smurfs’ was first released, the majority of comics’ readers were boys. Since then, though, there have been several attempts to add more feminine characters and roles to the stories, even including a story about a Smurfettes Village.
Beyond their benign nature and apparent simplicity, The Smurfs belie more complex issues, and have even sparked sociological studies due to their communal way of life, and the social issues and behaviours showcased in some of their stories.
Two of these stand out in particular : ‘The Smurfissimo’, in which the leader of the village leaves for a trip, and the village organises a ballot to elect a new leader, rising antagonisms between the candidates and the electorate, who resort to all kinds of tricks to try to win the election.
The second, ‘Smurf Versus Smurf’, presents two sides of a divided village which confront each other for the use of the language, each one fighting to prevail over the other in the ‘correct’ way of using the language.
However, the Smurfs have never strayed far from their main audience, children, and their original roots : kindness, joy and innocence.
In fact, the benign nature of the characters and their global popularity across the age spectrum have made The Smurfs ideal partners to help the UNICEF spread their messages worldwide.
In 2005, Peyo’s heirs agreed to lend the Smurf’s image for a UNICEF fund-raising campaign for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers. In it, the Smurf’s village appears obliterated as the consequence of war.
Video: Intro 1981 (0:56")
In 2011 Sony Pictures released the first Smurfs film, this time in revamped 3D style and using the latest in computer animation. Although the look of the characters changed, they retained most of their original essence.
In a wink to its creator, Peyo was also included in the plot of the film as a researcher who studied the myths of the Smurfs.
In 2013 they released a sequel, ‘The Smurfs 2', and in 2017 a third film feature, ‘The Smurfs: The Lost Village’, was released.
Part of the appeal of The Smurfs is their apparent simplicity: they are rather uniform in size, shape and color, and they like simple pleasures : singing, strolling in the forest, eating sarsaparilla, etc. Their only enemies are the evil wizard Gargamel and his cat, Azrael.
But underneath each one of them lies a fiercely individual character, which is the source of many conflicts, some amusing and some more serious.
There are over 100 different Smurf characters, each one bearing a word to describe their main characteristic: Lazy, Brainy, Coward, Grumpy, Grouchy, Clumsy, Builder, Poet, Musician, Artist, Cook, and many more.
These distinctive temperaments and individual characteristics allow the public of all ages to feel identified with at least one of them, a factor that contributes to their massive appeal and success beyond frontiers.
In addition to creating the comics, Peyo was the writer behind most of their stories, directed two of its films (‘The Baby Smurf’ and ‘The Flute of Six Smurfs’), and worked as a story supervisor for the TV miniseries.
When his partnership with the editorial Dupuis ended in 1989, Peyo created the company ‘Cartoon Creation’ to publish more Smurf adventures, and oversaw great part of the business generated by his creations.
Sadly, Peyo died in 1992, at the age of 64, of a heart attack; but his son Thierry and his daughter Veronique have continued the legacy of their father under the commercial name ‘Peyo’.
In 2008, to commemorate Peyo’s 80th anniversary and the Smurfs’ 50th , the Belgian mint released a special 5 Euro coin with the Smurfs effigy.
There are two commonly asked questions about the Smurfs.
Why are the Smurfs blue? Merely as the result of an elimination process: green made them disappear in the forest, yellow made them look sickly, red made them look irate. Thus, Peyo decided that blue was the perfect choice. They wear white to create contrast with their own color and the rest of the environment - the only exception to this is Papa Smurf.
They also wear Phrygian caps in reference to freedom.
And, why is there only one Smurfette? The reason was simply because at the time when ‘The Smurfs’ was first released, the majority of comics’ readers were boys. Since then, though, there have been several attempts to add more feminine characters and roles to the stories, even including a story about a Smurfettes Village.
Beyond their benign nature and apparent simplicity, The Smurfs belie more complex issues, and have even sparked sociological studies due to their communal way of life, and the social issues and behaviours showcased in some of their stories.
Two of these stand out in particular : ‘The Smurfissimo’, in which the leader of the village leaves for a trip, and the village organises a ballot to elect a new leader, rising antagonisms between the candidates and the electorate, who resort to all kinds of tricks to try to win the election.
The second, ‘Smurf Versus Smurf’, presents two sides of a divided village which confront each other for the use of the language, each one fighting to prevail over the other in the ‘correct’ way of using the language.
However, the Smurfs have never strayed far from their main audience, children, and their original roots : kindness, joy and innocence.
In fact, the benign nature of the characters and their global popularity across the age spectrum have made The Smurfs ideal partners to help the UNICEF spread their messages worldwide.
In 2005, Peyo’s heirs agreed to lend the Smurf’s image for a UNICEF fund-raising campaign for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers. In it, the Smurf’s village appears obliterated as the consequence of war.
Aside from posters, the campaign was also released on Belgian television on a 25 second segment, broadcasted outside the children’s timeslot.
But a second alliance with UNICEF was closer to the Smurf’s happy spirit.
But a second alliance with UNICEF was closer to the Smurf’s happy spirit.
In 2008, on the year of their 50th anniversary, the UNICEF distributed blank Smurf figurines in 15 European countries. These could be painted, individualised and entered into an auction to raise funds to benefit UNICEF.
In 2017, the United Nations Postal Administration released a set of stamps to commemorate the International Day of Happiness (March 20th ).
In 2017, the United Nations Postal Administration released a set of stamps to commemorate the International Day of Happiness (March 20th ).
Given their jolly and positive nature, the Smurfs were the natural choice for the honour.
The campaign also meant to inform the general public about the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and to encourage their support.
The campaign also meant to inform the general public about the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and to encourage their support.
The idea behind it was that everyone can make a difference, no matter how big or small they are.
For all of these, and for the joy they represent, it’s time to celebrate the Smurfs!
This year as part of their 60th anniversary celebration, Smurf fans can visit the 'Smurf Experience' in Brussels, the city that saw them born, until September 2nd.
In it, visitors are immersed in an enchanted forest where they will find the Smurf’s village, a river, a suspension bridge, Gargamel’s cave, Papa Smurf’s toadstool house and more.
The village also includes the United Nation’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals hidden at various spots, to educate the visitor and encourage them to embrace this cause.
In addition, the Belgian air carrier company Brussels Airways also decide to honour the blue critters by decorating one of its passenger planes with their images - both outside and in the cabin as well!
This is the fifth air vessel of the firm dedicated to a Belgian icon. For a look at it and more info about the process of its creation, check the following link:
https://www.brusselsairlines.com/en-be/misc/meet_aerosmurf.aspx
The Smurfs may be sixty, but they look and feel as young and jolly as ever.
For more information about the Smurfs and their history, and to download coloring sheets and activity sheets for children, craft projects and more, go to: https://web.archive.org/web/20111013103939/http://www.smurf.com/en/home/
Sources: Focus On Belgium, Wikipedia, Unicef, LM Magazine, Visit Brussels.
Video: Small Smurfs, Big Goals (0:59")
For all of these, and for the joy they represent, it’s time to celebrate the Smurfs!
This year as part of their 60th anniversary celebration, Smurf fans can visit the 'Smurf Experience' in Brussels, the city that saw them born, until September 2nd.
In it, visitors are immersed in an enchanted forest where they will find the Smurf’s village, a river, a suspension bridge, Gargamel’s cave, Papa Smurf’s toadstool house and more.
The village also includes the United Nation’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals hidden at various spots, to educate the visitor and encourage them to embrace this cause.
In addition, the Belgian air carrier company Brussels Airways also decide to honour the blue critters by decorating one of its passenger planes with their images - both outside and in the cabin as well!
This is the fifth air vessel of the firm dedicated to a Belgian icon. For a look at it and more info about the process of its creation, check the following link:
https://www.brusselsairlines.com/en-be/misc/meet_aerosmurf.aspx
The Smurfs may be sixty, but they look and feel as young and jolly as ever.
For more information about the Smurfs and their history, and to download coloring sheets and activity sheets for children, craft projects and more, go to: https://web.archive.org/web/20111013103939/http://www.smurf.com/en/home/
Sources: Focus On Belgium, Wikipedia, Unicef, LM Magazine, Visit Brussels.
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