The Smurfs (1981 TV series) explained

Alt Name:Smurfs' Adventures (in syndication)
Creator:Pierre "Peyo" Culliford
Based On:The Smurfs
by Pierre "Peyo" Culliford
Voices:See Voices
Editor:Gil Iverson
Num Seasons:9
Num Episodes:256 (417 segments)
List Episodes:List of The Smurfs episodes
Runtime:22 minutes
Network:NBC

The Smurfs (syndicated as Smurfs' Adventures) is an animated fantasy-comedy children's television series that originally aired on NBC from 12 September 1981 to 2 December 1989. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, it is based on the Belgian comic series of the same name, created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo (who also served as story supervisor of this adaptation) and aired for 256 episodes[1] with a total of 419 stories, excluding three cliffhangers episodes and seven specials episodes.

History

In 1976, Stuart R. Ross, an American media and entertainment entrepreneur who saw the Smurfs while traveling in Belgium, entered into an agreement with Editions Dupuis and Peyo, acquiring North American and other rights to the characters, whose original name was "les Schtroumpfs". Subsequently, Ross launched the Smurfs in the United States in association with a California company, Wallace Berrie and Co., whose figurines, dolls and other Smurf merchandise became a hugely popular success. NBC President Fred Silverman's daughter, Melissa, had a Smurf doll of her own that he had bought for her at a toy shop while they were visiting Aspen, Colorado. Silverman thought that a series based on the Smurfs might make a good addition to the Saturday-morning cartoon lineup.[2]

The Smurfs, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with SEPP International S.A. (from 1981 to 1987) and Lafig S.A. (in the years 1988 and 1989), debuted on NBC at 8:30 AM in 1981. The series became a major success for the network[3] (one of the few hits to emerge from the Silverman era) and one of the most successful and longest-running Saturday morning cartoons in television history, spawning seven spin-off television specials on an almost yearly basis. The characters included Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy Smurf, the evil Gargamel, his cat Azrael, and Johan and his friend Peewit. The Smurfs was nominated multiple times for Daytime Emmy Awards and won Outstanding Children's Entertainment Series in 1982–1983.[4]

By 1989, the show was in its ninth season and had reached the 200-episode threshold, an extreme rarity when most cartoons were gone after two seasons and 22 episodes (it also far exceeded the typical 65-episode run of a first-run syndicated show of the era). In an effort to come up with new ideas to keep the show fresh, NBC changed the format of the show, taking some of the Smurfs out of the forest and omitting the Smurf Village. These changes were adopted to a lost-in-time format similar to The Time Tunnel (at the same time NBC had a hit with the prime time series Quantum Leap which also dealt with time travel). The show continued through the end of the season, airing the last original episode 2 December 1989 on NBC, after a decade of success, NBC later cancelled The Smurfs along with other Saturday-morning cartoons to make way for another block of live-action programming on 9 April 1990. The Smurfs had its last re-run on NBC on 25 August 1990. The total number of individual eleven minute and twenty-two minute cartoons in the entire series run came to 417.

Episodes

See main article: List of The Smurfs episodes.

Voice cast and characters

See main article: List of The Smurfs characters.

Production

Outsourced production work was done by Wang Film Productions/Cuckoo's Nest Studios and, only for Season 7, by Toei Animation.

Use of classical music

The background music for The Smurfs was composed by Hoyt Curtin, Hanna-Barbera's primary musical director, but Curtin's work on the series is noted for its frequent use of classical music as themes or leitmotifs. Notable classical works excerpted in The Smurfs include:[5] [6]

Syndication

A half-hour version for syndication was broadcast under the title Smurfs' Adventures since 1986. Although each season had its own unique opening song during the original broadcast, syndicated airings usually use a shortened version of the season 4 opening. The series aired on Cartoon Network and Boomerang until 7 April 2023. On 7 August 2023, the series began airing on Discovery Family, and on MeTV Toons on 25 June 2024.

Home media

Region 1

Warner Home Video released the complete first season on DVD in a two-volume set in 2008.[8] [9] Despite high sales of both sets,[10] no further seasons have been released. Warner Home Video later released a series of three single-disc releases of The Smurfs in 2009, each containing five episodes from the second season.[11] [12] [13] A two-disc DVD was set to be released in 2011 to tie into the theatrical film with 10 episodes which would be culled from the entire run of the series,[14] instead, it included episodes from the second season. Another DVD with both Smurfs Christmas specials was released later that year.[15] It is unknown if Warner Archive will release the rest of the show's seasons (uncut and unedited) on MOD DVD.

In 2020, HBO Max released seasons one to four on its online streaming platform. The available seasons are presented in 1080p high definition.

DVD titleSeason(s)Episode countRelease dateDescription
Season 1 Volume 111326 February 2008This two-disc release contained the first 19 season one episodes, uncut and digitally remastered, and presented in their original broadcast presentation and order. Special features included a bonus episode "The Smurfs Springtime Special", and the Smurfs music video.
Season 1 Volume 27 October 2008This two-disc release contained the remaining 20 season one episodes, plus one special feature, "I Smurf The Smurfs".
True Blue Friends253 March 2009Contains five season two episodes: "S-Shivering S-Smurfs", "Turncoat Smurf", "The Smurf Who Couldn't Say No", "The Haunted Castle", and "The Black Hellebore". Special features include a storyboard of "Gormandizing Greedy".
Smurfy Tales18 August 2009Contains five season two episodes: "The Last Laugh", "The A-maze-ing Smurfs", "The Lost City of Yore", "Johan's Army", and "The Good, The Bad, and the Smurfy". Special features include bios of Handy Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, Smurfette, and Vanity Smurf.
World of Wonders17 November 2009Contains five season two episodes "All's Smurfy That Ends Smurfy", "The Littlest Giant", "Sleepwalking Smurfs", "Squeaky", and "The Sorcery of Maltrochu". Special features include the Meet The Smurfs feature, which shows Jokey, Brainy, and Greedy, plus an Easter egg: if the viewer clicks on the telescope, it shows something that is "rated S for Smurfy", presented as if it was a science-fiction movie. It starts out with Dreamy asking if there is life in "outer smurf", and shows Hefty saying, "There is no life in outer smurf", ending with the announcer saying "It Came from Outer Smurf. Coming Soon." Also of note is that Greedy's image is actually Cook Smurf's image, which is what the cartoon version of Greedy is based on.
A Magical Smurf Adventure1019 July 2011Contains 10 season two episodes "Smurf Van Winkle", "Revenge of the Smurfs", "Magic Fountain", "Smurf Me No Flowers", "The Cursed Country", "The Blue Plague", "The Ring of Castellac", "A Mere Truffle", "Gormandizing Greedy", and "Sister Smurf". Special features include Smurf Speak.
Holiday Celebration211 October 2011Contains both Christmas specials "'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy" and "The Smurfs Christmas Special"
The Best of Seasons 1 and 21, 22412 March 2013Repackage contains the first discs from the Season 1 Volumes 1 and 2 and A Magical Smurf Adventure sets.
Smurfs to the Rescue!616 July 2013Contains one season one episode, and five season two episodes "The Goblin of Boulder Wood", "Sideshow Smurfs", "The Three Smurfketeers", "It Came from Outer Smurf", "One Good Smurf Deserves Another", and "The Sky is Smurfing! The Sky is Smurfing"
Smurftastic Journey115 October 2013Contains six cartoons (equal to four episodes worth) from season one, "The Astrosmurf", "Painter and Poet", "Paradise Smurfed", "Supersmurf", "Dreamy's Nightmare", and "All That Glitters Isn't Smurf"
The Smurfs Springtime Specials3 TV specials21 February 2023Contains three TV Specials "The Smurfs Springtime Special", "My Smurfy Valentine", & "Smurfily Ever After"

Region 2

Fabulous Films and Arrow Films have released the first five seasons on DVD in the UK.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] The company has also released the film The Smurfs and the Magic Flute on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as several compilation DVDs, containing themed specials from the show.

DVD Name Ep # Release date
Complete 1st Season 27 5 July 2010
Complete 2nd Season 24 6 September 2010
Complete 3rd Season 31 1 July 2013
Complete 4th Season 28 1 July 2013
Complete 5th Season 25 1 July 2013
The Complete Seasons 1–5 135 1 December 2014
The Smurfs – Four Smurf-tastic Episodes 4 30 July 2011
The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (Blu-ray + DVD) 0 11 October 2011
The Smurfs: 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy 4 5 November 2011
The Smurfs: My Smurfy Valentine 4 8 January 2012
The Smurfs Springtime Special 6 17 March 2012
The Smurfs: The Smurfic Games 7 4 June 2012
The Smurfs Halloween Special 6 1 October 2012
The Smurfs: Love, Smurfette 6 1 July 2013
The Smurfs: Papa Smurf Rocks! 6 1 July 2013
The Smurfs: World Cup Carnival 5 23 June 2014

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced the release of the full Series in 9 Season Sets on DVD in Germany, with German sound only, beginning in August 2011.[21]

DVD Name Ep # Release date
Die komplette erste Staffel 27 4 August 2011
Die komplette zweite Staffel 24 4 August 2011
Die komplette dritte Staffel 31 14 October 2011
Die komplette vierte Staffel 2814 October 2011
Die komplette fünfte Staffel 25 16 August 2012
Die komplette sechste Staffel 39 16 August 2012
Die komplette siebte Staffel 40 25 July 2013
Die komplette achte Staffel 16 (including 16 additional episodes of Johan and Peewit)25 July 2013
Die komplette neunte Staffel 26 25 July 2013
Collector's Edition (Amazon.de exclusive) 2724 July 2013

Region 4

Magna Home Entertainment has released various best-of volume collections on DVD.

In popular culture

2021 reboot

In 2017, the Belgian companies IMPS and Dupuis Audiovisuel began production on an updated Smurfs series with CG animation, similar to .[42] [43] The series made its world premiere, on RTBF's OUFtivi channel in Belgium, on 18 April 2021.[44] It premiered on Nickelodeon & Nicktoons in September 2021 in the U.S.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 100 Animated Series. IGN. 19 October 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090119022724/http://uk.tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/97.html. 19 January 2009.
  2. Book: Barbera, Joseph. My Life in 'Toons': From Flatbush to Bedrock in Under a Century. 1994. Turner Publishing. Atlanta. 1-57036-042-1. 184–187. registration.
  3. Book: Holz, Jo. Kids' TV Grows Up: The Path from Howdy Doody to SpongeBob. McFarland. 2017. 978-1-4766-6874-1. Jefferson, NC. 125–126.
  4. The Smurfs Are Off to Conquer the World – Again. https://web.archive.org/web/20080118072455/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1703303,00.html . dead . 18 January 2008 . 15 January 2008 . Leo . Cendrowicz . 15 January 2008 . Time.
  5. News: Orchestral lunacy: George Daugherty bugs out . https://web.archive.org/web/20030129150440/http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/1997/071097/jfl1.html . dead . 29 January 2003 . Montreal Mirror . 10 July 1997 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions! . Astro's Treasure Chest . 20 January 2003 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121115113055/http://www.astrostreasurechest.net/websmurfclub/faq.htm . 15 November 2012 . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: Topic: an orchestrated piece in the smurfs, oh and HI! . Bluebuddies.com . Smurf BBS . 19 August 2004 . 11 November 2012.
  8. Web site: The Smurfs – OFFICIAL Announcement At Long, Smurfy Last! Full Press Release Is Due Next Week . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 26 October 2007 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128073621/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Season-1-Volume-1-Official_Announcement/8337 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: The Smurfs – 2nd DVD Release Announced: Date, Cost, Package Art & Extras! Smurfing your way early this October! . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 15 July 2008 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128073801/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Season-1-Volume-2/10066 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  10. Web site: The Smurfs – Official Studio Press Release for The Smurfs – Volume 1: True Blue Friends – Single-disc release smurfs its way home in a matter of weeks . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 9 January 2009 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128155220/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Volume-1/11143 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  11. Web site: The Smurfs – Cartoon-Related Release Date Change #1: Smurfing the DVD Schedule Back a Couple of Weeks – New early-March release date for the True Blue Friends DVD . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 3 February 2009 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128155225/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Volume-1/11250 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  12. Web site: The Smurfs – Vol. 2: Smurfy Tales: Date, Cost, Episodes, Extras, Box Art – New single-disc release scheduled for mid-August . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 30 April 2009 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128072632/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Volume-2/11796 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  13. Web site: The Smurfs – Volume 3: Worlds of Wonder DVD Announced: Date, Contents, Package * * *UPDATE: EXTRAS * * * – 5 more cartoons Smurf their way into your collection this November . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 2 September 2009 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128072556/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Volume-3/12616 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  14. Web site: The Smurfs – 'A Magical Smurf Adventure': Formal Press Release Before Tuesday's Street Date – 10-episode collection meant to tie in with the new theatrical film . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 15 July 2001 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128072540/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Magical-Smurf-Adventure/15662 . 28 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  15. Web site: The Smurfs – Formal Press Release from Warner for their 'Holiday Celebration' DVD – 2 specials on 1 disc, available this coming Tuesday, October 4th . TVshowsonDVD.com . David . Lambert . 29 September 2011 . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130818063339/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Holiday-Celebration/16007 . 18 August 2013 . dmy-all .
  16. Web site: The Smurfs: Complete 1st Season [DVD] ]. Fabulous Films . 5 July 2010.
  17. Web site: The Smurfs: Complete 2nd Series [DVD] ]. Fabulous Films . 6 September 2010.
  18. Web site: The Smurfs: Complete 3rd Series [DVD] ]. Fabulous Films . 16 March 2013.
  19. Web site: The Smurfs: Complete 4th Series [DVD] ]. Fabulous Films . 16 March 2013.
  20. Web site: The Smurfs: Complete 5th Series [DVD] ]. Fabulous Films . 16 March 2013.
  21. Web site: Filme & TV " "die schlümpfe" . Search results for "Smurfs" . Amazon.de . 11 November 2012.
  22. Web site: Smurfs and the Magic Flute, The – Original Collector's Edition . https://archive.today/20120731054352/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/813631 . dead . 31 July 2012 . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 11 November 2012 .
  23. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Time Travellers (3 Disc Set). EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081013034409/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/801856. 13 October 2008. dmy-all.
  24. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Smurfette Collection (3 Disc Set). EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091002224907/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/807410. 2 October 2009. dmy-all.
  25. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Papa Smurf Collection (3 Disc Set). EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091004082200/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/808843. 4 October 2009. dmy-all.
  26. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Favourites Collection (6 Disc Box Set). EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110411123212/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/813630. 11 April 2011. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 1 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine). https://archive.today/20121230092212/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/815877. dead. 30 December 2012. EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012.
  28. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 2 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine). https://archive.today/20121230215621/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/815878. dead. 30 December 2012. EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012.
  29. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 3 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine). https://archive.today/20120729130824/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/816245. dead. 29 July 2012. EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012.
  30. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 4 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine). EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110414110046/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/817918. 14 April 2011. dmy-all.
  31. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110828183747/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820188 . 28 August 2011 . dmy-all .
  32. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak). EzyDVD Pty Ltd.. 11 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110828183752/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820189. 28 August 2011. dmy-all.
  33. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 3 (4 Disc Digipak) . https://archive.today/20120730164426/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/821003 . dead . 30 July 2012 . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 11 November 2012 .
  34. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 4 (4 Disc Digipak) . https://archive.today/20120906024803/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/821004 . dead . 6 September 2012 . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 11 November 2012 .
  35. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 5 (3 Disc Digipak) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 1 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160123222534/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/smurfs-the-1981-complete-season-5/dp/6106865 . 23 January 2016 . dmy-all .
  36. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 6 (5 Disc Digipak) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 4 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150920044107/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/smurfs-the-1981-complete-season-6/dp/6106872 . 20 September 2015 . dmy-all .
  37. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 7 (5 Disc Digipak) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 18 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150920075116/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/smurfs-the-complete-season-7/dp/6142282 . 20 September 2015 . dmy-all .
  38. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 8 (2 Disc Digipak) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 18 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150920083551/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/smurfs-the-complete-season-8/dp/6142281 . 20 September 2015 . dmy-all .
  39. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 9 (3 Disc Digipak) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 1 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150920075149/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/smurfs-the-complete-season-9/dp/6142280 . 20 September 2015 . dmy-all .
  40. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Ultimate Collection 1: Limited Edition – Seasons 1–5 (18 Disc Box Set) . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110805131149/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820187 . 5 August 2011 .
  41. Web site: Smurfs, The (1981) – Ultimate Collection 2: Limited Edition – Seasons 6–9 (16 Disc Box Set) . https://archive.today/20121230084553/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820694 . dead . 30 December 2012 . EzyDVD Pty Ltd. . 11 November 2012 .
  42. News: IMPS & Dupuis Plan New 'Smurfs' Series. Animation Magazine. 31 August 2017.
  43. How we're bringing The Smurfs back to TV, 30 years later – interview with Nele De Wilde, IMPS & Peyo Productions . . 6 November 2020 . De Wilde . Nele.
  44. Web site: La nouvelle série en 3D "Les Schtroumpfs" débarque sur OUFtivi !. 12 April 2021. RTBF TV.