The Smurfs (TV series)

The Smurfs (syndicated as Smurfs' Adventures) is an American-Belgian animated fantasy-comedy children's television series that aired on NBC from 12 September 1981 to 2 December 1989. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, it is based on the Belgian comic series by 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 418 stories, excluding three cliffhanger episodes and seven specials.

The Smurfs
International title card
Genre
Created byPierre "Peyo" Culliford
Based onThe Smurfs
by Pierre "Peyo" Culliford
Directed by
  • Bob Hathcock (Season 1–2, Season 5)
  • George Gordon (Season 1–4)
  • Rudy Zamora (Season 1–6)
  • Carl Urbano (Season 1–6, Season 8)
  • John Walker (Season 3–4)
  • Oscar Dufau (Season 3–4, Season 9)
  • Alan Zaslove (Season 4–5)
  • Don Lusk (Season 5–6, Season 8–9)
  • Jay Sarbry (Season 6–9)
  • John Kimball (Season 7)
  • Bob Goe (Season 7–8)
  • Paul Sommer (Season 7–9)
  • Gerard Baldwin (Special 2–6)
  • Ray Patterson (Special 7; also supervising director)
Voices ofSee Voices
Theme music composer
  • Mireille Delfosse (worldwide version)
  • Hoyt Curtin (Season 1–8, U.S. version)
  • Tom Worrall (Season 9, U.S. version)
Opening theme
  • "The Smurfy Way" (worldwide)
  • "La La Song" (Season 2 only, U.S.)
Ending theme
  • "The Smurfy Way" (instrumental)
  • "La La Song" (instrumental)
Composer(s)
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Belgium
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes256 (417 segments) [1] (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Gerard Baldwin (Season 1–3; supervising producer, Season 4–5; Special 2–6)
  • Bob Hathcock (Season 4–6)
  • Don Jurwich (Season 7; Special 7)
  • Walt Kubiak (Season 7)
  • Paul Sabella (Season 8–9)
  • Iwao Takamoto (creative producer, S01–05)
  • Associate producers:
  • Bob Hathcock (Season 3; Special 5)
  • Larry Latham (Special 6)
  • Charles Grosvenor (Season 6)
Editor(s)Gil Iverson
Running time22 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor
United States
Taft Broadcasting/Great American Broadcasting
Television Program Enterprises (1986-1987)
International
I.M.P.S. S.A.
Release
Original networkNBC
Audio format
Original release12 September 1981 (1981-09-12) –
2 December 1989 (1989-12-02)
Chronology
Related shows
Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs (1965)
External links
Website

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 his Saturday-morning lineup.[3]

The Saturday morning cartoon 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 in 1981. The series became a major success for the network[4] (one of the few hits to emerge from the Fred 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.[5]

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, removing some of the Smurfs from the forest and omitting the Smurf Village. These changes were adopted to a lost-in-time format similar to The Time Tunnel. The show continued through the end of the season, airing the last original episode 2 December 1989 on NBC.

Episodes
Main article: List of The Smurfs episodes
Season Episodes Segments Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 26 39 September 12, 1981 (1981-09-12) December 5, 1981 (1981-12-05)
2 36 46 September 18, 1982 (1982-09-18) December 4, 1982 (1982-12-04)
3 32 55 September 17, 1983 (1983-09-17) November 26, 1983 (1983-11-26)
4 26 48 September 15, 1984 (1984-09-15) November 17, 1984 (1984-11-17)
5 24 40 September 21, 1985 (1985-09-21) November 8, 1985 (1985-11-08)
6 36 61 September 13, 1986 (1986-09-13) November 29, 1986 (1986-11-29)
7 36 65 September 19, 1987 (1987-09-19) December 5, 1987 (1987-12-05)
8 16 24 September 10, 1988 (1988-09-10) October 29, 1988 (1988-10-29)
9 24 39 September 9, 1989 (1989-09-09) December 2, 1989 (1989-12-02)
Specials 7 June 19, 1981 (1981-06-19) December 13, 1987 (1987-12-13)

Voices and characters
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 Smurfs was noted for its frequent use of classical music as background music or themes for particular events. Notable works found in The Smurfs include:[6][7]

Syndication

A half-hour version for syndication was broadcast under the title Smurfs' Adventures (this is the version usually seen on Cartoon Network and Boomerang). 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.

Home video

Region 1

Warner Home Video (via Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment) released the complete first season on DVD in a two-volume set in 2008.[9][10] Despite high sales of both sets,[11] 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.[12][13][14] A two-disc DVD was set to be released in 2011 to tie into the theatrical film with 10 episodes culled from the entire run of the series,[15] but included episodes from the second season instead. Another DVD with both Smurfs Christmas specials was released later that year.[16] It is unknown if Warner Archive will release the rest of the show's complete seasons (under the Hanna-Barbera Classics Collection banner or not) on MOD DVD.

DVD title Season(s) Episode count Release date Description
Season 1 Volume 1 1 13 26 February 2008 This 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 2 7 October 2008 This two-disc release contained the remaining 20 season one episodes, plus one special feature, "I Smurf The Smurfs".
True Blue Friends 2 5 3 March 2009 Contains 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 Tales 18 August 2009 Contains 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 Wonders 17 November 2009 Contains 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 Adventure 10 19 July 2011 Contains 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 Celebration N/A 2 11 October 2011 Contains both Christmas specials "'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy" and "The Smurfs Christmas Special"
The Best of Seasons 1 and 2 1, 2 24 12 March 2013 Repackage contains the first discs from the Season 1 Volumes 1 and 2 and A Magical Smurf Adventure sets.
Smurfs to the Rescue! 6 16 July 2013 Contains 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 Journey 1, 6 15 October 2013 Contains five season one episodes, and one season six episode "The Astrosmurf", "Painter and Poet", "Paradise Smurfed", "Supersmurf", "Dreamy's Nightmare", and "All That Glitters Isn't Smurf"
A Magical Smurf Adventure 2 1 8 November 2013 Contains six season one episodes "The Baby Smurf", "The Fake Smurf", "Bewitched, Bothered, and Be-Smurfed", "Fuzzle Trouble", "The Smurfette", and "The Magical Meanie"

Region 2

Fabulous Films and Arrow Films have released the first five seasons on DVD in the UK.[17][18][19][20][21] 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 NameEp #Release date
Complete 1st Season275 July 2010
Complete 2nd Season246 September 2010
Complete 3rd Season311 July 2013
Complete 4th Season281 July 2013
Complete 5th Season251 July 2013
The Complete Seasons 1–51351 December 2014
The Smurfs – Four Smurf-tastic Episodes430 July 2011
The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (Blu-ray + DVD)011 October 2011
The Smurfs: 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy45 November 2011
The Smurfs: My Smurfy Valentine48 January 2012
The Smurfs Springtime Special617 March 2012
The Smurfs: The Smurfic Games74 June 2012
The Smurfs Halloween Special61 October 2012
The Smurfs: Love, Smurfette61 July 2013
The Smurfs: Papa Smurf Rocks!61 July 2013
The Smurfs: World Cup Carnival523 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.[22]

DVD NameEp #Release date
Die komplette erste Staffel274 August 2011
Die komplette zweite Staffel244 August 2011
Die komplette dritte Staffel3114 October 2011
Die komplette vierte Staffel2814 October 2011
Die komplette fünfte Staffel2516 August 2012
Die komplette sechste Staffel3916 August 2012
Die komplette siebte Staffel4025 July 2013
Die komplette achte Staffel16 (including 16 additional episodes of Johan and Peewit)25 July 2013
Die komplette neunte Staffel2625 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.

  • The Smurfs and the Magic Flute has been released, but in a new 'Original Collector's Edition'[23] with new packaging released on 2 September 2011.
  • The Smurfs – Time Travellers (3 Disc Set)[24] was released on 5 November 2008.
  • The Smurfs – Smurfette Collection (3 Disc Set)[25] was released on 1 September 2009.
  • The Smurfs – Papa Smurf Collection (3 Disc Set)[26] was released on 4 November 2009.
  • The Smurfs – Favourites Collection (6 Disc Box Set)[27] was released on 29 June 2010.
  • The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 1 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[28] was released on 3 November 2010.
  • The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 2 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[29] was released on 3 November 2010.
  • The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 3 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[30] was released on 1 December 2010.
  • The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 4 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[31] was released on 2 March 2011.
  • The Smurfs – Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak)[32] and The Smurfs – Complete Season 2 (3 Disc Digipak)[33] were released on 24 August 2011.
  • The Smurfs – Complete Season 3 (4 Disc Digipak)[34] and The Smurfs – Complete Season 4 (4 Disc Digipak)[35] were released on 5 October 2011.
  • The Smurfs – Complete Season 5 (3 Disc Digipak)[36] was released on 1 December 2011.
  • The Smurfs – Complete Season 6 (5 Disc Digipak)[37] was released on 4 January 2012.
  • The Smurfs – Complete Season 7 (5 Disc Digipak),[38] The Smurfs – Complete Season 8 (2 Disc Digipak)[39] were released on 1 August 2013.
  • The Smurfs – Complete Season 9 (3 Disc Digipak)[40] was released on 14 August 2013.
  • The Smurfs – Ultimate Collection 1: Limited Edition – Seasons 1–5 (18 Disc Box Set)[41] released on 24 August 2011.
  • The Smurfs – Ultimate Collection 2: Limited Edition – Seasons 6–9 (16 Disc Box Set)[42] released on 2 November 2011.
  • The animated versions of Papa Smurf and Brainy Smurf were featured in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue. Hefty Smurf also makes a brief cameo in the beginning of the movie with the other Smurfs, his only line being, "Who smurfed the bell?" Smurfette is shown on the promotional poster and VHS cover artwork, but was not seen in the special. Harmony Smurf made a small cameo as the Smurfs comic book was flipping through pages.
  • Gargamel and Azrael made guest appearances on Family Guy in 2009.
  • The Smurfs were often parodied in Robot Chicken where Danny Goldman reprises his role of Brainy Smurf, while Dan Milano voiced Papa Smurf and Seth Green voiced Gargamel.
  • In the Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law episode "Guitar Control", a tank can be seen destroying a Smurf house.

Reboot

On 18 June 2020, Nickelodeon ordered a reboot of the series.[43]

Notes
  1. "Top 100 Animated Series". IGN. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  2. Nash, Eric (2 December 2002). "Charles Dupuis, 84, Publisher Who Introduced the Smurfs". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  3. Barbera, Joseph (1994). My Life in 'Toons': From Flatbush to Bedrock in Under a Century. Atlanta: Turner Publishing. pp. 184–187. ISBN 1-57036-042-1.
  4. Holz, Jo (2017). Kids' TV Grows Up: The Path from Howdy Doody to SpongeBob. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-1-4766-6874-1.
  5. Cendrowicz, Leo (15 January 2008). "The Smurfs Are Off to Conquer the World – Again". Time. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  6. "Orchestral lunacy: George Daugherty bugs out". Montreal Mirror. 10 July 1997. Archived from the original on 29 January 2003.
  7. "Frequently Asked Questions!". Astro's Treasure Chest. 20 January 2003. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  8. "Topic: an orchestrated piece in the smurfs, oh and HI!". Smurf BBS. Bluebuddies.com. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  9. Lambert, David (26 October 2007). "The Smurfs – OFFICIAL Announcement At Long, Smurfy Last! Full Press Release Is Due Next Week". TVshowsonDVD.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  10. Lambert, David (15 July 2008). "The Smurfs – 2nd DVD Release Announced: Date, Cost, Package Art & Extras! Smurfing your way early this October!". TVshowsonDVD.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  11. Lambert, David (9 January 2009). "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. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  12. Lambert, David (3 February 2009). "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. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  13. Lambert, David (30 April 2009). "The Smurfs – Vol. 2: Smurfy Tales: Date, Cost, Episodes, Extras, Box Art – New single-disc release scheduled for mid-August". TVshowsonDVD.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  14. Lambert, David (2 September 2009). "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. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  15. Lambert, David (15 July 2001). "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. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  16. Lambert, David (29 September 2011). "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. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  17. "The Smurfs: Complete 1st Season [DVD]". Fabulous Films. 5 July 2010.
  18. "The Smurfs: Complete 2nd Series [DVD]". Fabulous Films. 6 September 2010.
  19. "The Smurfs: Complete 3rd Series [DVD]". Fabulous Films. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  20. "The Smurfs: Complete 4th Series [DVD]". Fabulous Films. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  21. "The Smurfs: Complete 5th Series [DVD]". Fabulous Films. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  22. "Filme & TV " "die schlümpfe"" [Search results for "Smurfs"]. Amazon.de. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  23. "Smurfs and the Magic Flute, The – Original Collector's Edition". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  24. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Time Travellers (3 Disc Set)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  25. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Smurfette Collection (3 Disc Set)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  26. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Papa Smurf Collection (3 Disc Set)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  27. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Favourites Collection (6 Disc Box Set)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  28. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 1 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  29. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 2 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  30. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 3 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  31. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Just Smurfy 4 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  32. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  33. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  34. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 3 (4 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  35. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 4 (4 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  36. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 5 (3 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  37. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 6 (5 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  38. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 7 (5 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  39. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 8 (2 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  40. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Complete Season 9 (3 Disc Digipak)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  41. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Ultimate Collection 1: Limited Edition – Seasons 1–5 (18 Disc Box Set)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  42. "Smurfs, The (1981) – Ultimate Collection 2: Limited Edition – Seasons 6–9 (16 Disc Box Set)". EzyDVD Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  43. Roots, Kimberly (18 June 2020). "The Smurfs Reboot: New Animated Series Ordered at Nickelodeo". TVLine. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
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