This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality, and to make it neutral in tone. (December 2011)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2011)

The Smurfs (also known as simply Smurfs, and syndicated as Smurfs' Adventures) is an American animated television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1981 to December 2, 1989. Made by Hanna-Barbera, 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 with a total of 421 stories.

History [link]

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.^[4]

Run on NBC [link]

The Smurfs secured their place in North American pop culture in 1981, when the Saturday morning cartoon The Smurfs, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with SEPP International S.A., aired on NBC. The series became a major success for the network and one of the most successful and longest running Saturday Morning Cartoons in television history, spawning 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] The show enjoyed continued success until 1989, when after nearly a decade of success, NBC changed the format of the show and removed the Smurfs from the forest and the Smurf village, and then cancelled it due to decreasing ratings. In addition. NBC executives prepared a Today weekend program for Saturdays as well as programmings for teenagers such as Saved By The Bell, which came later on and led to the elimination of Saturday morning animated children's shows. The show continued through December 2, 1989 on the NBC network. The show continued to air on reruns the USA network until 1993, followed by the Cartoon Network until 2003. Smurfs is still broadcast on Cartoon Network's sister station Boomerang throughout the United States.

Further appearances [link]

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. Danny Goldman reprised his voice role as Brainy Smurf in several episodes of Robot Chicken, while Seth Green voiced Gargamel.

Characters [link]

TV specials [link]

The popularity of The Smurfs was such that NBC aired several prime-time Smurfs specials over the years:

• Here Comes the Smurfs (1981) - an hour-long special that aired the episodes "The Smurfette", "Supersmurf" and "The Baby Smurf" with new wraparounds featuring Papa Smurf telling the stories.

• The Smurfs' Springtime Special (April 8, 1982) - Gargamel teams up with his godfather Lord Balthazar to capture six Smurfs for making gold by putting a spell on Mother Nature, freezing their forest. The Smurfs enlist the aid of the woodland animals to bring an end to their plans and to bring spring back into the forest.

• The Smurfs' Christmas Special (December 12, 1982) - The Smurfs come to the rescue of two children and their grandfather when an evil mysterious stranger shows up and causes their sleigh to turn over, forcing them to seek help and inadvertently bring Gargamel in on the action.

• My Smurfy Valentine (February 13, 1983) - Smurfette's wish for a Prince Smurfing eventually causes the two evil wizards, Gargamel and Chlorhydris, to fall madly in love with each other when Gargamel intercepts Smurfette's note to Cupid to make her wish come true.

• 'The Smurfs Halloween (November 5, 1983) - Halloween special finds gargamel using a spell to make things scary for the smurfs on halloween. First aired as "Smurfs halloween special" in prime time, then later renamed "All hallows eve" for its second airing.

• Smurfily Ever After (February 13, 1984) - Smurfette contemplates over who she would like to marry someday while the Smurfs help prepare for the wedding of Laconia and Woody, but Gargamel shows up to ruin this joyous occasion with his ghoulish calliope.

• The Smurfic Games (May 20, 1984) - The Smurfs engage in athletic competition to settle a dispute between both ends of the village over misquoted compound words, which turns deadly when the medal Clumsy is awarded actually causes an earthquake.

• Smurfquest (1986) - Grandpa Smurf returns to the village from a 500-year voyage around the world to restore the power of the Long Life Force Stone. Papa Smurf and a few other Smurfs help Grandpa Smurf find the purest sources of the four primal elements from around the world while the remaining Smurfs stay behind to search for the Long Life Force Stone. Smurfquest was going to get a big-screen release, but ended up airing as a two-hour TV movie. It was later split into 4 episodes, but was edited for commercials. It has never re-aired in its complete form.^{[citation needed]}

• 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy (December 13, 1987) - Grandpa Smurf and Sassette visit a human village to witness how they celebrate the holidays, and end up helping an old couple by having their fellow Smurfs bring some Christmas cheer into the old couple's lives while tracking down a thief in the process.

Voices [link]

Use of classical music [link]

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]

• Isaac Albéniz, Suite española: Asturias
• Johann Sebastian Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047 Allegro moderato
• Johann Sebastian Bach, Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5, BWV 1056 Arioso. Largo
• Johann Sebastian Bach, Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 Gavotte
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 ("Pathétique"), first movement
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 14 ("Moonlight"), third movement. The above two tunes are frequently used in scenes where the Smurfs are in danger, or which otherwise have a great deal of dramatic tension.
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 23 ("Appassionata"), first movement
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 1, first movement
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral"), first and fourth movements
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 ("Choral"), second movement
• Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, second movement
• Léon Boëllmann, Suite Gothique: Toccata
• Alexander Borodin, Polovtsian Dances (Fifth Dance: "Dance of the Boys")
• Anton Bruckner, Symphony No. 2, third movement
• Claude Debussy, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
• Paul Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Edward Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory)
• Edward Elgar, The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1
• César Franck, Symphony in D minor, first and second movements
• Edvard Grieg, Peer Gynt: Morning Mood, In the Hall of the Mountain King ("Morning Mood" is frequently heard when Mother Nature makes her appearance)
• Edvard Grieg, Lyric Suite: "March of the Dwarfs"
• Albert W. Ketelbey, In a Persian Market
• Lev Knipper, Cavalry of the Steppes
• Zoltán Kodály, Háry János Suite
• Franz Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 1
• Franz Liszt, Totentanz
• Franz Liszt, Transcendental Etude No. 6 "Vision"
• Felix Mendelssohn, Spring Song
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Magic Flute
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony #35 in D major, K.385 "Haffner", 4th movement, The Smurflings episode. Just a very slowed down version.
• Modest Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition: Gnomus, Tuileries, Gargamel's theme variation about 1.5 minutes in, and a scene segue part about 10 minutes in, are used in the cartoon.^[7]
• Modest Mussorgsky, Night on the Bare Mountain
• Sergey Prokofiev, Symphony No. 1 ("Classical"): Gavotta
• Sergey Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet
• Sergey Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf
• Sergey Prokofiev, Lieutenant Kijé
• Sergey Prokofiev, Scythian Suite
• Sergei Rachmaninov, Prelude in G minor
• Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit: Le gibet
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, The Snow Maiden: Dance of the Tumblers
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, The Golden Cockerel
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Flight of the Bumblebee
• Gioachino Rossini, William Tell Overture
• Camille Saint-Saëns, Symphony No. 3 ("Organ"), first movement
• Franz Schubert: Rosamunde: Ballet Music No. 2
• Franz Schubert: Serenade
• Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8 ("Unfinished"), first movement. The Waldo de los Ríos version (with modern percussion) was used as theme music for Gargamel.
• Jean Sibelius, Finlandia
• Richard Strauss, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche
• Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird
• Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
• Igor Stravinsky, Petrushka: Russian Dance
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Natha Waltz
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Seasons: June, August
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4: Finale (Allegro con fuoco)
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 ("Pathétique"), second theme from first movement.
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
• Richard Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Overture
• Richard Wagner, The Ring

Broadcast history [link]

• USA
  • NBC (1981–1990)
  • USA Network (1989–1993)
  • Cartoon Network (1993–2003)
  • Boomerang (2000–present)

• Australia
  • Seven Network (1982–1992)
  • GO! (2011–present)
  • Cartoon Network (1995–2001)
  • Boomerang

• UK
  • BBC - Children's BBC
  • Cartoon Network
  • Boomerang
  • S4C
  • POP

• Ireland
  • RTÉ - The Den
  • TG4 (TBA)

• Turkey
  • TRT
  • Kanal D
  • Cartoon Network (2011–Present)

• Mexico
  • Televisa (Several runs, last run 2011–present)

• Argentina
  • Canal 11 de Buenos Aires (Mid 80's-1989)
  • Telefe (1989–1993) (2008)

• Philippines
  • IBC 13
  • ABS-CBN

• Netherlands
  • VARA (1982–present)
  • Kindernet
  • Yorkiddin
  • RTL4
  • SBS6
  • Z@ppelin/Z@PP (2008–present)

• Finland
  • Kolmoskanava
  • MTV3
  • Sub Juniori
  • Sub

• Flandres
  • Ketnet

• Korea
  • Nickelodeon
  • SBS

• Japan
  • TV Asahi

• Jordan
  • Jordan TV Channel 1

• Hong Kong
  • TVB

• Croatia
  • Nickelodeon
  • HTV2

• Poland
  • TVP1

• Slovenia
  • SLO1

• Italy
  • Italia 1, Canale 5, Rete 4
  • Boing
  • Boomerang

• Portugal
  • RTP1
  • TVI
  • SIC K
• Slovakia
  • Jednotka

• Israel
  • Jetix

• Canada
  • Global Television Network
  • ATV (now CTV Atlantic)
  • Télévision de Radio-Canada (French version)
  • Canal Famille (now VRAK.TV) (French version)
  • Teletoon Retro (2008–present)

• Serbia
  • Radio Televizija Beograd (1985)
  • B92 (present)

• Greece
  • Star Channel (1993-)

• Sweden
  • TV3

• Norway
  • TV3

• Spain
  • TVE1
  • Telecinco
  • Toon Disney
  • TVG
  • TV3
  • K3
  • Canal Super3
  • ETB 1
  • Canal Sur Television
  • Telemadrid
  • Boing (Spain)
  • Canal Nou

• France
  • France 2
  • M6

• Czech Republic
  • ČT1
  • TV Nova
  • TV Barrandov

• Costa Rica
  • Canal 6 (Mid 80's)

• Germany
  • ZDF
  • Super RTL
  • Boomerang (Germany)

• Austria
  • ORF

• Russia
  • Karusel

• Romania
  • TVR1

Syndication [link]

The series currently airs in reruns on Boomerang. The episodes were edited by Hanna-Barbera in 1987^{[citation needed]} into a half-hour syndicated version called Smurfs' Adventures; 26 episodes of this series aired as part of DiC's E/I-compliant children's programming block for broadcast stations in the early 2000s. The series is still being shown regularly on many channels throughout the world.

The cartoon was formerly distributed by Worldvision Enterprises (now CBS Television Distribution). The cartoon is now distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution; Time Warner is the current owner of all Hanna-Barbera properties, having inherited them in their 1996 merger with Turner Broadcasting. Some episodes are available through the online video service In2TV.

DVD releases [link]

Region 1 [link]

Warner Home Video released the complete first season on DVD in two volume sets in 2008.^[8][9] Despite high sales of both sets,^[10] no further seasons have yet been released. Warner Home Video later released a series of three single disc releases of The Smurfs in 2009, each containing 5 episodes from the second season.^[11][12][13] A two-disc DVD was released in 2011 to tie into the theatrical film with 10 episodes culled from the entire run of the series.^[14] Another DVD with both Smurfs Christmas specials was released later that year.^[15]

Region 2 [link]

Fabulous Films and Arrow Films have released the first two seasons on DVD in the UK.^[16][17]

The Smurfs and the Magical Flute 2011 Sony Home Entertainmenthas announced to release the full Series in 9 Season Sets on DVD in Germany, with german Sound only, beginning in August 2011.^[18]

Region 4 [link]

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

• The Smurfs and the Magic Flute has been released, but a new 'Original Collector's Edition'^[19] with new packaging released on 2 September 2011.
• The Smurfs - Time Travellers (3 Disc Set)^[20] was released on 5 November 2008.
• The Smurfs - Smurfette Collection (3 Disc Set)^[21] was released on 1 September 2009.
• The Smurfs - Papa Smurf Collection (3 Disc Set)^[22] was released on 4 November 2009.
• The Smurfs - Favourites Collection (6 Disc Box Set)^[23] was released on 29 June 2010.
• The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 1 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)^[24] was released on 3 November 2010.
• The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 2 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)^[25] was released on 3 November 2010.
• The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 3 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)^[26] was released on 1 December 2010.
• The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 4 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)^[27] was released on 2 March 2011.
• The Smurfs - Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak)^[28] and The Smurfs - Complete Season 2 (3 Disc Digipak)^[29] was released on 24 August 2011.

• The Smurfs - Complete Season 3 (4 Disc Digipak)^[30] and The Smurfs - Complete Season 4 (4 Disc Digipak)^[31] was released on 5 October 2011.
• The Smurfs - Ultimate Collection 1: Limited Edition - Seasons 1-5 (18 Disc Box Set)^[32] released on 24 August 2011.
• The Smurfs - Ultimate Collection 2: Limited Edition - Seasons 6-9 (16 Disc Box Set)^[33] released on 2 November 2011.

Notes [link]

This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (October 2011)

External links [link]

• The Smurfs at Big Cartoon DataBase
• The Smurfs at the Internet Movie Database
• The Smurfs at TV.com