Smurfs

This thread is for the 80s Hanna Barbera cartoon.

Bringing the Smurfs to TV was probably one of the few good decisions Fred Silverman made as head of NBC. It\'s popularity cannot be understated.

So, has anyone seen the cartoon recently?

I saw a few episodes. The best were probably those that adapted Peyo's original comics.

They clearly did give a damn about adapting the original work; they didn't include Johan and Peewit for nothing, after all.

Also, Paul Winchell is terrific as Gargamel.

I can't think of anyone who gives a damn about those two besides Peyo himself.

Most folks aren't even aware of them.

The comics were a lot better than the 80s cartoon imo. Both artistically and fun-wise.

Like many later HB cartoons, the show was very boring.

There were a lot of changes to the comics when they were adapted into cartoon form. Peyo apparently didn't like that and sued over it, indirectly leading to the creation of the Snorks.

There were also quite a few that weren't adapted into cartoon form, like the one where the Smurfs fight about whether "smurf" is a verb or a noun.

Also:

I find myself able to enjoy both the cartoon and the comics. I did like it that HB individualized the Smurfs. I get what Peyo was going for by not doing that himself, but I preferred it. I did think that Brainy was completely misnamed. It's like the guys at HB saw that he wore glasses and decided to read that as intellectual. He's meant to be sanctimonious, not especially smart. Interestingly, I'd say they portrayed his character correctly, even if his name is way off.

I don't think you can say that only Peyo cared anything for Johann and Pee Wit (Pirlouit, whatever); their comics series ran for quite a while on its own, so obviously it did sell, at least in Belgium.

The Johann and Pee Wit duo follows a very popular formula in Francobelgian comics, ranging with different variations from Spirou and Fantasio to Tintin and Haddock to Asterix and Obelix (average-ish do-gooder lead paired up with quirky show stealing comrade as Heterosexual Life-Partners), so it's no wonder they'd rank well there, but not so much here.

The one real Smurfs thing I saw in full was that movie that adapted Johan and Peewit's first encounter with the Smurfs. I remember their names being "John" and "Peewee", though; maybe I misheard, or maybe it was a localization. Later I read that those characters weren't created for just that movie, but that the Smurfs were spun off from a series of their earlier comic book adventures! I was also surprised to learn that the series was originally just about Johan, and Peewit was picked up later.

That'd be The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, and you probably heard it right. There are (at least) three English dubs of that one, two dubbed for American release and one for English. The first American dub, shown in theatres at the height of US Smurf popularity, had Johann called "Johann" and Pirlouit "Pee Wee," and otherwise kept all the HB names for everybody. The second had them called "John and Pee Wee," and the English one "John" and "Peter." The first American dub is, of the three, in my opinion, the best.

edited 18th Jan '15 10:51:46 PM by Robbery

My father actually likes those two and hopes they'll be focused on in the future films.

So who decided that "Schtroumpf" would be changed to "Smurf" in all other languages?

The guy who figured out it sounded liked eating something noisily?

I think "Smurf" is their name in Dutch, but there's far, far more different names in other languages.

Also, I honest to God have this stuck in my head:

Quite right. "Smurf" appeared as the Dutch translation of "schtroumpf," which was itself a nonsense word (though it has been postulated -erroneously, according to Peyo- that "schtroumpf" was a Belgian slang term for a sock) that Peyo came up with while having dinner with a friend; he apparently couldn't come up with the word for "salt" and so asked for the "schtroumpf." His friend found this amusing, and the stuck it into their conversation for the rest of the night (speaking "smurf," as it were). From this came the Smurfs!

I actually remember that song...

edited 19th Jan '15 12:08:42 PM by Robbery

In Spanish language countries they are called Pitufos, although I have no idea where that name came from.

It's actually a little surprising, to me, anyhow, that they picked "Smurf" to replace "Schtroumpf." It's a much shorter word, and I'd think that'd create problems in re-lettering the comics; maybe not now with computer assistance, but back in the 70's and '80's when they were doing it by hand...

Easier to leave empty space than to run out of it, eh?

I've been binge watching the old show and also watched some reviews of the movies (which I already see) and I would like to see your opinions on two things:

First, I'm yet to see a reviewer who says he's a fan of the Smurfs, from Brad Jones to Cellspex, they all say they were not fan of the Smurfs. Haven't found one who is and I've seen like ten video reviews. Is the show really not that popular in the US? Because I'm under the impression that was more of a niche fandom. At least in the US, I do can say it was hugh where I live.

Second; am I the only one who feels the movies, both live action and the one animated, are wasting many cool, interesting and much treatening villains by using only Gargamel?

The Smurfs had a lot of interesting, much more powerful villains like Balthazar, Chloridrys and Nemesis. Why so much obsession with Gargamel? Not that Azaria doesn't make a great role, he's the best thing in the first movie. But they could easily use another for the second one. Similarly Hogatha (who is basically a female version of Gargamel) would've been great as a villain in the Lost Village movie.

The Smurfs were enormously popular in the US in the early 80's. If you're an American Gen-X'er, you know about The Smurfs. Can't say why the of the critics you mention don't at least remember the Smurfs as something they liked when they were kids, even if they don't care for them now; possibly they're too young? The last HB Smurfs series was in 1990 or thereabouts, and they more or less completely vanished in the US after that, until the first CGI film was made.

I expect they keep using Gargamel for the same reason Superman films keep using Lex Luthor and Batman films keep using the Joker—he's their iconic villain, the villain most people who are familiar with the property at all are familiar with. I agree though, that they've got a great cast of antagonists. I should mention though that Hogatha, while (in my opinion) great, was created by HB for the cartoon series, and Peyo himself actually hated her (though he did eventually adapt her into the comics).

Andre the Black Nerd is one reviewer who likes the Smurfs.

Oh, I'll have to check his reviews then, I've seen some of them and are generally very funny.

I have no problem with Gargamel once what I think is that other villains can be use, even alongside Gargamel whether in an Enemy Mine situation or Bigger Bad. Interesting fact about Hogatha, didn't knew.

On the other hand, a lot can be said about the recent movies, but I still hope some day they can be done well whether live action or animated. When I think in what can be a good Smurfs' live action movie I think in Willow.

Think about it, is a similar plot; a race of small secluded hobbit-like creatures who get involved in a epic fantasy quest against an evil sorceress. Change Bavmorda for Lord Balthazar, cast Peter Dinklage as Peweet, Tom Holland as Johan and turn Gargamel into The Dragon (keep Hank, he does a great job) and you may have something there. Of course the Smurfs would have to be still in CGI but with the right effort and voice actors shouldn't be a problem.

Interestingly Trolls has more or less the same basic plot of the Smurfs (a race of small creatures prey upon by a bigger foe) although I personally think Trolls World Tour is better as a movie, but both show how the concept can be done competently and at the same time having some drama (going by World Tour, the first one not so much).

Rather conveniently to this thread's revival, we have an extended look at the upcoming series The Smurfs: A New Touch of Blue.

The series, expected to air on Nick in Fall 2021, will be in the form of 52, 11-minute episodes with visuals similar to Smurfs: The Lost Village.

The Smurfs look really good in that kind of animation.

Someone in the comments noted the influence of the Minions on them,it's their lack of smurfing

yup, not a good sign.