The Smurfs (TV series)

The Smurfs (also known as simply Smurfs and syndicated as Smurfs' Adventures) is an American-Belgian animated fantasy-comedy television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1981, to December 2, 1989. Made 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 with a total of 418 stories, excluding three cliffhanger episodes and six specials.

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.

The Smurfs secured their place in American pop culture in 1981, when 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), 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.

The show enjoyed continued success until 1989, when NBC changed the format of the show and removed the Smurfs from the forest and the Smurf village and adopted a lost in time format similar to The Time Tunnel, 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.

TV specials
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", "Super Smurf" and "The Baby Smurf" with new wrap-arounds featuring Papa Smurf telling the stories.


 * The Smurfs' Springtime Special (April 8, 1982) – Gargamel plots 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 Gargamel's evil plans and to bring spring back into the forest. This special is available on The Smurfs Season One Vol. 1 DVD set.


 * 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 wishes for a Prince Smurfing of her own on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, she gets into trouble when she is captured by Gargamel and the Smurfs set out to rescue her. But Gargamel is the least of their worries for Chlorhydris plans to create a world without love. With the help of Cupid, the Smurfs must rescue Smurfette and foil Chlorhydris' evil plot.


 * The Smurfs Halloween (November 5, 1983) – This 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 and Smurfette and Laconia foil his evil plot against the Smurfs.


 * 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.


 * '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
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Production
Outsourced production work was done 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:


 * 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
 * Claude Debussy, Prelude Book 2 No. 6, Général Lavine - eccentri
 * 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" and "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 Ketèlbey, 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 étude No. 6, "Vision"
 * Felix Mendelssohn, Spring Song
 * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Magic Flute
 * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro
 * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D major, K.385 "Haffner", 4th movement, "The Smurflings" episode. Just a very slowed down version.
 * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony No. 0 in G minor, K.550, 1st movement, (episode "The Haunted Smurfs")
 * 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.
 * 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, Swan Lake
 * 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

Syndication
The show was formerly distributed by Worldvision Enterprises (now CBS Television Distribution). It is now distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution, as 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.

Region 1
Warner Home Video released the complete first season on DVD in two volume sets in 2008. Despite high sales of both sets, 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. 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, but included episodes from the second season instead. Another DVD with both Smurfs Christmas specials was released later that year. It is unknown when Warner Archive will release the rest of the seasons.

Region 2
Fabulous Films and Arrow Films have released the first five seasons on DVD in the UK. 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.

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.

Region 4
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' with new packaging released on 2 September 2011.
 * The Smurfs – Time Travellers (3 Disc Set) was released on 5 November 2008.
 * The Smurfs – Smurfette Collection (3 Disc Set) was released on 1 September 2009.
 * The Smurfs – Papa Smurf Collection (3 Disc Set) was released on 4 November 2009.
 * The Smurfs – Favourites Collection (6 Disc Box Set) was released on 29 June 2010.
 * The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 1 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine) was released on 3 November 2010.
 * The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 2 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine) was released on 3 November 2010.
 * The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 3 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine) was released on 1 December 2010.
 * The Smurfs – Just Smurfy 4 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine) was released on 2 March 2011.
 * The Smurfs – Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak) and The Smurfs – Complete Season 2 (3 Disc Digipak) were released on 24 August 2011.
 * The Smurfs – Complete Season 3 (4 Disc Digipak) and The Smurfs – Complete Season 4 (4 Disc Digipak) were released on 5 October 2011.
 * The Smurfs – Complete Season 5 (3 Disc Digipak) was released on 1 December 2011.
 * The Smurfs – Complete Season 6 (5 Disc Digipak) was released on 4 January 2012.
 * The Smurfs – Complete Season 7 (5 Disc Digipak), The Smurfs – Complete Season 8 (2 Disc Digipak) were released on 1 August 2013.
 * The Smurfs – Complete Season 9 (3 Disc Digipak) was released on 14 August 2013.
 * The Smurfs – Ultimate Collection 1: Limited Edition – Seasons 1–5 (18 Disc Box Set) released on 24 August 2011.
 * The Smurfs – Ultimate Collection 2: Limited Edition – Seasons 6–9 (16 Disc Box Set) released on 2 November 2011.

Popular culture

 * 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.