The Smurfs (1981 TV series)
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 August 25, 1990. 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
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
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, which came later on and led to the elimination of Saturday morning children's shows.
Further appearances
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.
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", "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.
- '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
- Charlie Adler - Natural Smurf/Nat Smurfling (1983–1988)
- Jack Angel -
- Marlene Aragon -
- Bob Arbogast -
- René Auberjonois -
- Ed Begley, Jr. -
- Bernard Behrens -
- Michael Bell - Grouchy Smurf, Handy Smurf, Lazy Smurf, Johan (1982–1988)
- Gregg Berger -
- Lucille Bliss - Smurfette
- Susan Blu - Nanny Smurf (1988), Pansy
- Sorrell Booke -
- Greg Burson -
- Ruth Buzzi -
- William Callaway - Clumsy Smurf, Painter Smurf
- Hamilton Camp - Greedy Smurf, Harmony Smurf
- Roger C. Carmel -
- Mary Jo Catlett -
- William Christopher -
- Philip L. Clarke -
- Selette Cole -
- Henry Corden -
- Tandy Cronyn -
- Peter Cullen - Zeus (1989)
- Brian Cummings -
- Jim Cummings - Sultan of Sweets (1989)
- Keene Curtis - Lord Balthazar
- Jennifer Darling - Princess Savina
- Leo DeLyon -
- Patti Deutsch -
- Richard Dysart -
- Marshall Efron - Sloppy Smurf
- Richard Erdman -
- Bernard Erhard - Timber Smurf
- June Foray - Jokey Smurf, Mother Nature, Gargamel's Mother
- Pat Fraley - Tuffy Smurf (1984)
- Steve Franken -
- Linda Gary - Dame Barbara
- Dick Gautier - Wooly Smurf
- Henry Gibson -
- Ed Gilbert -
- Patty Glick -
- Danny Goldman - Brainy Smurf
- Ernest Harada -
- Phil Hartman -
- Bob Holt - The King (1982–1988)
- Jerry Houser -
- John Ingle -
- Tony Jay - Merlin (1989)
- Arte Johnson -
- Marvin Kaplan -
- Zale Kessler -
- Aron Kincaid -
- Kip King - Tailor Smurf
- Paul Kirby - Narrator (1985–1990)
- Robbie Lee -
- Ruta Lee - Morgan Lafay (1989)
- Marilyn Lightstone -
- Allan Lurie -
- Norma MacMillan - Brenda (1983)
- Tress MacNeille - Blue Eyes' mother
- Kenneth Mars - King Bullrush, Julius Geezer (1989)
- Mona Marshall - Andria (1983)
- Amanda McBroom - Chlorhydris
- Cindy McGee -
- Julie McWhirter - Baby Smurf (1986–1989), Sassette Smurfling (1985–1989)
- Allan Melvin -
- Don Messick - Papa Smurf, Azrael, Dreamy Smurf, Sickly Smurf (1983), Sweepy Smurf
- Sidney Miller -
- Larry Moss -
- Pat Musick - Snappy Smurfling (1985–1989)
- Noelle North - Slouchy Smurfling (1985–1988), Blue Eyes
- Alan Oppenheimer - Vanity Smurf, Father Time
- Patricia Parris - Acorn
- Rob Paulsen - Marco Smurf (1985)
- Clare Peck -
- Vic Perrin -
- Henry Polic II - Tracker Smurf
- Philip Proctor - King Gerard
- Dan Radloff - Sneaky Smurf, Spy Smurf, Stinky Smurf
- Robert Ridgely -
- Neil Ross -
- Joseph Ruskin -
- Will Ryan - Wartmonger
- Michael Rye - Morlock
- William Schallert -
- Ronnie Schell -
- Marilyn Schreffler -
- Avery Schreiber -
- Mimi Seton -
- Susan Silo - Petaluma (1986)
- Hal Smith -
- Kath Soucie - Adella (1987), Ali Baby (1989)
- John Stephenson -
- Kris Stevens - Narrator (1981–1985)
- Andrea Stoddart -
- Andre Stojka -
- Dee Stratton -
- Russi Taylor - Smoogle (1988–1989), Brenda (1986)
- Fred Travalena -
- Brenda Vaccaro - Scruple (1986–1989), Architect Smurf
- Janet Waldo - Hogatha
- B.J. Ward -
- Lennie Weinrib - Bigmouth
- Frank Welker - Clockwork Smurf, Hefty Smurf, Peewit (1982–1989), Poet Smurf, Puppy (1985–1988), Wild Smurf (1987–1989), Nemesis (1988), Darkness Monster, Sandman, misc. others
- Paul Winchell - Gargamel, Baby Smurf, Nosey Smurf
- Jonathan Winters - Grandpa Smurf (1986–1989)
- Francine Witkin - Lady Luck
- Alan Young - Miner Smurf, Farmer Smurf, Scaredy Smurf
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]
- 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
- Argentina
- Canal 11 de Buenos Aires (Mid 80's-1989)
- Telefe (1989–1993) (2008)
- Yugoslavia
- Radio Televizija Beograd (1985)
Syndication
The series currently airs in reruns on Boomerang. The episodes were edited by Hanna-Barbera in 1987 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 Television Program Enterprises (later Rysher Entertainment), Tribune Entertainment (for DiC) and Worldvision Enterprises (now CBS Television Distribution). The cartoon is now distributed direct from 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
Region 1
Warner Home Video released the complete first season on DVD in two volume sets in 2008.[8][9] No further seasons have yet been released.
| DVD Name |
Ep # |
Release date |
| Season One, Volume One |
19 |
February 26, 2008 |
| Season One, Volume Two |
20 |
October 7, 2008 |
Region 2
Fabulous Films has released the first two seasons on DVD in the UK.[10][11]
The Smurfs and the Magical Flute 2011 Sony Home Entertainment has announced to release the full Series in 9 Season Sets on DVD in Germany, with german Sound only, beginning in August 2011.[12]
| DVD Name |
Ep # |
Release date |
| Complete 1st Season |
26 |
July 5, 2010 |
| Complete 2nd Season |
36 |
September 6, 2010 |
|
| DVD Name |
Ep # |
Release date |
| Die komplette erste Staffel |
27 |
August 4, 2011 |
| Die komplette zweite Staffel |
24 |
August 4, 2011 |
| Die komplette dritte Staffel |
?? |
October 31, 2011 |
| Die komplette vierte Staffel |
?? |
October 31, 2011 |
| Die komplette fünfte Staffel |
?? |
October 31, 2011 |
| Die komplette sechste Staffel |
?? |
December 31, 2011 |
| Die komplette siebte Staffel |
?? |
December 31, 2011 |
| Die komplette achte Staffel |
?? |
March 31, 2012 |
| Die komplette neunte Staffel |
?? |
March 31, 2012 |
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'[13] with new packaging released on 2 September 2011.
- The Smurfs - Time Travellers (3 Disc Set)[14] was released on 5 November 2008.
- The Smurfs - Smurfette Collection (3 Disc Set)[15] was released on 1 September 2009.
- The Smurfs - Papa Smurf Collection (3 Disc Set)[16] was released on 4 November 2009.
- The Smurfs - Favourites Collection (6 Disc Box Set)[17] was released on 29 June 2010.
- The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 1 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[18] was released on 3 November 2010.
- The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 2 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[19] was released on 3 November 2010.
- The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 3 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[20] was released on 1 December 2010.
- The Smurfs - Just Smurfy 4 (Box Set) (BONUS Figurine)[21] was released on 2 March 2011.
- The Smurfs - Complete Season 1 (3 Disc Digipak)[22] and The Smurfs - Complete Season 2 (3 Disc Digipak)[23] was released on 24 August 2011.
- The Smurfs - Complete Season 3 (4 Disc Digipak)[24] and The Smurfs - Complete Season 4 (4 Disc Digipak)[25] was released on 5 October 2011.
- The Smurfs - Ultimate Collection 1: Limited Edition - Seasons 1-5 (18 Disc Box Set)[26] released on 24 August 2011.
- The Smurfs - Ultimate Collection 2: Limited Edition - Seasons 6-9 (16 Disc Box Set)[27] released on 2 November 2011.
Notes
- ^ "Pierre Culliford, Smurf Creator, Dies at 64". The New York Times. December 25, 1992. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/25/arts/pierre-culliford-smurf-creator-dies-at-64.html?scp=4&sq=smurfs&st=cse. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ "Top 100 animated series". IGN. http://uk.tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/97.html. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Nash, Eric P. (December 2, 2002). "Charles Dupuis, 84, Publisher Who Introduced the Smurfs". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/02/arts/charles-dupuis-84-publisher-who-introduced-the-smurfs.html?scp=1&sq=smurfs&st=cse. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ Barbera, Joseph (1994). My Life in "Toons": From Flatbush to Bedrock in Under a Century. Atlanta, GA: Turner Publishing. pp. 184–187. ISBN 1-57036-042-1.
- ^ Leo Cendrowicz (2008-01-15). "The Smurfs Are Off to Conquer the World - Again". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1703303,00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ Montreal Mirror article, Astro's Treasure Chest website article
- ^ Bluebuddies website article Classical Music in the Smurfs
- ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Season-1-Volume-1-Official_Announcement/8337
- ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smurfs-Season-1-Volume-2/10066
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smurfs-Complete-1st-Season-DVD/dp/B003N71KZ6
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smurfs-Complete-2nd-DVD/dp/B003N71L1Y
- ^ http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=die+schl%FCmpfe&x=0&y=0&sprefix=die+schl%FCmpfe#/ref=sr_st?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=die+schl%C3%BCmpfe&qid=1309814695&rh=n%3A284266%2Ck%3Adie+schl%C3%BCmpfe&sort=-releasedate
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/813631
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/801856
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/807410
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/808843
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/813630
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/815877
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/815878
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/816245
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/817918
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820188
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820189
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/821003
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/821004
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820187
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/820694
External links
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