Before storming theaters with three movies, the Smurfs have been in comic books and on TV. Travel this adventure!
The Smurfs are blue, goblin-like creatures. They live in mushroom-shaped houses in a village hidden in the forest. In this village live more than 100 Smurfs, led by the wise Papa Smurf. Each one is named according to the characteristics it has, such as Grumpy, Sleepy, Genius, Stout and Clumsy.
1. First appearance
The Smurfs were created by the belgian illustrator Pierre Cullifordknown as peyo. They first appeared in 1958 in a series of comics called ‘Johan et
Pirlouit’, which told the adventures of a knight named Johan.
When peyo created the Smurfs, thought of making them green. But he soon realized that readers could confuse the Smurfs with the plants in the forest where the stories would take place. Then, she tested the red and didn’t like the result. Finally, she chose blue!
2. Own magazine
The novelty pleased the magazine’s readers and editors. Thus, in 1959, the Smurfs began to have their own comic book, making it even more successful! From 1989, the comics won their own magazine, Schtroumpfs.
The word Smurfs is a simplified version of Schtroumpfs – in the original, the creatures are called Les Schtroumpfs. The term was coined by peyo during dinner, when, instead of saying salt, he said schtroumpf (which means something like “whatever”).
Years later, the characters’ names were changed to Smurfs, easier to speak.
3. Success on TV
In the 1980s, the Smurfs won a cartoon series, created with the participation of peyo and broadcast in Brazil by Rede Globo. There were more than 250 episodes, produced over eight years. That’s how the Smurfs became known around the world.
The episodes of the cartoon showed the everyday life of the Smurfs. They had adventures trying to escape Gargamel, the main villain. The stories were full of fantasy, adventure and comedy.
4. The movies
They hit theaters in 2011: the sorcerer Gargamel invades the village! When fleeing from the villain, Clumsy, Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Genie, Grumpy and Dashing cross a portal and arrive in New York (United States). In The Smurfs 2 (2013), Gargamel creates an evil version of the blue beings to try to steal their essence!
Did you know?
In 2008, Belgium created a series of €5 coins that featured a Smurf. The action commemorated the 50th anniversary of the characters.
Source: Recreio
