Smurfs, The

1 9 8 1 – 1 9 8 9 (Belgium/USA)
256 x 30 minute episodes

These lovable powder blue characters were the creation of Belgian cartoonist Peyo Culliford, who, in the late 70s, licensed Smurf toys in America.

NBC President Fred Silverman observed how much his own daughter cherished her Smurf doll and quickly devised a cartoon series.

The show chronicled the adventures of the little mushroom-dwelling humanoids, led by 543-year-old Papa Smurf. Their principal foe was the wizard Gargamel, who tried to capture them for his own vile purposes.

Among the most frequently seen members of the Smurf clan were Hefty, Lazy, Jokey, Handy, Grouchy, Greedy, Harmony, Vanity, Brainy, and Clumsy, all of whose personalities were described by their names.

Later additions to the cast included the five Smurflings who fell back in time and became youngsters – Snappy, Nat, Slouchy, Grandpa Smurf, and Scruple, a co-conspirator with Gargamel in efforts to defeat the Smurfs.

In 1982 a separate installment, featuring the comic medieval adventures of Johan and his aide Peewit appeared, but it never caught on the way the Smurfs did. Though the cartoon’s accent was on light comedy, it did find time in 1987 to air an anti-drug abuse episode wherein Poet Smurf became addicted after rubbing a witch’s magic orb.

The series became the smash hit of the 1981 – 1982 Saturday morning season and was an Emmy winner in 1982 and 1983 as Outstanding Children’s Entertainment Series.

Papa Smurf 
Don Messick 
Brainy Smurf
Danny Goldman
Smurfette 
Lucille Bliss
Gargamel
Paul Winchell
Hefty Smurf 
Frank Welker
Handy Smurf 
Michael Bell
Clumsy Smurf 
William Callaway
Greedy Smurf 
Hamilton Camp
Jokey Smurf 
June Foray
Farmer Smurf 
Alan Young
Vanity Smurf 
Alan Oppenheimer 
Baby Smurf 
Paul Winchell
Balthazar
Keene Curtis
Azrael the Cat
Don Messick