Now, Peyo Productions — a unit established in 2018 and responsible for creating new audiovisual content within the family-owned Peyo Company — continues to ensure the characters’ lasting presence on screen.
Véronique Culliford confessed:
“I still consider myself the keeper of the village, and of my father’s legacy”. As president [of IMPS/Peyo Company, which she founded in 1984], it is my duty to protect these characters, which is a big responsibility but also brings me joy every day. And I am blessed to be surrounded with people who share the same passion and respect for my father’s creations.”
“With such a rich foundation laid by Peyo himself — unforgettable characters and powerful stories — the creative opportunities are endless”, underlined Nele De Wilde, CCO Audiovisual & Music and Board Member of Peyo Company, who has been with Peyo Productions since the beginning. “New seasons, spin-offs, prequels and beyond are all possible thanks to the worlds Peyo created. More than just an artist, Peyo was a remarkable storyteller, and we see it as our responsibility to honor that legacy while pushing it forward.”
For De Wilde, whose favorite character is none other than the mischievous cat Azrael, Gargamel’s pet, the ambition is to keep expanding this universe with the same creative energy that has been part of the Peyo Cinematic Universe since its very beginning.
First appeared in a 1958 comic book as a supporting act in a Johan & Peewit story, then became the heroes of their own comic book series. It is indeed thanks to the 2D cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera that the Smurfs became a global phenomenon.
In 2016, despite the success of these nine timeless seasons and three Sony Pictures features, Peyo Company believed it was time to create new audiovisual content for younger audiences, aligned with modern kids’ expectations and animation styles.
It was Véronique Culliford herself, the daughter of Peyo, who decided to develop the new series, this time focusing on producing a Belgian show in the homeland of the Smurfs. Peyo Productions was established, sixty years after the first Smurfs appeared in Peyo’s comics.
Bringing Smurfs Back to TV in the 21st Century
Peyo Productions established a development and co- production partnership with the Paris-based studio
Dupuis Audiovisual (Ellipse Animation), part of the Media Participations Group. A historic partner of the Smurfs, Media Participations and its subsidiaries Dupuis / Le Lombard publish the Smurfts albums in French, with the latter still creating new stories in collaboration with Peyo Company’s publishing department.
As the executive producer, Peyo Productions was not only a crucial partner in bringing this European project to life, but it also served as the guardian of Peyo’s legacy throughout the process.
“In all our past and present endeavors, our ambition is to keep expanding this universe with the same creative energy, valuing the quality of writing, directing, animation, music, and rendering”, adds De Wilde. “And in doing so, always strive to share with audiences around the globe the sense of joy, wonder, and connection that makes these characters timeless.”
Premiering in April 2021 in Belgium before expanding to French, German, and US networks, the new animated series of The Smurfs is a Belgian-French-German co-production backed by KiKA, TF1, Ketnet, and RTBF, which has been airing on Nickelodeon in the US since the first season.
Now, in the making of the fourth season, consisting of 52×11’ episodes, Peyo Productions and its partners have introduced new characters, exciting adventures, and thrilling fun rides for children once again, true to the spirit of The Smurfs. The Smurfies — female Smurfs with their own village and a shared love for nature and adventure, along with a mutual dislike for Gargamel — were introduced in the third season, along with Gargamel’s bothersome nephews and a quirky yet cuddly ice-breathing dragon. In season four, these popular characters will return, joining an ensemble cast led by Smurfette, Hefty, Papa Smurf, Brainy, and all the beloved heroes created by Peyo.
“Next to this TV series which is of course dear to all of us, we also have two standalone adventures in the works”, reveals François Deglain, Line Producer at Peyo Productions. “These two 22-minute stories take the viewer on adventures beyond the borders of the villages and the forest, expanding even more our characters’ little blue world.”
An Unexpected Arrival will introduce a new challenge for the Smurfies as they also discover the joys of caring for a baby Smurfie dropped by a stork. Meanwhile, The Great Magic Showdown will reveal why the evil wizard Gargamel is willing to go to any lengths to capture the Smurfs. In this second special, the Smurfs will reunite with the kind-hearted whitebeard wizard-alchemist Homnibus, a longtime friend of Papa Smurf. A recurring character from Peyo’s comic books, Homnibus also appears in Johan & Peewit and always offers good advice to the sometimes-playful Smurfs….
Building on the success of the latest animated feature’s strong connection to music and its long tradition of Smurfing all day, Peyo Productions also has plans for a digital-first series focused on music. “Smurfs music was famous in the nineties and two-thousands,” emphasizes De Wilde. “All over the world, kids and young adults were dancing to the famous covers that were smurfed. It’s a different era now. Our plan is to revive the Smurf music through a new musical series, with a digital-first approach deeply connected with the realities of our times.” More updates on that exciting project coming soon, while parents are already preparing for the next blue wave of Smurfy tunes.
>>> Read the full article in the latest issue of The European Animation Journal. <<<
