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FIRST LOOK

First Look: The Smurfs CGI Movie

by Alex Billington
February 17, 2008
Source: ComingSoon

You've got be kidding me! As much as I loved The Smurfs, that is, when I was about 8 years old, there's no need for a movie. Or am I just no longer a kid and missing the point? Either way, ComingSoon got their hands on some very early pre-visualization from the movie (the photo above is not related to the movie). The Smurfs is being turned into a CGI 3D animated movie that's being developed by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. Oddly, DreamWorks name has never been mentioned in connection with this, so it might be a production that Paramount is putting together on their own. If you're really curious to relive your childhood, then go ahead and check out these images.

ComingSoon says that these photos came from some sort of Happy Smurfday Euro Tour. I'm not sure whether that involves marijuana or another sort of hallucinogenic drug, or whether it's actually something "for the kids".

The Smurfs CGI Feature Film

The Smurfs, or Les Schtroumpfs as they were originally called in French, first appeared in October 1958 in the Belgian comic magazine Spirou. They were created by the Brussels-born cartoonist Pierre Culliford — better known as Peyo — and were originally mere supporting cast in his medieval Johan and Pirlouit series. (via Time) Hanna-Barbera later produced a very successful animated TV show featuring the Smurfs that aired from 1981 to 1989 with around 256 episodes.

While there isn't a cast or even an animation studio attached, The Smurfs movie does have a screenwriter - Herb Ratner. Unfortunately this is his first writing gig ever, which isn't too promising. As for a director, IMDb shows Colin Brady in the slot. Brady was previously set to direct AstroBoy for Imagi Animation but was later replaced by David Bowers. The most recent updates on this project say that it's expected to arrive sometime in 2010.

Not only is this a very long way out from arriving, but it's a project that probably won't have much interest to me in the end. Like Horton Hears a Who, I'm interested in seeing it, but it's purely a kids movie and it's designed to entertain kids, not adults. Sure the Smurfs were a childhood enjoyment, but they probably won't provide the same level of enjoyment nowadays unless its with some hallucinogens. Anyway, enough of my own banter - I'm curious to hear what everyone else thinks about this project?

Filed under First Look, Movie News

From around the web:

Capn Trips

Hmm, kinda cool I guess. I'll wait for the DVD/blu-ray though, and even then I'll only rent it and purely as a nostalgia trip.
Frame

Sounds like a dud. Everyone prepare for Papa Smurf break-dancing with Smurfette beatboxing in the background. Atta boy, Hollywood! Set the industry a few more years back.
http://www.myspace.com/kail2007 Kail

This could prove interesting. It's always nice to see a CGI movie coming out of a studio other than Disney/Pixar or Dreamworks. TMNT was a real treat because it was different, Dreamworks and Pixar, while the movies are good, aren't that different. Yeah the renderings look better with each movie, but it always has the same style. Cant wait to see what happens with this.
Darrin

smurfs is back
http://www.tracksounds.com Christopher

It was only a matter of time. I was down with Les Smurfs back in the day, but highly likely this will capture the same "magic." Ok - so might as well get someone working on THE SNORKS. That's right...The Snorks - The Smurfs underwater cousins. Anyone remember those guys?
Christopher

Uh...that's UNLIKELY.
Curtis

the best way to watch this movie would be baked, it would be hilarious. Other than that not interested in this movie, i didn't even like The Smurfs when i was growing up.
avoidz

Yeah, I had some of those plastic figures back and traded them in the school playground back in the early 1980s; and watched the cartoon That sorta means I'm getting a bit of for this shi... I mean, for Smurfs (though Smurfettes are hot).
Heckle

Which one will eddie murphy voice?
dubs

It would be nice if they left it as a hand drawn cartoon.
Ramon M.

Looks like a dud? Did anyone else see the numbers for Alvin and the Chipmunks? thats right...over $200 mil.
*Dorrian Doniel Eugene

I'm actually interested in seeing if this new production will live up to the hype of the old series. Say what you want about "The Smurfs" but if I'm remembering right the TV show was one of the most watched of it's time period. I actually liked the show and I'm not ashamed to admit that. If more people were honest with themselves and with others they'd admit that too. It's popularity may be a bit shocking as we look back now, but it was what it was. I only hope that it's the type of movie that is interesting for both kids and adults while at the same time staying true to the original format of the character profiles. Nothing is worse than bringing back an old TV classic while destroying everything that made it a classic in the first place. Make it fresh. Keep it true to heart. Make it believable (well as believable as "The Smurfs" can be). If they are smart enough to make that happen, then I'll be the first to but the DVD once it's released. *DDE
*Dorrian Doniel Eugene

P.S. - that "....but the DVD..." was meant to be "...buy the DVD..." (LOL ... at myself) "my bad".
James

This brings back the 80s when I was a kid, listening to Gargamel. Somebody mentioned that during the Christmas at my work, and then someone bashed it on You-tube, followed by that 50th year anniversary announcement. Many people have to know that you don't TOTALLY grow out of The Smurfs. I am talking about that on You-tube along with my video game reviews. However, when it comes to the world we live in today, many kids don't want to watch cartoons anymore. These days, kids are playing the Wii, and the PS3, and so am I. When the Smurfs came out in 1982, there was nothing but Atari, and two lame games. Since than, countless games came out in Europe. I played them on the emulator, and they were darn good. I think that the CGI movies could influence Warner Interactive and team up with another video game company to bring the Smurfs to the video game rhelm, and that could be a potential competition against Mario and Sonic. And as for it only being for kids, that's just a statement. There are adults who like the Smurfs today, because these adults are Smurf veterans who loved the show 20 years ago. My ruling is that they need to make The Smurfs entertaining towards adults as well as kids, like, put some butter into the series that could make adults want to watch the show (I enjoyed Shrek and Flushed Away, and played them on various system). The only thing I hope for is for the movies and the video games not to turn me over. Because, I hate it when they release movies based on things I enjoyed as a childhood that wind up stinking. On the other hand, I hate it when they quit making stuff for things I like when I was a child. But you never grow totally out of The Smurfs. Sure you may grow out of the cartoons, but you can allways use the Smurfs as your avatar and Talk Smurfy over the Internet. Even though I don't watch the cartoons that much anymore, I still want to see what my childhood favorite would turn out. Maybe they can put some action into it, so that adults can find it very fun, and hopefully, the games (if they make any) won't stink once it comes out. So untill then, Laa-laa-la-la-la-la, Smurf'in all the way.
http://totallyanimated.ning.com/ Christina

Hello I am a Digital Animation student and I grew up watching the smurfs. I have children and they love to watch it on boomerang. I'm so glad that it will be made in 3D. I should graduate by the time that it is here and I look forward to watching it with my family. I am going to pass this info on to my teachers and fellow students so we can keep an eye out for more info. It looks great so far, keep up the great work.
mystical

leave it to go old nickelodeon to go and ruin a good thing....but i guess that you have to bring back childhood memories somehow right??
http://totallyanimated.ning.com/ Christina

I have to comment on Mystical's comment. I think this is so the right step to go in, Digital is all around us and the future, so why not do the Smurfs. If you look at all the Animations that have been don I do not feel this would rune anything. I think if you give it a chance you will see it is a good idea for our children and to re-u-night us with our childhoods.
Robert

Kind of hilarious that these companies are resurrecting a communist/socialist propganda cartoon, unless they completely gloss over that point, which they probably will. If you didn't know that then you obviously don't look very deep into things. All the members of the community dress and look the same (except their leader who wears red and has a long white beard). The Smurfs' community generally takes the form of a cooperative, sharing and kind environment based on the principle that each Smurf has something he or she is good at, and thus contributes it to Smurf society as he or she can. In return, each Smurf appears to be given their necessities of life, from housing and clothes to food. The Smurfs who cause the problems are those that think outside the community or don't fill their role: Lazy Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, Brainy Smurf, and so on. The ones that fix everything are those that are important to Communist ideology such as Handy Smurf (worker) and Papa Smurf (leader). Gargamel, their nemesis, wants to capture the Smurfs in order to turn them into gold (capitalist). Anyway I'm just rambling here on a point that is impossible to because the original creator of the cartoon never admitted it. I just thought it was interesting and gives one a little something more to think about when they go see this movie among the throngs of young children screaming wildly in the theater.
Lindsey

It is THE SMURFS! Any person that grew up watching The Smurfs will want to see it! I am excited, even if it is a childs movie! It brings back great childhood memories, the days where we could think up the most incredable stories and fantasies and not have the world tell us it is the wrong way to think! To bash something that has not been given a chance is totally rediculous! Let it happen!! If you don't like it, then you probably never cared for The Smurfs or any eighties cartoon in the first place. Completly lacking the joy of animation, its too bad!
Lindsey

A lot of people read way to much into this cartoon! Having to do drugs to enjoy a show? WTF? That is beyond messed up! Communist/Socialist? Seriously people it is a cartoon! Can we keep the politcal views out of at least this?