The Smurfs began as supporting characters in a 1958 comic by Belgian cartoonist Peyo, then grew into a franchise spanning comics, television and films. Their timeline runs from the first standalone comic adventure in 1959 to a CGI series launched in 2021 and a film released in July 2025. The different eras also explain why Smurfs can look noticeably different across books and screens.
Where did the Smurfs come from?
Peyo, the pen name of Pierre Culliford, introduced the Smurfs in 1958 in a Johan and Peewit story titled The Smurfs and the Magic Flute. They were supporting characters, but readers responded to them, and Peyo went on to create stories focused on their own adventures. The franchise timeline from Peyo Company dates the first standalone Smurfs story, Les Schtroumpfs Noirs, to 1959, when it appeared in the Belgian comics magazine Spirou.
The comics remain the clearest way to follow the franchise back to its beginnings. The Smurfs Archives Volume 1 is a 304-page hardcover collecting the first twelve stories, with introductions and historical context by Smurfologist Matt Murray. It is a useful starting point for readers interested in Peyo’s original work rather than a screen adaptation. Peyo Company’s comics page provides the collection details.
How did the Smurfs move from comics to television and film?
The 1980s cartoon
Peyo Company’s official timeline marks the first episode of the Smurfs television series’ NBC broadcast in 1981. The Hanna-Barbera cartoon ran from 1981 to 1989 and helped establish the familiar classic look of the characters.
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- CLASSIC SMURFS: Build your collection with this Smurfs 40th Anniversary 10 pack.
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- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Figures look like the classic Smurfs from their debut in 1981.
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The 2021 CGI series
Peyo Company describes The Smurfs (2021) as a CGI animated series aimed at ages 4–11. That age range is the company’s positioning, not an independent audience study. The brand page says the series airs on Nickelodeon and local free-to-air channels and is available on Netflix; those listings can vary by country and change over time, so check local schedules and streaming catalogs.
The 2025 film
Peyo Company lists Smurfs (2025) as a film released in July 2025, with Rihanna voicing Smurfette. The company’s June 2024 announcement had described a planned February 2025 release, but the later brand page gives July 2025 as the release timing. The announcement’s description of an interdimensional adventure reflects the film as it was presented at that time, not an independent assessment of the released movie.
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- COLLECTIBLE: These 2 and 3-inch figures are collectible and can be built out with other Smurf sets and items. Each of these figures is numbered for collectability.
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- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Smurfs product from Jazwares.
Why do the Smurfs look different in different versions?
Peyo Company uses three style labels to distinguish the designs. These names are the rights-holder’s categories, and they help identify the era or medium behind a particular depiction.
- Vintage: Peyo’s early designs from 1958 through the early 1960s, with differences in appearance and color palette.
- Classic: The familiar style developed by Peyo and Studio Peyo from 1963 onward, also associated with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon.
- CGI: The computer-generated style used for the 2021 television series.
So a visual mismatch does not necessarily mean a character is from a different franchise: it may reflect a change in era, medium or animation style. The 2025 film is a separate screen version; the cited brand description does not assign it one of these three labels.
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- HEALTHY IMAGINATIVE PLAY. The Good Luck Smurf from Schleich is carefully designed to inspire safe and creative pretend play for children as both a single toy or part of a larger collection.
- PART OF A GROWING PLAY WORLD. The Good Luck Smurf is part of the Smurfs collection of figurines and playsets from Schleich. Great for gifting, this figurine can stand alone or fit into a larger, modular play world.
- BUILT TO LAST. As an 85-year-old German toy company, we are committed to manufacturing realistic toys with the highest standard of quality and safety for years of durable play and collectability. All products and the materials used meet or exceed the strictest applicable toy safety requirements.
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What Smurfs books and merchandise are available?
For a history-focused introduction, the archive collection is the best-documented book option: it gathers the first twelve stories and adds historical introductions. For gifts and collectibles, Peyo Company says Peyo Licensing handles worldwide licensing for consumer products, family entertainment and experiences, and book publishing. An official licensed shop is not the same thing as a complete catalogue of products available in every country.
Paramount Shop Canada displayed Smurfs products including apparel, drinkware, pins, stickers and gifts when its catalog was accessed. Its listings and stock are specific to Canada and can change. The page is a practical place to check for Canadian merchandise, but availability elsewhere should be verified with local retailers.
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- DETAILED & REALISTIC. Crafted with precision and authentic detail to create a lifelike toy that teaches and inspires toddlers and kids; helps introduce children to animals. From the first sketch to the intricate finishing touches, we see value in every detail.
- HEALTHY IMAGINATIVE PLAY. The Greedy Smurf from Schleich is carefully designed to inspire safe and creative pretend play for children as both a single toy or part of a larger collection.
- PART OF A GROWING PLAY WORLD. The Greedy Smurf is part of the Smurfs collection of figurines and playsets from Schleich. Great for gifting, this figurine can stand alone or fit into a larger, modular play world.
- BUILT TO LAST. As an 85-year-old German toy company, we are committed to manufacturing realistic toys with the highest standard of quality and safety for years of durable play and collectability. All products and the materials used meet or exceed the strictest applicable toy safety requirements.
- EXPERT APPROVED. “Schleich playsets and figurines inspire kids to play imaginatively: an essential part of healthy childhood development so often overlooked in today’s fast-paced world.” - Dr. Sandra Stone, open-ended play expert
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