I personally have been smurfing The Smurfs feature-film adaptation, officially titled The Smurfs 3-D, since the announcement by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation back in January of 2008. The first behind-the-scenes rendered images of the CGI Smurfs came out this past December.
The feature-film Smurfs is being smurfed by Raja Gosnell (Scooby Doo, Slither) and the script was smurfed by David Stern and David Weiss (Shrek 2, Shrek 3). Today we have a smurfy look at the first teaser poster for The Smurfs 3-D, then below that some behind the smurf stills with the unfinished wire animation. Take a smurf for yourself:
.
Image from pvcblue.com (click to enlarge)
.
.
The Smurfs, or Les Schtroumpfs as they were called in the Netherlands, have been around since the fantastical mind of Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford (or Peyo as he was known) originally thought them up in 1958. In 1981, Hanna & Barbera started producing The Smurfs animated TV series for NBC and didn’t stop until 1992, but not before making over 250 episodes. The Smurfs have a far-reaching appeal across the world and are currently in some form of syndication in 30 countries. Read more on their history over at the official Smurf website.
Now, before you go slamming this film all to pieces, let’s consider some of the people involved with this project. Director Raja Gosnell has proven himself to be very solid and dependable behind the camera, and his work with the first Scooby Doo was outstanding – I do not blame him for the acting “talents” of Freddy Prince Jr. The CGI in that film was well-employed, and makes me think he’ll demand the same quality from Sony Pictures Animation.
The writers are solid as well, with both Stern and Weiss working on The Rugrats Movie and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, which were both good kids films in their own right. No reason why they would under-deliver with a Smurfs script. There hasn’t been any voice actors confirmed for the project yet, but John Lithgow and Julia Sweeney are rumored to be in the cast. I can see Lithgow either doing the voice of PaPa Smurf or putting on the black wizard’s robe as Gargamel.
If you are concerned with how the Smurf actually looks on that promo poster, remember it’s a three dimensional rendering and not a two dimensional drawing. Look at the model “Peyo” used to draw from in 1958, does it look familiar? I think Gosnell and SPA have hit the nail on the head when it comes to the Smurf look.
I may not be excited to see The Smurf film as an adult, but as a parent with kids, the idea appeals to me very much. Both of my kids really enjoyed the Garfield movie, and if the Smurfs 3-D is done even remotely the same way, then it should do very well when it is released next year. I picked up the complete first season of The Smurfs TV show on DVD last year, and it quickly became a favorite staple in my daughter’s cartoon viewing agenda. Right now, however, she’s watching Tom & Jerry, and since both properties were produced by Hanna & Barbera, and with Robert Rodriguez set to direct The Jetsons next year, there’s no reason why we couldn’t see a Tom & Jerry live-action CGI movie in the near future.
So what do you think of The Smurfs 3-D movie? Does it have the chance of becoming a good family/kids film that parents would also enjoy or would you rather see a Smurfs: Hardcore feature-length film?
The Smurfs 3-D smurfs it way into theaters December 17th, 2010.
Source: Cinema Blend, PVC Blue story
Loading ...
The picture of the Smurf looks like a collctible figurine. I would rather see a family film.
a whole lot of Smurfing is going on in that article!
I think I just smurfed up. Why the smurf do we have to get all these smurfing movies of all these smurfing cartoon characters?! Smurf that!
Smurf everyone involved with this movie!
Actually I don’t mind. My daughter will love it and it could be entertaining.
Hey Vic – why don’t you set the profanity filtering to replace every expletive with smurf … that would hilarious!
Mind if I object to one thing in this newsflash ?
The article referes to the Dutch name of the Smurfs. In the Netherlands they are NOT called Le Schtroumpfs, that is the Belgian/French name for it (I guess). The Dutch name is ‘De Smurfen’ (plural) (though the F is pronounced as a V).
Just thought I’d correct it
@TJ – You may be correct but I pulled that info directly from the smurfs official website which I linked to in the article. Head to the news tab and read. If I’m wrong that is the reason why. Figured I could trust the “official” website…heh. go figure
Smurfs were called ‘De Smurfen’ in The Netherlands, FYI. As in ‘the Smurfs’. ‘Les Schtroumpfs’ is probably the French name.
La la lala lala, bring it on.
Eh.. Like TJ said :s
WHAT THE SMURF!!!!
@INK
That’s a great idea.
Vic
I saw Garfield…they really smurfed that one all to smurf. I think this one will be a red box rental.
I will NEVER watch this film,,,
Thank you and good night,,,
Ahh I spent a few hours killing smurfs in castle Smurfenstein, perhaps some of you would like to do the same??
BUT BEFORE YOU GO THERE! click this link; http://www.evl.uic.edu/aej/smurf/Achtung.wav
It runs on windows media player is very quick 7 sec.
rated G and harmless.
http://www.evl.uic.edu/aej/smurf.html
I would like to know how they are going to smurf around the fact that there is one girl in that entire race of people…..Did anyone else notice that in the cartoon?
I think this movie may be very cool for kids. I do hope to see more quality kids’ movies being made just in case that one day I may decided to have some children myself.
I also think this might spawn a good game.
@Fennaldune
You are smurfing with the idea that Smurfs are human, and they are clearly not. The DNA of a Smurf is quite different in the nucleic chains bonding the base pairs. Closer analysis shows that Smurfs are actually asexual and the one that looks female is really just another Smurf that looks different. Upon further reflection…
Who the smurf are you?!
Dr. Smurfenstein, of the University of Smurfology. I have compiled a list of….
How about a list of SHUT THE SMURF UP!!!
Is there any chance in h-e-double hockey sticks that I am going to see this movie? Nope. I do think it is a great idea for a kids film though. I was never a fan of the Smurfs (ONE female Smurf and all those male Smurfs?), but it was a good, innocent cartoon. I’m sure the kids will love it.
I also second Ink’s idea, Vic. LOL.
Let the kids enjoy it as we did growing up. I so can’t wait to see this. I loved the Smurfs, when I was little.