Who and what are the Smurfs?

                 The Smurfs are tiny, blue creatures who live in mushroom houses in a village hidden in the forest. Smurfs are blue, three-apples tall, and speak a dialect which makes heavy use of the word "smurf". The root word "smurf" is used extensively as a noun, verb, and everything in-between; "what a smurfy smurf, Papa Smurf" would not be an uncommon sentence. There are over 100 Smurfs inside the Smurf Village. The Smurfs are led by 543-year-old Papa Smurf, a good and powerful wizard. Each Smurf is assigned a task in the village, according to their ability and the needs of the community. Smurfs live peaceful lives in harmony with nature. The word "Schtroumpf" (Smurf) is the Flemish equivalent of the English language colloquial "Whatchamacallit".

                                 

      The list of Smurfs characters include:

Papa Smurf : Papa Smurf is the leader of the Smurfs, and the only Smurf who wears red. Papa Smurf brings the Smurfs to safety in times of danger and crisis. Everyone in Smurf Village turns to Papa Smurf when things go awry. Papa is always busy making magical spells and potions in his laboratory


  
  

Lazy Smurf : Lazy is perhaps the most aply named Smurf in the village. Almost certifiably narcoleptic, Lazy can fall asleep anywhere, anytime, day or night.

   

Handy Smurf : Handy wears a pencil in his ear and helps fix things in the village. Handy is known for his amazing technological creations, such as the telesmurf (telephone), Weather Smurfing Machine, and Smurfmobile. The rest of the Smurfs have a bit of a Luddite bent and often criticize (and eventually abandon) Handy's inventions.

 

 Brainy Smurf : Brainy seems to be an expert on everything...but he's usually wrong. He publishes a series of missives entitled "Quotations of Brainy Smurf" - universally reviled by all (except himself, of course). Brainy's best friend is Clumsy.
 


 Clumsy Smurf : Clumsy Smurf is a kind soul who is often tripped up by his own two feet. Clumsy loves to collect rocks and is best friends with Brainy. Clumsy's clothing seems to fit rather loosely, adding to his clumsy appearance.
 

  
Reporter Smurf : Reporter Smurf is the news reporter for the Smurf Village. Reporter Smurf wears a newsroom-style visor on his head and carries a quill and notepad. Reporter interviews various Smurfs for publication in his newspaper, which he prints using his printing press, which is maintained by Handy Smurf
 


Tailor Smurf : Tailor makes all the clothes in the village. He's often seen with a needle or two in his cap and a tape
  
 



Farmer Smurf : Farmer plants the crops for the Smurfs and helps organize the harvest. Farmer Smurf wears a straw hat and overalls.
 




Dreamy Smurf : Dreamy Smurf is always dreaming of other places and other things. Dreamy is best known for his appearance as Astrosmurf, where he visited the fictitious Swoofs on their home planet.
 




Harmony Smurf : Harmony is the musician of Smurf Village, but he doesn't have many fans. Although he deserves an "A+" for effort, Harmony's trumpet playing leaves much to be desired, and he's usually asked to stop playing as soon as he gets started
 


Painter Smurf : Painter Smurf is a brilliant artist (much like our own Vic George). Painter speaks with a French accent and refers to his paintings as "masterpizzas".
 



Hefty Smurf : Hefty Smurf is the strongest Smurf in the village. He's also the only Smurf to sport a tattoo (a red heart)! Hefty is friends with Handy and can often be seen lifting weights or exercising. 
 



Vanity Smurf : Vanity Smurf is never without a mirror in sight. Vain to an extreme, Vanity is constantly worried about his appearance. Vanity wears a flower in his cap and is demonstrably effete.
 




Jokey Smurf : Jokey is known for his pecurliar laugh and loud, exploding "giftboxes". Whenever you hear "get ready for a surprise!", you'd better be ready to duck and cover your ears - BOOM!
 



 Smurfette : Smurfette was created by Gargamel to destroy the Smurfs - and she was orginally a brunette! Papa Smurf's magic changed her nature (and her hair color). Smurfette loves flowers and the color pink. Smurfette is one of three female Smurfs in the village - but she was the first. Read the story of how both Gargamel and Papa Smurf created Smurfette here.
 


Poet Smurf : Poet Smurf lives for the written word and always has a parchment and quill in hand. Poet is known for the trill in his voice and his fantastic odes.
 



Grouchy Smurf : Grouchy Smurf is indeed grouchy! His favorite expression is "I hate (fill in the blank)!" whenever someone mentions pretty much anything. Grouchy usually has a scowl on his face. 
 



 Greedy Smurf : Greedy is an exceptionally greedy Smurf. He loves one thing above all else - food. Greedy is often chased by Baker Smurf for stealing snacks and goodies. Greedy just can't seem to help himself!
 




Sassette Smurfling : Sassette was created by the Smurflings to serve as a sister for themselves and Smurfette. Sassette is an outdoorsy kind of girl, sports red hair and freckles, and wears pink overalls.

 
 


Baby Smurf : One special evening, Baby Smurf was delivered to the village via a stork! Baby has magical powers and speaks in baby-talk. It is not known whether Baby is a girl or a boy. 
 




Grandpa Smurf : The oldest of all the Smurfs, Grandpa returned to the Smurf Village after a five hundred-year absence. Grandpa is energetic and rambunctious, wears a yellow hat and pants, reading glasses, and carries a cane.

Who created the Smurfs?

The Smurfs officially were created in in Brussels, Belgium by a man known as "Peyo" in 1958. It should be noted, though, that the Smurfs actually debuted in the newspaper comic "Johan et Pirouit", published in the Belgian daily "La dernière heure" in 1947 (and later in the children's section of "Le Soir" in 1951 & 1952). Pierrot Culliford (Peyo) was born in 1928, and passed away in 1992. He received the nickname Peyo because of his cousin's inability to pronouce his name properly.

 Smurf Voice Actors

Papa Smurf - Jonathan Winters Veteran actor and comedian Jonathan Winters will voice Papa Smurf in the new Smurf movie. Jonathan is old and wise like Papa Smurf, so he is a good choice. Mr. Winters also provides a link to the past... he also voiced ancillary characters on the original Hanna Barbera Smurf cartoon!

Katy Perry voices Smurfette

Smurfette - Katy Perry Singer Katy Perry voices Smurfette in the Smurfs movie! Smurfette has always been about attitude and emotion so Katy Perry should bring a lot to the table. Will Katy be as successful as her 1980s counterpart Tiffany, the pop-star who voiced Judy Jetson in The Jetsons Movie? Time will tell!

Gargamel - Wallace Shawn Although Shawn was up for the role of Gargamel, the part ultimately went to Hank Azaria. Wallace Shawn was a great choice to play Gargamel though - he certainly has the bald look down pat, and was a good fit for the part. Wallace has a distinctive and exciting voice that could have really livened up the movie.

Actor	Character
Paul Reubens	Jokey Smurf
John Oliver	Vanity Smurf
Kenan Thompson	Greedy Smurf
Fred Armisen	Brainy Smurf
B.J. Novak	Baker Smurf
Wolfgang Puck	Chef Smurf
Gary Basaraba	Hefty Smurf
Anton Yelchin	Clumsy Smurf
Jeff Foxworthy	Handy Smurf
George Lopez	Grouchy Smurf
Alan Cumming	Gutsy Smurf
Jonathan Winters	Papa Smurf
Katy Perry	Smurfette
Sofía Vergara	Odile
Tim Gunn	Cosmetic Co. Exec. Asst.
Hank Azaria	Gargamel
Jayma Mays	Grace Winslow
Neil Patrick Harris	Patrick Winslow

Who will provide the voices for the Smurf movie? The original Papa Smurf and Gargamel voice actors are definitely out of the running: Paul Winchell, who voiced Gargamel, passed away in 2005, and Don Messick, who voiced Papa Smurf and Azrael passed in 1997. Danny Goldman, the voice of Brainy Smurf, was heard as recently as 2005 on a special Robot Chicken Smurfs episode. As well, Lucille Bliss, who voiced Smurfette, is both alive and well - and could have provided the definitive "Smurfette" voice for the movie. Since this 3D movie is a Hollywood creation, though, American film stars are being used (as opposed to using traditonal "voice actors"). It seems one actual voice actor has been cast, Hilary Haag, who anime fans will know from her various characters such as "Milk Chan" in Super Milk Chan.

It should be noted that the most recent Smurf cartoons (made for the Smurf videogames series) have been made in France and feature foreign actors - not the voice actors we know and love. Indeed, the French animated videogame shorts do not look or sound much like the Hanna Barbera Smurfs we are familiar with.