The Smurfs True Blue Friends
Synopsis: The Smurfs are a group of over 100 bluish, three-apple tall creatures who live in the mushroom homes of Smurf Village. They are led by 543-year-old Papa Smurf (who doesn’t look a day over 530). Their lives would be perfect were it not for the villainous Gargamel, a wizard who spends his days trying to capture them to eat, turn into gold, or for other evil reasons. Gargamel’s cat Azrael adds to the menace, always looking for a smurfalicious snack. Its Season Two, Vol. 1 of Smurf Adventures, the Emmy-winning animated series [Outstanding Childrens Entertainment Series 1982-83] that delighted Saturday morning cartoon fans for nearly a decade.
“Own it on DVD”
The Smurfs True Blue Friends was released on March 3, 2009 to the delight of fans everywhere. Ah, the Smurfs, those three apple high blue do gooders…I mean those friendly blue creatures created by Pierre Culliford (Peyo) in the country of Belgium. The Smurfs, for children of the 80′s were all that is right with cartoons that I yearn for with my children now that I am a father. The Smurfs were funny, the stories were interesting, they were set in a fantasy realm with magic, the villian would not give the kids nightmares, and they pretty much created the moral compass on thousands of children across the globe. Read that last part again, because the Smurfs did what Sesame Street did for toddlers, but for young children, it taught you manners, life lessons, and right from wrong, all the while having a good time with it and something that a 10 year old did not have to be ashamed he was watching because it was for babies. The Smurfs with over 400 episodes of varying length are truly a classic cartoon, so get smurfing and watch The Smurfs True Blue Friends.
Episodes included on the DVD:
S-Shivering S-Smurfs -Season 2 Episode 4
Tracker Smurf gets a episode that focuses on him…yeah! It is always nice when you are watching a Smurf episode and you get to see a guest star. This episode follows the storyline of the classic fable “The Ant & The Grasshopper”, just smurfier. Everyone is ignoring Tracker because the weather is so nice and how possibly could there be a blizzard. All of the preparation work for winter does not get done and the Smurfs get a bit angry with Tracker. A great episode to start out with as it hits on many levels. We get a new look for a classic fable, we are given a lesson to learn, but at the same time in a way that appeals to the viewer. It just goes to show you can teach your children something while they are enjoying a good show.
Turncoat Smurf – Season 2 Episode 31
Papa Smurf puts himself in a trance after some heavy duty potion making and Brainy decides he should be spying on everyone to report back to Papa Smurf. Classic misunderstanding storyline as the smurfs think that Brainy leads Gargamel to their village while really it is just some bad luck on Brainy’s part. This is how a good smurf episode should go as we have Gargamel scheming and a lesson in the end to be learned for the smurfs (viewer). I enjoy how once Papa Smurf is taken out of his leadership role, which happens a fair bit of time in the episodes, the smurfs left to their own devices end up getting into some interesting situation. It is one of the main devices of the show and works well. The other overall plot device of having the village of Smurfs stay hidden also remains fresh when it is used as well. Tracker makes another appearance in this episode as well.
The Smurf Who Couldn’t Say No – Season 2 Episode 1
For all the times that I have seen this episode it has stood out a bit as it is a bit darker in nature to the storyline of lighting a magic fire to calm a monster in the swamp. Plus with the two Smurfs, Pushover and Scaredy as the main characters of the episode it brings to light (pun intended) a few interesting situations (being scared, being a pushover) that children have to deal with. I always felt that this was more of a story driven episode in the smurf universe than many of the other episodes. If a Smurf stops being what his name suggests does he then get a new name? One of the classic Smurf questions to be answered by later generations.
The Haunted Castle – Season 2 Episode 23
A classic romp where the Smurfs team up with Johan and Peewit (Peewee) to help a ghost that must haunt a castle until the day the seven fountains flow again and the true heir returns to the castle. Peewit does bring that slapstick humor to the smurfs when he is involved. Medieval politics creep in this episode as well which I always find enjoyable, the fact that smurfs live in a medieval based magic world makes them a real home run for me. A good classic tale episode for our little blue friends.
The Black Hellebore – Season 2 Episode 6
An evil wizard uses a potion to put the king in a trance. An episode that stays focused at the castle so that we can get involved with the main characters in the castle besides Johan and Peewit like the king, Dame Barbara, and Princess Savina. Homnibus also pops up in this episode. The change of locale allows the Smurfs to be part of a a real world that is fleshed out enough that the smurfs never really get stale. This episode is just one example of that and shows us the Smurfs storyline can survive outside of just teaching a lesson in the mushroom house village.
It should be said that the Hanna Barbera kids collection The Smurfs True Blue Friends gives us a great taste of the Smurfs by showcasing all different kinds of episodes. That has, and will continue to be the strength of the Smurfs…diversity in characters, story line, and location. Do everyone a favor, bring the Smurfs to the next generation, that way we all will benefit. I still have a Lazy Smurf collectible figure on my desk and I would not be surprised if many more of you had some figures as well. The Smurfs truly were a phenomenon that went global, and teaching children while entertaining them is universal.
Extras included on the DVD:
Meet the Smurfs:
Papa Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, and Tracker Smurf each get a montage of clips for each of them with a narrator giving us a great overview of each character. Each one lasts a little over a minute but for the casual viewer gives you a great understanding of the character. For the lifelong fan like myself it is nice that Tracker gets his own highlight reel as sometimes with so many smurfs they do not always get to be in the limelight.
Trailers:
We also get trailers of Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, Sesame Street Presents Follow that Bird, and Scooby-Doo Where are you? Vol. 1, Tom and Jerry Tales Vol. 6, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, and The Wiggles Present Dorothy the Dinosaur. Peanuts…another one of those classics.
