Smurftastic! Belgian-created Smurfs turn 50 - TODAY.com Smurftastic! Belgian-created Smurfs turn 50 2008-01-14T17:46:12.000Z comment () The Smurfs — led by Papa Smurf and Smurfette — kicked off a year of 50th birthday celebrations Monday with Smurfberry cake and sarsaparilla juice. The late cartoonist Pierre Culliford — best known by his pen name, “Peyo” — first introduced the tiny blue figures in a comic strip in October 1958. He called them Schtroumpf; they became known worldwide as the Smurfs. The Smurfs, forest dwellers who live in little white-capped mushroom homes, developed their own “Smurf” language in which nouns and verbs were interchanged. Their debut on U.S. television in 1981 launched their global rise to stardom and made the Smurfs a household name.

A Smurf is a Pitufo in Spanish, a Schlumpf in German, Nam Ching Ling to the Chinese, a Sumafa in Japan and Dardassim in Hebrew. “I think that if he could see all that has been done with his characters since his death and the success and interest that the Smurfs still attract, he would be very, very, very, very happy and very proud,” said Peyo’s son, Thierry Culliford. To mark 50 years of Smurfdom, organizers are planning everything from a 3-D animation feature film expected to be released next year to new comic book collections and a remastered release of the popular 1980s television animated series, Peyo’s family said. Peyo’s widow and two children will help kick off a European birthday tour in Brussels. The Smurfs celebration will continue in Paris and Berlin. The Smurfs also will team up with the UNICEF to promote children’s rights and education worldwide, said Yves Willemont of UNICEF Belgium. “The Smurfs and UNICEF have a lot of values in common — values about joy, happiness and respect,” Willemont said.

“We also have in common the fact that we are dedicated to the cause of children and to the promotion of every child and the right of every child to survive.” UNICEF and the Smurfs joined forces two years ago to raise the plight of ex-child soldiers in Africa. Born in Brussels, Peyo worked as a movie projectionist before entering the world of comic strip drawing. The Smurfs appeared as a supporting cast of characters in Peyo’s 1958 “Johan and Pirlouit” cartoon, which was set in the Middle Ages. The Smurfs quickly grew in popularity and by 1960, the Smurfs had their own comic strip series and. With the help of the Hanna-Barbera Productions, the Smurfs became an animated cartoon in 1981. Thierry Culliford said the Smurfs promote love and friendship. He said many who grew up watching the Smurfs on TV during the 1980s and 1990s now are parents and want to introduce the Smurfs to their children.

Demand for Smurf stories continues, said Hendrik Coysman, managing director of IMPS, which controls the rights of the Smurf brand worldwide. “Thousands of fans are asking for more stories and these will be based of course on the fantastic asset that Peyo has left us,” Coysman said. Peyo, who died 15 years ago, “would be very happy if he were here today” to see Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Handy, Jokey and the troop of 96 others celebrate 50 years of Smurfmania, daughter Veronique Culliford said. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | The Smurfs head to the big screen The Smurfs head to the big screen The Smurfs were created 50 years ago Classic children's cartoon characters The Smurfs are heading to the big screen for their 50th anniversary. Studios Columbia and Sony have scooped the film rights to the original 1958 Belgian comic book series - which later became a TV show. The as-yet-untitled film will combine live action and animation.

"We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf and the other Smurfs in all of their glory," said Columbia president Doug Belgrad. The film is due to be written by David Stem and David Weiss, who penned the second and third Shrek movies. The Smurfs are best known in the English-speaking world through their 1980s Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. But the small, blue characters first appeared 50 years ago and were created by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, known as Peyo. Belgian-Created Smurfs Turn 50, Celebrate Their Birthday in Belgium | Fox News Belgian-Created Smurfs Turn 50, Celebrate Their Birthday in Belgium Published January 14, 2008 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print BRUSSELS, Belgium – The Smurfs — led by Papa Smurf and Smurfette — kicked off a year of 50th birthday celebrations Monday with Smurfberry cake and sasparilla juice.

The late cartoonist Pierre Culliford — best known by his pen name, "Peyo" — first introduced the tiny blue figures in a comic strip in October 1958. He called them Schtroumpf; they became known worldwide as the Smurfs. The Smurfs, forest dwellers who live in little white-capped mushroom homes, developed their own "Smurf" language in which nouns and verbs were interchanged. Their debut on U.S. television in 1981 launched their global rise to stardom and made the Smurfs a household name. A Smurf is a Pitufo in Spanish, a Schlumpf in German, Nam Ching Ling to the Chinese, a Sumafa in Japan and Dardassim in Hebrew. "I think that if he could see all that has been done with his characters since his death and the success and interest that the Smurfs still attract, he would be very, very, very, very happy and very proud," said Peyo's son, Thierry Culliford.

To mark 50 years of Smurfdom, organizers are planning everything from a 3-D animation feature film expected to be released next year to new comic book collections and a remastered release of the popular 1980s television animated series, Peyo's family said. Peyo's widow and two children will help kick off a European birthday tour in Brussels. The Smurfs celebration will continue in Paris and Berlin. The Smurfs also will team up with the UNICEF to promote children's rights and education worldwide, said Yves Willemont of UNICEF Belgium. "The Smurfs and UNICEF have a lot of values in common — values about joy, happiness and respect," Willemont said. "We also have in common the fact that we are dedicated to the cause of children and to the promotion of every child and the right of every child to survive." UNICEF and the Smurfs joined forces two years ago to raise the plight of ex-child soldiers in Africa. Born in Brussels, Peyo worked as a movie projectionist before entering the world of comic strip drawing.

The Smurfs appeared as a supporting cast of characters in Peyo's 1958 "Johan and Pirlouit" cartoon, which was set in the Middle Ages. The Smurfs quickly grew in popularity and by 1960, the Smurfs had their own comic strip series and. With the help of the Hanna-Barbera Productions, the Smurfs became an animated cartoon in 1981. Thierry Culliford said the Smurfs promote love and friendship. He said many who grew up watching the Smurfs on TV during the 1980s and 1990s now are parents and want to introduce the Smurfs to their children. Demand for Smurf stories continues, said Hendrik Coysman, managing director of IMPS, which controls the rights of the Smurf brand worldwide. "Thousands of fans are asking for more stories and these will be based of course on the fantastic asset that Peyo has left us," Coysman said.

Peyo, who died 15 years ago, "would be very happy if he were here today" to see Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Handy, Jokey and the troop of 96 others celebrate 50 years of Smurfmania, daughter Veronique Culliford said. Advertisement Smurfs mark 50th birthday in Belgium - USATODAY.com Smurfs mark 50th birthday in Belgium Updated By Alexandra Stadnyk, Associated Press BRUSSELS  They're turning 50 without a hint of gray. Just blue. Lots of blue. The Smurfs are hitting the half-century mark, and Papa Smurf and Smurfette helped kick off a year of celebrations Monday with sarsaparilla juice and — naturally — Smurfberry cake. The late cartoonist Pierre Culliford — best known by his pen name, "Peyo" — first introduced the tiny blue figures in a comic strip in October 1958. He called them Schtroumpf; they became known worldwide as the Smurfs.

The Smurfs, forest dwellers who live in little white-capped mushroom homes, developed their own "Smurf" language in which nouns and verbs were interchanged. Their debut on U.S. television in 1981 launched their global rise to stardom and made the Smurfs a household name. A Smurf is a Pitufo in Spanish, a Schlumpf in German, Nam Ching Ling to the Chinese, a Sumafa in Japan and Dardassim in Hebrew. "I think that if he could see all that has been done with his characters since his death and the success and interest that the Smurfs still attract, he would be very, very, very, very happy and very proud," said Peyo's son, Thierry Culliford. To mark 50 years of Smurfdom, organizers are planning everything from a 3-D animation feature film expected to be released next year to new comic book collections and a remastered release of the popular 1980s television animated series, Peyo's family said. Peyo's widow and two children will help kick off a European birthday tour in Brussels. The Smurfs celebration will continue in Paris and Berlin.

The Smurfs also will team up with the UNICEF to promote children's rights and education worldwide, said Yves Willemont of UNICEF Belgium. "The Smurfs and UNICEF have a lot of values in common — values about joy, happiness and respect," Willemont said. "We also have in common the fact that we are dedicated to the cause of children and to the promotion of every child and the right of every child to survive." UNICEF and the Smurfs joined forces two years ago to raise the plight of ex-child soldiers in Africa. Born in Brussels, Peyo worked as a movie projectionist before entering the world of comic strip drawing. The Smurfs appeared as a supporting cast of characters in Peyo's 1958 Johan and Pirlouit cartoon, which was set in the Middle Ages. The Smurfs quickly grew in popularity and by 1960, the Smurfs had their own comic strip series. With the help of the Hanna-Barbera Productions, the Smurfs became an animated cartoon in 1981. Thierry Culliford said the Smurfs promote love and friendship.

He said many who grew up watching the Smurfs on TV during the 1980s and 1990s now are parents and want to introduce the Smurfs to their children. Demand for Smurf stories continues, said Hendrik Coysman, managing director of IMPS, which controls the rights of the Smurf brand worldwide. "Thousands of fans are asking for more stories and these will be based of course on the fantastic asset that Peyo has left us," Coysman said. Peyo, who died 15 years ago, "would be very happy if he were here today" to see Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Handy, Jokey and the troop of 96 others celebrate 50 years of Smurfmania, daughter Veronique Culliford said. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Posted BBC News Online | The Smurfs head to the big screen The Smurfs head to the big screen 11 June 08 11:27 GMT Classic children's cartoon characters The Smurfs are heading to the big screen for their 50th anniversary. Studios Columbia and Sony have scooped the film rights to the original 1958 Belgian comic book series - which later became a TV show. The as-yet-untitled film will combine live action and animation. "We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf and the other Smurfs in all of their glory," said Columbia president Doug Belgrad. The film is due to be written by David Stem and David Weiss, who penned the second and third Shrek movies. The Smurfs are best known in the English-speaking world through their 1980s Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. But the small, blue characters first appeared 50 years ago and were created by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, known as Peyo.

Retro Thing: Smurfs Turn 50 Years Old Few people have heard of it, yet many consider John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 to be the first commercial personal computer. Koss introduced these headphones over 40 years ago, and they remain affordable favorites to this day. Smurfs Turn 50 Years Old By bohus Those little blue guys - three apples high and living in bloated mushrooms - turn 50 this year. This may well surprise the many people who's first contact with the shirtless shrunken ones was via the 80's cartoon series. In October of 1958, Belgian cartoonist Peyo introduced Smurfs as part of a comic strip who's lead characters were regular-sized folks in the Middle Ages. Smurfs were soon spun off as their own comic strip, then began the merchandising - there was even a 1965 film! This is how I remember encountering Smurfs years before the 80's American animated show. In the late 60's PVC Smurf figures popped up in gift shops and toy stores, and by the mid 70's they were rather popular in the US as well.

The figures were in a variety of poses and occupations, in some ways predicting the "no Smurf left behind" level of employment that we saw in the cartoon later. Given the current mode of rebooting 80's franchises, it should come as no surprise that Paramount is premiering an all CGI feature film bringing back the immensely popular characters this summer. Will smurfs follow the trend of reimagined 80's properties and come back in a "darker" vein - or perhaps just a darker blue? Smurfs at 50: Ready for a Comeback : NPR Children paint Smurf figurines during a January event in Berlin to celebrate the Smurfs' 50th anniversary. The figurines will be tied into a fundraising campaign for UNICEF. Barbara Sax/AFP/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Barbara Sax/AFP/Getty Images Children paint Smurf figurines during a January event in Berlin to celebrate the Smurfs' 50th anniversary. The figurines will be tied into a fundraising campaign for UNICEF. Barbara Sax/AFP/Getty Images What ever happened to the Smurfs? Even those who didn't watch television couldn't escape their influence on youth culture, vocabulary and joke-telling.

The Smurfs took America by storm in the 1980s with a cartoon series that won Emmys along with fans, as little blue imps laughed and played in their idyllic mushroom village, always a wee step ahead of the villainous Gargamel. But it came to a stop in the early '90s, when the Smurfs' human guardians decided the American market was getting oversaturated. So they brought the Smurfs home to their Belgian birthplace. The Smurfs began life in a comic strip created 50 years ago by Pierre Culliford, a Belgian cartoonist. So are they having a mid-life crisis? Au contraire! They are planning a comeback. The original series soon will be out on DVD and a 3-D movie is expected next year. But can they succeed? Unlike their '80s-era forebears, kids these days can play virtual tennis and drive virtual race cars — even steal them! — on their TVs. It's hard to imagine them being mesmerized by cutesy little creatures endlessly repairing their mushroom houses or picking flowers in the forest.

But that's not something that worries Hendrik Coysman, the man in charge of global marketing for the Smurfs. Article continues after sponsorship "People like simple things because we're living in such a complicated, confused world," he says. "It's so hectic. The Smurf village can be a good place to rest for a couple of minutes or hours." Reaction to the Smurfs' relaunch may already be proving him right. Kickoff events in Paris, Brussels and Berlin spawned sentimental news stories all over the world about the "Pitufo" in Spain, the "Nam Ching Ling" in China and the "Dardassim" in Israel. Children in Berlin did seem to be impressed with the simple life of the creatures they know as "Schlumpfe." "The Smurfs build all sorts of things for themselves, bridges and things like that," says 8-year-old Harun Sariustan. "My favorite Smurf always has a pencil over his ear. He writes stories," shares 9-year-old Marlene Hunger. But there have been detractors over the years. Some Americans felt the Smurfs' communal village depicted a "communist utopia." Others just felt it was too sickeningly sweet.

But the most frequent complaint has been about the male-female ratio and gender roles. Papa Smurf makes all the big decisions, while lovely Smurfette, the most prominent of just three females, does little more than run around in high heels and look pretty. Coysman says the Smurfs' world is getting a birthday makeover — acknowledging it needed one. "If you look at our society, there has been a dramatic change in the social and cultural environment, so we are thinking in that direction," he says. Most details of the changes are still secret, except for the fact that Smurfette will finally be getting some female company. The Smurfs also are hoping to have an effect outside their mushroom village. They have teamed up with UNICEF to raise money and awareness to help other little beings whose lives in the real world aren't all so ... well, smurfy. Peyo, Pierre Culliford, Creator of The Smurfs Peyo, Pierre Culliford, Creator of The Smurfs January 25, 2008 This year, 2008, The Smurfs celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of successful imp production.

Fans around the globe are enthralled with the busy, little blue people and the mushroom village they call home. Using the pen name Peyo for his innovations, Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford spent his whole life as an enthusiastic, imaginative cartoonist and creator. The son of a Belgian mother and and English father, Pierre Culliford was born in Belgium on June 25, 1928. He attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, adopting the pen name Peyo as his signature. (Peyo was a shorter version of Pierrot, a form of the name Pierre.) On completing his studies at the Academy, the graduate had two choices in mind: dental assistant or illustrator. Arriving to find the dental job already taken, according to smurf.com , Peyo accepted a position with an animation firm called Compagnie Belge D'Animation, a "hothouse of comic strip artists". Unfortunately, the studio closed in short order, but it gave him an opportunity to meet like-minded artists. Finding work in advertising, Peyo created his first comic strip characters called "Johan".

The cartoon creation was very popular and appeared in the comics pages of Le Dernière Heure, Le Soir and Le Journal de Spirou in the 1950s. Peyo also created another strip called Poussy for Le Soir. Eventually, his "Johan" character picked up a new sidekick in another strip, "Johan et Pirlouit". Image Courtesy HappySmurfday.com In 1958, one episode of "Johan et Pirlouit" welcomed a bunch of little blue people, Les Schtroumpfs, as secondary characters. Peyo's editor "saw the possibilities of the 'Smurfs' and persuaded" him, noted Lambiek , "to create a spin-off". The Smurfs began running in the mini-recit section (mini-stories) of Le Journal de Spirou in 1959. With much fanfare for his new cartoon, Peyo drew them in larger size to fit the regular comics page instead. The cartoonist's imagination must have been running in overdrive.

Soon after, he also began a strip, "Benoît Brisefer", and another one after that, "Jacky et Célestin". The popularity of The Smurfs caused Peyo to open his own studio, Cartoon Creation, hiring and training a number of Belgian cartoonists. The Smurfs not only appeared in magazines and books, they also had several musical hits, performed by Michel Legrand and Vader Abraham. Taking Belgium and Holland by storm, the world was next, with merchandise in almost every form. Peyo gradually eased out of the creation department and put himself into the business arm of his studio, watching over the huge merchandising section: licences for products were in the tens of thousands. It wasn't long before Hanna-Barbera, the renowned animated cartoon production firm, caught wind of The Smurfs - North America was enchanted with the little blue characters filled with personality and charm, and only one girl, Smurfette. In 1981, The Smurfs were on Saturday morning televisions in Canada and the United States, the start of over 256 episodes. The cartoons are now enjoyed in at least 30 countries.

Keeping it in the family, in the late 1980s, Peyo gave control of the Cartoon Création studio to his son, Thierry Culliford, and put his daughter, Véronique, in charge of IMPS, The Smurfs merchandising division. Peyo, Pierre Culliford, died of a heart attack on December 24, 1992. He was 64 years old. His creations in good hands, The Smurfs continue to rule the world with new episodes, merchandise and books, as Peyo's legacy of a lifetime of imaginative work. In celebration of 50 years of The Smurfs, the Culliford family of Pierre's widow, Nine, his son Thierry and daughter Véronique are promoting the characters in lively stops in cities around Europe from January to October. Huge Smurf statues, Smurf films, Smurf goodies and small Smurfs for kids to paint themselves for a creativity contest, are all part of the year-long fun. Happy Smurfday, Culliford family!

Belgium looks to the Smurfs to boost tourist numbers | Daily Mail Online comments Belgium's famous exports include beer and chocolate but did you also know they gave the world the Smurfs? With the recent release of two Smurf movies attracting a new generation of fans to the franchise, the Belgian tourist board are hoping they can capitalise on the love of the dwarves to bring new visitors to their country. The lovable blue characters were the invention of Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, aka Peyo, who first drew them for a cartoon strip in 1958. Proud: The Belgians pay homage to the Smurfs with this statue and the Museum Of Original Figurines in Brussels Global stars: But the little blue dwarves were first famous in Belgium The late cartoonist 'Peyo' with the characters he created: Memorabilia similar to that he's surrounded by can be bought in Brussel's Smurf Store His comic strips and albums quickly became a hit in his native country and have since been translated into more than 30 different languages.

When Hanna Barbera turned the comics into a TV cartoon series in the Eighties the Smurfs found even more global fame - so much so that many people are unaware of their European origins. Marc Marghem, a tour guide at the Belgian Comic Strip Centre in Brussels - that has a whole section dedicated to the Smurfs - told MailOnline: 'The Smurfs have become so famous internationally that many people don't know where they are from. But they are definitely Belgians!' The proud Belgians have never forgotten that the Smurfs are their own and the characters are celebrated in a number of venues across their capital of Brussels. Still going strong: The Smurfs began as a cartoon strip in 1958, left. Now a new generation are fans thanks to the films using voices including Katy Perry's as Smurfette In time for release of The Smurfs 2 on DVD and Blu-ray this month, from 20 December to 9 February the city will host the International Festival of Ice Sculptures for the first time, in the sumptuous setting of the Place des Palais. Four hundred and twenty tonnes of natural ice will be transformed to recreate the world of the Smurfs and other children's favourites.

And while the Smurfs are only meant to be 'three apples high', the ice sculptures will be up to six metres tall. Away from the ice sculptures, Femail discovered there are other places where children (and big kids!) can immerse themselves in the world of the Smurfs while in Brussels. As well as the aforementioned Comic Strip Centre, there's the Museum Of Original Figurines (MOOF) and the world's only Smurf store where fans can buy everything from Smurf-related books and figurines to T-shirts and mugs. At the MOOF Museum, there's a display showing how the Smurfs went from a humble cartoon strip to Hollywood with today's big budget 3D films using the voice talents of stars including Katy Perry. Sea of blue: The Moof has a display of Smurfs from giant statues to a model village Museum exhibits: The figurines have become collectors' items and many are on show in the country's capital Children can also marvel at the Smurf model village there and meet giant versions of their heroes.

Both MOOF and the Comic Strip Centre detail how the Smurfs came to be with Peyo conceiving 99 Smurf characters - all male - with different personality traits and then adding a token female, Smurfette. Feminists have slated the creator in the past for his lack of female characters and the MOOF reveals that the decision didn't go down well with his wife either. It reveals: 'The way Peyo introduced the Smurfs caused a lot of resentment between him and his wife.

The Smurfette was created by Gargamel, the villain, as a blend of the following 10 ingredients: 'a spark of coquetry, a large dose of prejudice, three tears of a crocodile, the brains of a shrimp, the tongue of a vampire, a little bit of wickedness, a handful of anger, a little bit of lies, deep fondness for sweets, a little bit of bad faith, a little bit of unpredictability, a streak of pride, a cup of envy, some sensitivity, a part of foolishness, a part of cunning, a handful of moodiness, two cups of stubbornness and an excess of waste.' Matt Murray, author of the book The World of Smurfs: A Celebration of Tiny Blue Proportions, said the sexism is down to the Smurfs being a product of their time. He told The Atlantic: 'Let's face it, it's in the Sixties. Anyone who has seen an episode of Mad Men, or actually lived through the early-to-mid-'60s, knows that it wasn't exactly the best time to be a woman.

And we're also talking about Belgium, and the whole Jacques Brel culture of celebrating your love through misery.' There have been small attempts to redress the balance with Hanna Barbera adding some extra female Smurfs while the most recent film, The Smurfs 2, has a new female character voiced by Christina Ricci. Smurf world: The store has everything from figurines to towels, books and rucksacks There's only one Smurfette: The other original 99 characters are male Both the MOOF, the Comic Strip Centre and the Smurf store show how the characters have become a global phenomenon and their popularity has endured despite their apparent sexism and lack of modernism. They have even been able to transcend the death of Peyo in 1992 with the latest films creating original storylines for a new audience. But Mr Marghem explains that comics like the Smurfs aren't just a means of entertaining children in Belgium. They also serve to educate by teaching them about historical and topical events. For example in the Smurfs, the story King Smurf - where one of the Smurfs proclaims themselves King - aims to teach children about democracy and the dangers of dictatorships.

Meanwhile the story Smurfs Versus Smurfs was based on Belgian politics and the turmoil caused by their Dutch and French divide. The Comic Strip Centre also aims to celebrate cartoon strips as the '9th art form' and encourage children to be creative and draw their own characters as well as reading about them. The Comic Strip Centre, pictured, is popular with children (and grown up Smurf fans): It's a place where they're encouraged to read and be creative British children visiting the museums can learn more than just about cartoons thanks to the Smurfs first being written in Dutch and French. The cartoon displays give them the opportunity to learn the languages in a visual and easy to understand way. And it's not just the Smurfs who cartoon fans can see when visiting the region. Belgium also gave the world another comic hero whose adventures have stood the test of time - Tintin. There are displays dedicated to him at the MOOF and Comic Strip museums as well as other characters created by Belgian artists such as Asterix and Blake and Mortimer. They will all be included in the Brussels Ice Magic display.

Families keen to see the ice sculptures before they melt away in February can take advantage of the fact Eurostar operates from London St Pancras to Brussels with the direct journey taking just two hours. Return fares cost from £69 if booked in advance. Art nouveau masterpiece: The Comic Book Centre is homed in an impressive building designed by Victor Horta in 1905 A visit to learn about the Smurfs in the festive season also provides an opportunity to visit the city's Christmas market including a fun fair and see the famous nativity scene in the Grand Place that includes live animals. The museums mentioned above are year round attractions and children can also do a comic book trail of the city, a kind of treasure hunt to find giant murals of cartoon characters that have been drawn on buildings around Brussels. They can even have lunch surrounded by their favourite characters at the Comic Cafe in Grand Sablon which includes memorabilia from the Smurfs, as well as Disney and other global animators. Accompanying adults are likely to be fans of the Smurfs themselves having also grown up with the cartoons. But if not, the architecture of the Comic Strip Centre is likely to wow them if the content doesn't.

It was designed by Belgium's most famous architect, Victor Horta in 1905 as a textile factory in an art nouveau style. The building was nearly destroyed - like some of Horta's other work - when art nouveau went out of fashion in the mid 20th century but was saved thanks to it becoming the home of the comics. The use of glass in the ceiling and floor tiles coupled with the mosaic floor makes it a light and airy space to display exhibits. And if the Smurf sightseeing all gets too much, parents can unwind after the exhibition visits with another Belgian speciality - beer. For more information on visiting Brussels, admission prices to the venues etc, visit and The Smurfs 2 is out on DVD and Blu-Ray this week WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO BRUSSELS To celebrate the release of The Smurfs 2 on DVD, Eurostar, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel ( Brussels and the Belgian Tourist Office -Brussels & Wallonia are offering two people the chance to have a two-night trip to the home of the Smurfs.

The prize for two people includes a return journey on the Eurostar to Brussels and two nights stay at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in central Brussels, lunch for two at the Comics Café, and a visit of the Belgian Comic Strip Centre in Brussels. To enter, email competitions@dna-pr.com and state which country is the home of the Smurfs. Terms and conditions apply as follows: * Prize is two Eurostar Standard return tickets to Brussels, traveling from London St Pancras, Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International, 2 nights for two people sharing a standard room at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Brussels with buffet breakfast included, lunch at the Comics café, and a visit of the Belgian Comic Strip Centre in Brussels * Prize is as offered and there is no cash alternative. It is non-exchangeable and non-transferrable * Travel is subject to availability and excludes public bank holidays and Valentine's Day * Prize is valid for one year from date of issue * Competition open to UK residents only * The competition is offered and organised through the parties named above and not the MailOnline. All queries and entries should be directed to: competitions@dna-pr.com.

It is the responsibility of the parties named above and not the MailOnline to organise and provide the prize ©2013 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Hemisphere - Culver Picture Partners I, LLC All Rights Reserved. SMURF, and all Smurfs characters: © Peyo. All Rights Reserved. “Smurf” and “The Smurfs” are registered trademarks of STUDIO PEYO. Peyo & the Smurfs Biography - BlueBuddies.com What is your Smurf Nickname? Promo Smurf Figurines Make a Smurf Costume Smurfette Send a Smurf Greeting Card PEYO AND THE SMURFS Have you ever wondered where the Smurfs came from? Once in a blue moon, a Smurf is delivered to the Village by a stork... but long before that, a man named Peyo created The Smurfs. HISTORY OF THE SMURFS: THE PEYO BIOGRAPHY Peyo & The Smurfs Who was the man who dropped out of art school almost as soon as he entered, and whose teacher told him he had no future in cartooning?

Who was the mastermind behind the blue empire that helped define a generation of kids in the 1980s? The television show he inspired ran for nearly ten years. His ephemera invaded the homes of millions. Little blue and white creatures were everywhere - and one man from Belgium was responsible for it all. Meet Pierre Culliford aka "Peyo" The Smurfs begin with a man named Pierre Culliford, otherwise known as Peyo. Peyo was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1928 to an English father and a Belgian mother. Smurf daydreams about Johan & Pirlout, Benoit Brisefer and Poussy. Creation of The Smurfs He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels but dropped out at 17 to work in advertising. This brought him together with another cartoonist, Maurice de Bevere (aka Morris), who went on to create Lucky Luke in 1946. Peyo followed suit in 1947 and created Johan for La Derniere Heure. This "prototype" Johan strip was about a medieval page boy and ran for a single year.

Peyo also made comics for other publications, including one about a cute kitten called "Poussy" (Pussy) as well as the Indian brave title "Pied Tendre" (Tenderfoot). Peyo decided to follow Morris to the popular weekly comic "Spirou" in 1954. Johan needed some retooling, so his hair color was changed from blond to black. He was given a "peewee" sidekick. Pirlouit (also called Peewee or Peewit) was his mischeivous new companion who brought levity and conflict to the comic. The comic was renamed Johan et Pirlouit . It was, in fact, Johan et Pirlouit that gave birth to Peyo's most popular creation... The Smurfs! 1958 was the year it all began - the year that would change Peyo's life and legacy forever.

Two important things happened in 1958: The Smurfs were born Smurf figurines made their debut In 1958, Peyo created a Johan et Pirlouit story called La Fl�te � Six Trous ( The Flute with Six Holes ). In this story, Johan and Pirlouit meet our little blue buddies, The Smurfs, for the very first time. The Smurfs 1 are three apples tall 2 and live during the medieval era. Peyo has stated that the Smurfs were inspired by the trolls of Nordic fairy tales, and that the Smurfs' blue pallor was selected because it was a color he thought children would like. Dupuis, the company that published Spirou, released a Pirlouit figurine that same year as well. Slowly but surely Peyo's Smurf figurine army was beginning to assemble - starting with a single Pirlouit figure. The Smurfs First Appearance Original 1958 Smurfs Drawing Spirou wanted to see if The Smurfs could be spun-off from Johan et Pirlouit.

They tested The Smurfs comic in special mini-stories 3 to see if the Smurfs would be popular solo. And yes, readers loved The Smurfs! Not only did The Smurfs become a standalone comic, they had there very own figurine debut. Numerous Dupuis figures were released between 1959 and 1966. Schleich started making Smurf figures in 1965 and still do to this day. The Smurfs soon eclipsed Johan and Pirlouit in popularity. Spirou Magazine #2857 featuring Peyo 50 Years of The Smurfs The Smurfs were popular basically everywhere French-language comics were sold in the 1960s. A Smurf film was the next logical step. La Fl�te � Six Trous - a full length Smurf movie, was released in 1976. All the Smurfs needed to do next was conquer the rest of the world in multiple languages . In 1978, Father Abraham released his famous Smurf Song. The song was an instant hit, and most importantly, it was in English.

Finally, the Smurfs were accessible and relevant to English-speaking audiences. Almost the instant after Father Abraham released his song, the UK, Australia and North America began to take notice of the Smurfs. The stage was set for an American invasion - one started in the most peculiar way imaginable: all thanks to a little girl. The Smurfs on NBC Melissa Silverman loved the Smurfs. Melissa wanted a Smurfs TV show. Melissa could make it happen. How could this little girl make a Smurfs TV show? Anything is possible when your dad is NBC television executive Fred Silverman! Mr. Silverman contacted Hanna Barbera and the famous Smurf animated series was born. It really was that simple. Peyo's creation began to ride a tidal-wave of success. NBC Smurfs Peyo could not have imagined how popular his little blue friends would become. During the height of the Smurfs' mania, he once lamented that he liked Johan et Pirlouit more than the Smurfs. Even Peyo, the Smurfs creator, was overwhelmed by the Smurfs' success.

The sheer volume of Smurf figurines , plush dolls , music and other collectibles (like badges , mugs and bedding , etc.) sold in the American market was astounding. Coleco and Wallace Berrie made every type of Smurf toy imaginable. It was absolutely impossible to be alive in the United States and not see, hear, and experience the Smurfs in the 1980s. They were everywhere: even live Smurf mascots could be found at amusement parks! The Smurfs were icons of the 1980s but things started to slow down in 1989. Once The Smurfs cartoon show ended, Smurf mania began to subside. It was an amazing decade... but the Smurf fun isn't over yet! Pierre Culliford - Father of The Smurfs The Smurfs Creator - Peyo The Smurfs didn't disappear, however. Nothing could stop the success of Peyo's creation - not even his own death. Peyo died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1992. Unhappy though his death was, Peyo had created something much bigger than himself.

Peyo's heirs have continued to support the Smurfs with collectibles, promotions and publications throughout Europe and the rest of the world. In America, Peyo's legacy continues with the Columbia Pictures Smurf Movie being released in 2011, part of a planned trilogy. Thanks to the movie, we are finally getting new waves of Smurf collectibles too. It is an amazing time for Smurf collectors because of all the exciting new merchandise ( toys , books , clothing and more) currently available for sale. Peyo's creation is alive and smurfing! Oh...and how did Peyo he get his nickname , you ask? And what about the word "Smurf"? First of all, "Smurf" is not an invented word - it originates squarely with the German surnames "Schlumpf" and "Schlumpff". The story goes a little somthing like this... Peyo was at the dinner table and found himself at a loss for a word. He ended up saying, "Pass the ... er ... er ... Schtroumpf" (the equivalent of the colloquial term "whatchamacallit").

The word had just the kind of audial quality he was seeking for his newest creation. Thus, the Smurfs were born. It is appropriate that a word-accident lead to the naming of the Smurfs, because Culliford's own sobriquet, Peyo, is the result of his cousin's inability to pronounce his Dutch name, "Pierrot", properly.

Question: Which cartoon characters were created 50 years ago by the Belgian Peyo?
Answer: Smurfs