One of them is going to be a Smurfs musical film. Said Ramsey Naito, President of Animation for Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, "Nickelodeon is the home to some of the world's most popular family franchises, and we're honored to add The Smurfs to that roster. We're excited to tell a story that stays true to its origins, but with a Smurf-tastic musical twist that excites new audiences and builds on the Smurfa franchise and universe of wonderful characters and stories."
Veronique Culliford, Founder & President of LAFIG and IMPS, the other collaborators on these projects, "It is with great joy and pride that I welcome this new Smurfs film. I am truly excited with this wonderful partnership with the talented, creative and dynamic teams at Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Animation and IMPS. I am convinced that htis great collaboration will allow families around the world to immerse themselves in this unique univcerse of humor and extraordinary adventures. I have no doubt that my father, creator of thee marvelous world-famous characters, would also be delighted with this continuation of his work. I look so forward to see audiences gather together in the near future to enjoy this new adventure of our beloved Smurfs."
The Smurfs were created by French comic book writer and artist Peyo, who introduced them as part of a story called "The Flute with Six Holes" in 1958. A year later, the Smurfs were spun off into their own title where they grew in populasrity. The characters were made into a black and white short as part of the 1965 Belgium film Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs. The characters made their American television debut on Saturday mornings in 1981, the show lasting on NBC until 1989. They've been a part of our pop culture lives ever since.