Click here to read the full article.
Peyo Productions, the production arm of Peyo Company, home of the beloved Smurfs characters, has confirmed that the fourth season of its 2021 global hit CG-animated series “The Smurfs” is currently in production, sharing
a first-look at a colorful new setting, featuring the iconic legacy characters created by Peyo. The 52 11-minute episodes will be delivered in two parts, the first half at the end of 2027, while the second will air in 2028 as part of a joint anniversary year for the Smurfs characters, celebrating Peyo’s 100th birthday and the Smurfs 70th birthday.
Produced with French animation powerhouse Ellipse Animation, “The Smurfs” brings back together longtime European co-production broadcasters RTBF, Ketnet, KiKA, and TF1, as well as global partner Nickelodeon, which will premiere the new season in the U.S. before rolling out later in the rest of the world.
In Season 4 of “The Smurfs,” Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Jokey, and Storm take back the stage as the stakes get higher, the pranks wilder, and the magic more unpredictable.
“Our series has always been a character-driven series,” shares William Renaud, who’s been directing the show since 2021 and returns for this fourth season, along with head writers Peter Saisselin and Amy Serafin. “With more than 100 Smurfs, we have plenty of stories to play with. Going back to our main protagonists in this season also allows us to bring back the legacy of the original comic books, while still tackling modern topics in a comedic way.”
This season also marks a bold leap forward in the Smurfs universe, with the introduction an impactful Smurfies Village, previously introduced at the end of season 3.
A vibrant new setting is filled with surprises and spirited Smurf girls, with Blossom, Storm and Willow becoming recurring characters in these fun-filled Smurfy adventures. “Their personalities aren’t tied to a function, but rather to emotions, or nature,” explains Renaud. “And their village mirrors this colorful, flower-filled state of mind.”
Combined, all these stories and character arcs directly connect with the series’ directing, continued Renaud. Fast-paced when necessary, and slower at other times, allowing the characters to shine while avoiding gratuitous and artificial staging, making children forget there’s a barrier between them and their favorite Smurfs.
“For me,” concludes Renaud, “the Smurfs are human beings like everyone else. They are guided by their emotions and humor, which is why kids love them so much. I mean, what could be more universal? They offer us a mirror to our flaws, like Chaplin in his time. They are not confined to a particular era, but rooted in humanity, and I think that’s the key to their enduring longevity.”
Nele de Wilde, executive producer and CCO Audiovisual & Music at Peyo Productions, agreed. “Truth be told, the Smurfs never cease to amaze us. Even after four seasons, there are still so many stories to be told, thanks to the legacy of Peyo. And while bringing the Smurfs to the screen in the last decades, we learned that the main characters like Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty and Baby are still among the most popular characters with kids.”
Instead of creating new characters, the team chose to create new stories with these existing ones. “As the saying goes, you don’t change a winning team.”
The same goes for Peyo Productions’ longtime partners, still thrilled to be part of a success story. “The team truly brought ‘The Smurfs’ up to a totally smurfy new level, enlarging the world of the Smurfs with great stories that are bursting with fun and much-needed laughter in these times,” adds an enthused Sebastian Debertin, head of international content, acquisitions & co-productions at KiKA.
Paola Acosta Orjuela, animation co-production manager at RTBF, also lauded the balance Peyo Productions found with this new season, between staying true to the Smurfs’ identity and bringing something new.
That feeling was shared by Yann Labasque, director of youth programs at TF1 Group. “‘The Smurfs’ humor, energy and team spirit continue to captivate young audiences, and are a perfect fit for the playful, feel-good spirit of our children’s programming. Get ready for more fun-filled adventures!”
As the teams are heading back once again to Smurf village, De Wilde and Caroline Duvochel, executive producer and CEO at Ellipse Animation (which has worked for nearly 10 years on the series), underline together the great artists behind this one-of-a-kind European show.
“Most of the artists who worked with us are coming back to the project because they love playing with the Smurfs so much,” explained De Wilde. “And they keep sharing how fun it is to work on this series! For most, it’s a childhood dream. Also, a big shout out to our two in-house art directors, Luc Parthoens and Tom Cosijn, who make sure we stay true to the brand’s DNA and keep the top notch quality we have aimed for since the beginning.”
Smurfs fan around the world are in for many blue treats in the upcoming months. During the big anniversary coming in 2028 (70 years of Smurfs, 100 years of Peyo), Part 2 of Season 4 will be released, and Peyo Productions is working on more special content for this celebration year, which it will present at Mipcom.
