Global Smurfs Day at SM MOA
In celebration of the birthday of Peyo, the creator of the Smurfs, the world celebrated Global Smurfs Day on June 22, anticipating the release of The
Smurfs 2, in theaters Aug. 7. In the Philippines, families and fans flocked for fun-filled festivities at the SM Mall of Asia atrium where they enjoyed a Smurftastic afternoon of games, blue-frosted cupcakes, Lala Smurf song singoffs and art activities for kids.
Over 40 ambassadors from 28 countries including the Philippines represented Smurfs fans from around the world dressed as Smurfs as they began their day in Brussels, where Peyo’s daughter Veronique Culliford officially appointed them as Smurf representatives of their countries. Freshly charged with their ambassadorial duties, the group boarded a Thalys train and shot off to Paris, the locale of the adventures in Columbia Pictures/ Sony Pictures Animation’s The
Smurfs 2. With a few surprises in store and a sightseeing tour of the French capital, the ambassadors were tasked with a mission that is the stuff of high diplomacy: To leave a happy trail of blue smiles in their wake and herald the arrival of the new film.
In this sequel to Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation’s hybrid live action/ animated family blockbuster comedy The Smurfs, the evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf- like creatures called the Naughties that he hopes will let him harness the all-powerful, magical Smurf-essence. But when he discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, and only a secret spell that Smurfette knows can turn the Naughties into real Smurfs, Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, where he has been winning the adoration of millions as the world’s greatest sorcerer. It’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy and Vanity to return to our world, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow and rescue her! Will Smurfette, who has always felt different from the other Smurfs, find a new connection with the Naughties Vexy and Hackus or will the Smurfs convince her that their love for her is True Blue? The film is directed by Raja Gosnell and produced by Jordan Kerner. The screenplay is by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick and David Ronn and Karey Kirkpatrick with a story by J. Stem and N. Weiss and Jay Scherick and Ronn, based on the characters and works of Peyo.
The story of the Smurfs — a property created by Peyo — started in 1958 with the creation of comic books which were later brought to both the big and small screen. Over the years, the little blue characters haven’t just limited themselves to the page and the screen. They have inspired records and CDs that have sold millions of copies, entire collections of figurines and toys, and many more products. In all, more than 3,000 derived products have been produced and leading brands and companies have spread their messages worldwide with the help of the Smurfs. A multitude of new projects appear regularly, thus making the success of the Smurfs planetary.