The the Smurfs have charmed audiences the world over thanks to a series of comics, games as well as cartoons and feature films, and the story of how they got their name is as charming and wholesome as the Smurfs themselves; this story also shows how one of the Smurfs’ most enduring traits came to as well.
The Smurfs first appeared in 1958, and have become a powerhouse multimedia franchise. The Smurfs are the brainchild of Belgian artist Pierre Culliford, working under the pen name Peyo. Culliford, at the time, was the writer and artist for Johan and Peewit, and in the 1958 story “The Flute With Six Holes,” version, produced by Hanna Barbera, aired for eight years on NBC, with Peyo acting as a story supervisor. The cartoon’s success expanded the Smurfs’ profile in America, reaching a generation of children who took to the Smurfs’ whimsical adventures–and the story of how they got their name is perfect.
In an article appearing on Andre Franquin’s website, they relate the story. One night at dinner, Smurfs creator Peyo, while asking for the salt, blanked on it and called it a “schtroumpf”--a nonsense word. Franquin thought it amusing, and began gently poking fun at Peyo, saying “Here’s the schtroumpf. When you’re done schtroumpfing, schtroumpf it back to me.” Peyo found Franquin’s jest amusing, and it became an in-joke between them, and they would randomly add the word to their sentences. Eventually, Peyo would call the little blue folk introduced in “The Flute With Six Holes,” “Schtroumpf,” which translates into “Smurf” in Dutch. From there, it became the name associated with the franchise.
One Joke Spawned a Multi-Media Powerhouse
The witty exchange between Peyo and Franquin would inadvertently spawn a multimedia franchise known throughout the world–and also explain a key aspect of Smurfs’ lore. The Smurfs were known for their creative use of language, often adding the word “Smurf” randomly to sentences–much like Peyo and Franquin did among themselves. The Smurfs would replace random nouns and verbs with their name; for example: “I’m going Smurfing in the Smurf Woods today” or “that’s Smurf-tastic.” In this way, Peyo and Franquin’s banter is reflected in the Smurfs’ speech patterns.
What started as an in-joke between friends would turn into one of the most popular comic series not only in Belgium but the world as a whole. Generations of fans the world over love the Smurfs–and the humorous way they use language. The Smurfs’ language is perfect, as it ties into how they got their name.
Source: Andre Franquin
