European kids & family entertainment company Planeta Junior has been tapped by IMPS to act as licensing agent for The Smurfs in Spain and Portugal. Planeta Junior will manage all IP consumer products for both the classic brand targeting millennial audiences, and the new animated and live-action hybrid films and new series in the works which are re-popularizing the property for young audiences.
On the 60th anniversary of the Smurfs’ creation by Belgian comic artist Peyo, their values of tolerance, friendship, fun and respect for nature are as relevant as ever, and fully-aligned with contemporary lifestyles. The delightful blue creatures are known for their original and distinct characters and for their ability to work together regardless of differences that, contrary to what you might expect, always help them achieve their shared objectives. In line with these values, the Smurfs were appointed to star in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals campaign, which was signed in 2015. This year, they are raising young people’s awareness of the need to protect our seas and oceans.
The new CGI animation TV series targets 5- to 10-year olds and comprises 52 x 11 minute episodes, set to launch globally in 2021. It will feature all of the elements that made the Smurfs iconic: comedy, adventure, action, pace and quick-fire dialogue.
Veronique Culliford, founder and president of IMPS/The Smurfs and daughter of The Smurfs creator Peyo, stated: “We are very happy to collaborate in Spain and Portugal with Planeta Junior, who will for sure carry on The Smurfs image with great emotion for children, big and small.”
“The Smurfs are among the most iconic and beloved characters ever created. We are proud to manage this property in Spain and Portugal, where these little blue creatures have been around several generations for 60 years and keep smurfing kids nowadays. We are sure that both adults and kids will love the amazing products we are developing that will take The Smurfs to places never explored before,” said Ignacio Segura, General Manager at Planeta Junior.
