Peyo Productions has partnered with KiKA on the new The Smurfs TV series; the leading kids’ network is on board as a co-producer and the German broadcaster for the 3D CGI series for kids 5-10. TF1 (France), KETNET and OUFTIVI (Belgium) are also co-production partners.
The Smurfs recently made the Top 20 most-watched programs at MIP Junior 2018, with a total of 1,114 views.
Véronique Culliford, president & founder of Peyo Productions and distribution company I.M.P.S. ( and Peyo’s daughter), said: “I’m very happy to once again be able to continue my father’s work by co-producing a new TV series about The Smurfs, almost 40 years after the universally known series. You will discover Smurfs in 3D CGI, as in the last movie (The Lost Village, 2017), with lots of fun, humor and adventures full of twists. I’m convinced that for this co-production, KiKA is the best player in the market, and that the Smurfs will continue to delight all generations for decades in Germany!”
“The Smurfs’ are absolutely cult! They are a highlight and an animated classic in the comic and animation culture of the last decades in Europe and of course well known in Germany. And so I’m really excited to be able to present ‘Die Schlümpfe’ exclusively to our viewers from 2021 on,” said Dr. Astrid Plenk, Managing and Programming Director of KiKA – the Children’s Channel of ARD and ZDF.
“The Smurfs also stand for strong values and great feelings and therefore, this series will fit perfectly with KiKA. I am particularly delighted that Schlumpfine [Smurfette] will over the course of the new series get female reinforcement. Everyone — children and parents — can now look forward to a series highlight with many new stories from Schlumpfhausen [Smurf Village].”
Sebastian Debertin, Head of Fiction, Acquisition and Co-Production at KiKA, added: “It was always my dream to produce a new series of The Smurfs, so I am truly happy to co-produce this animated series together with our partners Peyo Productions, Belgium, the French broadcaster TF1 and the Belgian broadcasters RTBF and Ketnet.”
“The Smurfs also stand for strong values and great feelings and therefore, this series will fit perfectly with KiKA. I am particularly delighted that Schlumpfine [Smurfette] will over the course of the new series get female reinforcement. Everyone — children and parents — can now look forward to a series highlight with many new stories from Schlumpfhausen [Smurf Village]”, supplements Dr. Astrid Plenk.
