Smurfs to return to TV

The Smurfs TV show is in pre-production

Brand owner IMPS has teamed up with French animation firm Dupuis Audiovisuel to bring back The Smurfs for a TV reboot.

The Smurfs originated in Belgium but shot to fame as a TV series that aired on NBC in the US on Saturday mornings from 1981, produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show follows more than 100 iconic blue characters whose names are based on adjectives.

The new series will consist of 13-minute episodes and is currently in the pre-development stage.

IMPS is the official licensor of The Smurfs and since 1984 has worked with collaborators to ensure its continued success in anything from merchandising to Hollywood productions.

Dupuis Audiovisuel is a subsidiary of Media-Participations, the European entertainment group behind titles such as The Garfield show, Tintin, Asterix, Lucky Luke and The Red Turtle.

Earlier this year The Smurfs had its most recent Hollywood movie release, Smurfs: The Lost Village.