Smurfs

Far, very far from here, in a little village full of mushroom-shaped houses live the Smurfs. The little characters are three apples high, have blue skin and are dressed in white trousers and a cap. Yet they are a happy, easy-going bunch - give or take one or two.

In 2008 the Smurfs celebrated their 5oth Anniversary. The Smurfs made their first appearance in 1958 in a book called “Le Journal de Spirou”. Their creator Pierre Culliford (also known as Peyo) had worked previously at a number of drawing jobs but the introduction of the Smurfs into Spirou changed his life.

The Smurfs started life as secondary characters in the books but slowly their tales became more popular until they became stars in their own right, appearing in their own film, "The Magic Flute".

This was soon followed by the first Smurf single, and then a TV series for the NBC network in the USA. No fewer than 256 episodes were produced, which are currently showing in about 30 countries.

The smurf figurines have been highly collectable over the past decade and with the new styles emerging each year, the craze continues.