Blue Cavern

Hi everyone,

I try to figure out the smurffigurine history around the years 1975-1978.

I will add some information you can find on the webb. First the animation history which I think is important. Just like today many items are released together with films or TV series.

So I don´t think it is a coincidence that the first PVC smurfs were made the same time the first film was made. BP promos in 1965.

Also this is shown on the cerealboxes from Kelloggs in 1966 telling us we can see the films and get a figure were these boxes were sold.

1976 was also a big and important year for the smurfs.

Here are the facts for the Animation films:

"Animated series
In 1965, a black-and-white 87-minute animated film called Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs was released in theatres in Belgium. It consisted of five short cartoons made in the previous years for broadcasting on Walloon TV. German copies and copies with Dutch subtitles are known to exist. The stories were based on existing Smurf stories like The Black Smurfs and The Smurfs and the Egg, and were created by writer Maurice Rosy and artist Eddy Ryssack from the small Dupuis animation studios. In total, ten animated shorts were created between 1961 and 1967, the first series in black and white and the later ones in colour.
However, in 1976, La Flûte à six schtroumpfs (an adaptation of the original "Johan and Peewit" story) was released. Michel Legrand provided the musical score to the film. The film would in 1983 be released in the United States (after the animated series became popular there) in an English language dubbed version, produced by Stuart R. Ross in association with First Performance Pictures Corp, and titled The Smurfs and the Magic Flute. The film was distributed theatrically in North America by Atlantic Releasing Corp., on VHS by Vestron and syndicated on television by Tribune Entertainment. A few more full-length smurf movies were made, most notably The Baby Smurf and Here are the Smurfs created from episodes of the Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon series."

In 1976 when the movie was shown in Belgium, Stuart Ross was on holiday in Belgium. This is written on many pages like these:

“In 1976, while travelling in Belgium, Ross came across animated characters called the Smurfs and acquired North American and other rights to the property. Ross then launched the Smurfs in the U.S. in association with Wallace Berrie, Inc. whose figurine's, dolls, and other Smurf merchandise became a huge American success story.”

“The arrest marks a fall from grace for Ross, a lawyer and entrepreneur who reportedly spotted the little blue cartoon Smurfs in Belgium while vacationing in 1976. He purchased the North American distribution rights and then teamed with Wallace Berrie & Co. to distribute Smurfs merchandise.”

“In 1976, Stuart R. Ross, an American media and entertainment entrepreneur who saw the Smurfs while travelling in Belgium, entered into an agreement with Editions Dupuis and Peyo, acquiring North American and other rights to the characters. Subsequently, Ross launched the Smurfs in the United States in association with a California company, Wallace Berrie and Co., whose figurines, dolls and other Smurf merchandise became a hugely popular success. NBC television executive Fred Silverman's daughter had a Smurf doll of her own, and Silverman thought that a series based on the Smurfs might make a good addition to his Saturday-morning lineup.”

Now to the thing I find intresting with this.

During 1976 Klaus Volkmar ( Bully) was the only one making PVC smurfs in Germany. And then he still was working in his garage at his home in Spraitbuch.

So when Stuart contacted Peyo and Edition Dupuis to make these figurines for the US market they had no company big enough to be able to produce smurfs for bigger markets like the US. That for me is the most likely reason Peyo wanted Schleich to start making the smurfs again. They had the capacity and contacts to set this up.

This also explains what Peyo meant when he wrote that Dupuis said he was not intrested in making toys. Just like the book says Bully then was making these toys. When Stuart wanted to make this contract he asked both Peyo and Dupuis in 1976/77. But only Peyo was intrested in this. Dupuis stuck to only making magazines and comics.

So this could have been a reason for both the fact that Schleich started making smurfs again worldwide and also the fact that only Peyo got the rights for the figurines( toys).???

What do you think?

To me, that could be a good explaination!

Lia

It would explain a lot of things...mostly why Peyo gave Schleich the sole right to produce smurfs and was ready to fight for this right. Also matches the time when smurfs first appeared in the US as figurines which was shortly after Schleich won the battle for the smurf rights

Thus it makes sense! Thanks for the explanation André

Then the history is something like this:

In 1975/76 only Bully makes smurfs. Facts!

In 1976 Ross goes to Belgium and sees smurfs and wants to make them for the Us market also. Facts!

In 1976/77 Schleich starts making smurfs again with Peyos permission. Facts!

In 1977/78 Peyo starts a lawsuit against Bully to get Schleich to be the sole manufacturer for smurfs. Facts!

In 1977/78 Schleich starts making smurfs in Hongkong. Facts!

In 1978 Peyo lost the first courtbattle against Bully and Bully still can make smurfs for Germany, Canada and Scandinavia. Facts!

In 1979 Schleichsmurfs made by W berrie are first sold in the US. Facts!

In 1979 Bully lost the courtbattle against Peyo and in 31st of december 1979 was the last time Bully was allowed to manufacturer smurfs. Also has to give all molds to Peyo. Facts!

And last, in first of january 1980 only Schleich are allowed to make, distribute and sell smurfs. Facts!

All these facts goes very well with the story about Ross and explains why this happened??

And before 1975, smurfs were made by Schleich.

Do you agree there was a short time when Dupuis and Schleich both produced the figurines?

And I know this has nothing to do with this thread, but you know me..I like it all together

Thanks for the research again...you certainly cleared up a few questions I had, like why Peyo suddenly wanted Schleich to produce the smurfs so badly he even went to court for it

And before 1975, smurfs were made by Schleich.

Do you agree there was a short time when Dupuis and Schleich both produced the figurines?

And I know this has nothing to do with this thread, but you know me..I like it all together

Thanks for the research again...you certainly cleared up a few questions I had, like why Peyo suddenly wanted Schleich to produce the smurfs so badly he even went to court for it

That is correct Maureen,

though Dupuis never manufactured any smurfs themselves, but had other companies making smurfs for them to use. Just like Peyo also used companies like Schleich or Bully to manufacture smurfs for him.

It says that Ross contacted Peyo and Edition Dupuis after visiting Belgium in 1976. So then( just like on the Peyo & Edition Dupuis-union smurfs) both of them had toys made. Probably together with the movie shown then. We know the movie was in French and also is to be found with dutch and german subtitles. And it was also shown in UK in 1979, but not until 1983 in US. So it was probably shown in many countries in Europe between 1976 and 1978.

When Peyo got the sole rights for the smurftoys, because Dupuis was no longer intrested, he wanted Schleich to make the PVC smurfs for the whole world. But this probably took a few years to set everything up. Also the demand very fast got huge so that is why they during the years added new factories makings smurfs, or painted them, for Schleich. Like Portugal, Tunesia, Sri Lanka...

But in the beginning during 1976-78 before Schleich got the worldwide license, I believe Peyo could have used other manufacturers for making them. But after 1979 I don´t think Peyo would have agreed with any new company, besides Schleich, to make licensed smurfs. Of course then I don´t mean the companies making the smurfs licensed together with Schleich, like W Berrie, hering, Minimodels, Applause.

So especially around 1976 when the movie was shown in many countries I assume both Peyo and Dupuis had many different smurffigurines made for different purposes and in different material.

For me for example the Peyo & Edition Dupuis-union were licensed figurines made for promotion in Belgium in 1976. And these were definatly not made by Bully or Schleich. Also the Eura Spain- and PAT-marked smurfs could have been made for them by another local manufacturer in Spain. But those could also have been made unlicensed off course. ?? They have the potential though. But our spanish collectors tell us they were to found in shops also in the 80s?? The molds used though tell us that they could have been made during these years before Schleich got big enough.?? So those are still open for new ideas!! The CNT´s though seems to be like Joaquin wrote copies of other Schleich smurfs. The intresting thing there is that they copied the Eura Spain Smurfette and Drummer. This means the Eura spain smurf figurines were made before the CNT´s. And for me they could very well have been made around 1977/78?? But this we don´t know yet!

Only smurfs made during these few years around 1976 could be licensed eventhough not made by Bully or Schleich, since then both these companies only had a very very limited productioncapacity ready to make smurfs. And Schleich did not even make then in 1976. But they slowly started!! And in the beginning they could have used or tested other companies also to make the smurfs for them???

And before 1975, smurfs were made by Schleich.

Maureen,

That seems correct. But Bully from 1974.

According to the Schleich book and also Stefans Bully posters, Klaus Volkmar left Schleich in 1973. And made smurfs already in 1974. And it says that from 1975 Schleich did not make any smurfs anymore. That is also why Bully must have made the Schleichmold-smurfs themselves, they sold in 1975-76. In 1978 I think Schleich got these back, because they are not shown anymore on any Bullyposters and all those smurfs are instead shown on the new Schleichposters like the one Gerda has on her website. This means Bully only made the Schleichsmurfs for a very short time, 1975-1976/77. And in 1977 Bully sold newly Schleichmade smurfs, made in 1977. This means that Schleich had started producing smurfs again and could actually already then have got all the molds back?? So maybe only Bully made the Schleichsmurfs during 2 years, 1975 and 1976.

Thanks for the research again...you certainly cleared up a few questions I had, like why Peyo suddenly wanted Schleich to produce the smurfs so badly he even went to court for it

I think Peyo saw the potential and that Bully did not have this capacity.
I just remember when I stopped buying smurfs in Sweden in around 1978. It was very big in Sweden in those years and Sweden is a very, very small country compared to US. So if Peyo and Schleich assumed it was going to be as big in all countries they knew they had to make A LOT of figurines. I think Peyo knew what he did and got the money back big time after changing to Schleich, and I don´t think he regret the courtbattle. ?

Interesting thoughts, Andre:)

It certainly explains why the Dupuis smurfs molds became so different over the years.

Do you have any idea who could have produces those?

Interesting thoughts, Andre:)

It certainly explains why the Dupuis smurfs molds became so different over the years.

Do you have any idea who could have produces those?

Yes Maureen,

we know some companies, like Ex.In.Co made the first smurfs for Dupuis. Also it seems a company called something on S made the Garden smurfs for Dupuis. Same with Peyo. He don´t make any smurfs but have different companies making them for him. Sometimes these companies puts their companynames on the figurines sometimes not. For example I don´t think Ex In Co put their name on the cardboardwrapping?? Dupuisunion smurfs were probably made as giveaways in cereals or something like that and then made by a Belgium manufacturer. Eura Spain could be just a mark for the promo giveaways used in Spain??? But they were found in toystores so that don´t make sence. They as said before could also be unlicensed.