Nickelodeon To Reboot The Smurfs With New Cartoon And Product Line

Look out Gargamel! Nickelodeon has partnered with LAFIG Belgium and IMPS, the worldwide licensors for The Smurfs, to bring a brand-new animated series that will follow the incidents of the 1980’s cartoon.

Nickelodeon has licensed the global rights to The Smurfs for a CG-animated reboot that will introduce a new generation of kids to Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Clumsy, Hefty, Brainy and the rest of the the popular cartoon characters who live in mushroom-shaped homes in the forest. The series is slated to debut in 2021 in the U.S., followed by Nickelodeon channels internationally.

“The Smurfs have entertained generations of kids and families globally, and we are thrilled to bring these identifiable characters, their stories and universal themes of cooperation, sharing and caring for their community to Nickelodeon,” said Layla Lewis, Senior Vice President, Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships.

In addition to the content partnership, ViacomCBS Consumer Products (VCP) will manage consumer products licensing for The Smurfs property across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia. VCP will seek new merchandising and promotional partners in select categories and territories for The Smurfs classic brand, in addition to a new product line for the new animated series The Smurfs, spanning categories including toys, stationery, apparel and accessories, home, consumer packaged goods and more, to launch at retail in 2022.

“The Smurfs is an iconic global franchise that has resonated with audiences for decades,” said Pam Kaufman, President, ViacomCBS Consumer Products. “By partnering with LAFIG, we are able to join our creative forces to bring an all-new line of consumer products across multiple categories to consumers, along with a fresh and original animated series.”

The Smurfs partnership is part of Nickelodeon’s strategy to be the home for the biggest franchises kids and families love, and it expands Nickelodeon’s growing portfolio of influential properties that already includes SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Blue’s Clues & You!, the first-ever SpongeBob spinoff, Kamp Koral, and an all-new animated Star Trek series.

In recent years, The Smurfs have been the subject of three animated feature films: 2011’s The Smurfs and its 2013 sequel, The Smurfs 2, as well as 2017’s movie reboot Smurfs: The Lost Village.

Nickelodeon said that the new episodes will debut in 2021 — although specific date has not been announced. Are you excited for a Smurfs reboot? Let us know on our socials!