The Smurfs, of IMPS (International Merchandising, Promotion and Services), is the newest brand to appoint WildBrain, a leading digital kids’ network and studio, as its YouTube manager on an exclusive worldwide basis. WildBrain will assume management of 41 existing localized Smurfs channels for IMPS, while implementing a global strategy to grow The Smurfs’ audience on YouTube and YouTube Kids. This includes optimizing distribution of The Smurfs’ content catalogue, beginning with The Smurfs TV series.
The Smurfs first came to life as comic book characters created by Pierre “Peyo” Culliford in 1958 in the series Johan and Peewit. In 1981, The Smurf stories were adapted for television by Hanna-Barbera, a run that lasted for nine seasons and almost 300 episodes. Since then, the brand has had three blockbuster animated movies produced by Sony Pictures, as well as more than 120 publishers and 100 broadcasters in more than 100 territories worldwide, 700 active licenses and five theme parks.
The Smurfs brand celebrated their 60th anniversary last year and head into 2019 as proud ambassadors of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A new 3D-CGI Smurfs series is currently in production by Peyo Productions and its co-production partner Dupuis Édition & Audiovisuel.