The Smurfs and Harper Collins Publishers Ready New Publishing Program for USA, Canada & Philippines

Brandora Editorial Staff - January 2022

Blue, small, and standing only three apples high, the Smurfs value team spirit and loyalty. They might be hard to tell apart at first, however, each Smurf has his or her own particularity.

The little blue characters created by Peyo in 1958 have been entertaining kids and families for generations. Last year, the Smurfs celebrated the 40th anniversary of the classic animated series that aired on NBC in the 1980s with the release of an all-new 3D CGI animated TV series. The new series launched on Nickelodeon on 10 September and is now screening globally.

The new adventures of the Smurfs are built on pure Smurf DNA and take the charm and wacky comedy of the original to even greater heights, fitting in perfectly with today’s faster-paced world. It is an explosive package full of adventure and humour for the whole family to enjoy.

The all-new publishing program with HarperCollins will contribute to IMPS’s ambition to revive the internationally popular franchise for today’s generation.

HarperCollins will create books tailored to the Smurfs audience for the US, Canada, and Philippines, featuring content based on the new animated series, as well as original stories and art in formats that are ideal for fans old and new:

• All-new original picture books by #1 New York Times bestselling team Robb Pearlman and Melanie Demmer! How Much Farther, Papa Smurf? is set to publish around Father’s Day 2022.
• Novelty Formats:
• I Can Read formats featuring leveled texts for independent reading
• An I Can Read! Boxset that includes 5 leveled readers and makes for a perfect gift
• 8×8 Storybooks with stickers and incentives set to hit key holidays including Halloween 2022, Easter 2023, and more
• A 5-Minute Storybook Collection featuring 12 stories and over 175 pages of Smurf magic and fun

Véronique Culliford, president of IMPS/Lafig and the daughter of Pierre Culliford, the creator of the Smurfs: “We are so excited about this new partnership with such a prestigious and powerful publisher as HarperCollins. My father was a storyteller and books are at the heart of the Smurf’s DNA. With HarperCollins we have found the perfect publishing partner to continue my father’s work, telling great stories and smurfing our beautiful blue planet.”

Rich Thomas, VP/Director of Publishing at HarperCollins Children’s: “We couldn’t be more smurfed about partnering with Peyo Productions to bring our little blue friends to a new generation of readers. Smurfs is a true publishing brand, and we are so honored to have the opportunity to carry on Peyo’s tradition of thrilling and heartwarming stories.”