Television Review: The Smurfs
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this classic animated series
promotes togetherness and sharing. Although some skeptics
believe the Smurfs' mushroom village is a spoof of communism,
kids won't pick up on that possibility. They're much more
likely to notice Gargamel's mean personality and relentless
pursuit of the Smurfs, which may frighten some very young
viewers.
Families can talk about being part of a group. How does working
together help the Smurfs succeed? Should you always do what the
group says, or are there times when it's better to think for
yourself? How can you tell the difference? What would your name
be if you were a Smurf?
THE SMURFS is a now-classic cartoon series about a community of little blue gnome-like creatures who work together to keep their mushroom village running smoothly and stay out of the clutches of evil wizard Gargamel and his cat, Azrael. The hit series had a successful run on NBC's Saturday morning line-up from 1981-1990 and now airs in reruns on Boomerang. The Smurfs' kid-friendly adventures teach some worthwhile lessons. For instance, when Brainy Smurf turns himself into a real monster for Halloween the other Smurfs feel it's unfair, so Brainy turns everyone into monsters -- much to the dismay of Papa Smurf, who wanted them all to put in the time and effort required to make a real costume. In the end, the Smurfs learn that cheating and taking short cuts are less rewarding in the long run.
While the show is simplistic, its positive storylines teach kids many valuable lessons. Lessons aside, some interesting rumors have been attached to the series over the years. The most popular is that the series' creators used the show as a way to spread Communist ideas -- the Smurfs' lack of individual identity is one of the main arguments for this theory.
But kids won't care about any of that. They'll enjoy The Smurfs for the sweet, funny characters and their kind acts of sharing and teamwork. Overall, it's a very entertaining show for the younger set. Even if the rumors are true and the series' creators did have ulterior motives, their political messages are displayed in good taste and fly below the radar of all but the most eagle-eyed viewer.
Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-LotThe Snorks
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
Join Us