THE HISTORY OF PEYO!!!
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Peyo's very first smurf.
Peyo, the very first smurf A distant descendant of the pirate Robert Culliford, Peyo (whose real name was Pierre Culliford) was born in the Brussels commune of Schaerbeek, on June 25th 1928. No one knows if his first word was 'Schtroumpf'...
Peyo's passport His real first name: Pierre
Last name : Culliford
Spoke : French (and a bit of Smurf)
Lived in : Brussels (Belgium) – the capital of waffles and Manneken Pis
Worked as : a comic artist
Biggest invention : The Smurfs
Is also the father of : Johan and Peewit, Poussy, a clumsy and mischievous cat; Steve Strong, a young boy with an incredible strength who loses this powers when he catches a cold.
Peyo's passport His real first name: Pierre
Last name : Culliford
Spoke : French (and a bit of Smurf)
Lived in : Brussels (Belgium) – the capital of waffles and Manneken Pis
Worked as : a comic artist
Biggest invention : The Smurfs
Is also the father of : Johan and Peewit, Poussy, a clumsy and mischievous cat; Steve Strong, a young boy with an incredible strength who loses this powers when he catches a cold.
Peyo's first job.
The year is 1928 ... In New York the first 'talking' film is being projected and Walt Disney is drawing his first sketches of Mickey Mouse.
On June 25th of the same year a baby boy called Pierre Culliford was born in the outskirts of Brussels.
Due to his father's premature death, Peyo had to start earning a living at a young age. His first job was as a movie projectionist in the small 'Le Mirano' cinema. The medieval and science-fiction movies had a profound effect on him and inspired him throughout his career as an artist.
Fun fact: smoking was not allowed in the projection rooms so Peyo invented a technique to avoid getting caught: if his boss came into the room he would hide his lit cigarette in his mouth. An early sign of him being as mischievous as Jokey ...
On June 25th of the same year a baby boy called Pierre Culliford was born in the outskirts of Brussels.
Due to his father's premature death, Peyo had to start earning a living at a young age. His first job was as a movie projectionist in the small 'Le Mirano' cinema. The medieval and science-fiction movies had a profound effect on him and inspired him throughout his career as an artist.
Fun fact: smoking was not allowed in the projection rooms so Peyo invented a technique to avoid getting caught: if his boss came into the room he would hide his lit cigarette in his mouth. An early sign of him being as mischievous as Jokey ...
Pre-Smurf.
For his next job he almost became a dentist's assistant (thank goodness he didn't). Luckily, he was hired by a cartoon studio instead where he met and worked with some of Europe's most influential comic book artists such as Franquin (Marsupilami) and Morris (Lucky Luke). It was during a cartoon called 'Le cadeau à la fée' (The gift to the Fairy) that little blue imps with flowers as hats made an appearance as they put together a large cake in a very 'smurfy' way! Unfortunately the studio closes down and Pierre Culliford decides to move into comics.
Smurfly named Peyo.
When he decided to become a full-time comic artist, Peyo, who was still signing his work with his full name, decided he needed a pen name. He found inspiration in his childhood nickname 'Pierrot' or, as one of his younger cousins (who couldn't pronounce the 'r') called him, 'Pe-yot'.
Captain Coky.
After several unsuccessful attempts with pirate comics (Captain Coky), Peyo decided to draw what he really loved, stories based in the Middle Ages. He publishes strips in several dailies. He drew some Johan strips for the Belgian daily newspaper 'Le Soir' and then for 'Spirou' magazine.
Johan soon became a huge success and one of the magazine's main characters. The King's page, Johan, and his friend Peewit have fun and countless adventures defending the less-fortunate throughout the kingdom.
Johan soon became a huge success and one of the magazine's main characters. The King's page, Johan, and his friend Peewit have fun and countless adventures defending the less-fortunate throughout the kingdom.
A Smurf is born.
For Johan and Peewit's ninth book of adventures, Peyo needed a group of imps to build a magic flute. He remembers a meal he had with his friend André Franquin (Marsupilami) when he'd wanted to ask Franquin to pass him the salt. But he couldn't remember the word so he says: "Pass me the ... uhm ... the smurf!". Franquin hands it over and answers: "Here's the smurf. Once you've smurfed with it you can smurf it back to me!" And so the name and language of the little imps were invented and on page 38 a small voice suddenly appears: "Can't you look where you smurf? You nearly smurfed me!" Then a blue skinned imp emerges from behind a rock . And that was the first time anyone ever saw a Smurf !
We want Smurf! We want Smurf!
For Johan and Peewit's ninth book of adventures, Peyo needed a group of imps to build a magic flute. He remembers a meal he had with his friend André Franquin (Marsupilami) when he'd wanted to ask Franquin to pass him the salt. But he couldn't remember the word so he says: "Pass me the ... uhm ... the smurf!". Franquin hands it over and answers: "Here's the smurf. Once you've smurfed with it you can smurf it back to me!" And so the name and language of the little imps were invented and on page 38 a small voice suddenly appears: "Can't you look where you smurf? You nearly smurfed me!" Then a blue skinned imp emerges from behind a rock . And that was the first time anyone ever saw a Smurf !
Smurfandising in the 60's.
Advertising departments rapidly saw the potential of the Smurf phenomenon and BP, Kellogg's, Côte d'Or and BN were some of the first companies to surf the incredible and increasingly popular Smurf wave.
But it is probably the PVC figurines of the little blue beings, first sold by Bully and then by Schleich, that had the most success.
But it is probably the PVC figurines of the little blue beings, first sold by Bully and then by Schleich, that had the most success.
The Smurfs were first seen on Belgian television in a series of short animated films, made by TVA Dupuis, the television animation studio of Charles Dupuis (the spiritual father of Robbedoes magazine). A couple of years later, in 1975, the Belgian Belvision studio produced a full-length feature based on 'The Magic Flute' which really triggered the Smurfs success. The movie was released in Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
What's on the smurfs tonight?
In 1981, The Smurfs debuted on the American NBC TV Channel, thanks to the famous cartoons produced by the Hanna-Barbera Studios, who also made 'Tom & Jerry' and 'The Flintstones'. But the success didn't stop there - the Smurfs were quickly aired around the world, even in countries that didn't even know the Smurfs comics! Even now, 30 years later, the Hanna-Barbera cartoons (the Smurfs star in 256 different episodes!) are still broadcast everyday on major TV channels worldwide.
Plantetery success.
The success of the Smurfs became planetary in the 80's because of the cartoons. There are few regions left where their silhouettes are not recognised at first glance, but their name changes in every country: the Smurfs, die Schlümpfe, Los Pitufos, I Puffi, de Smurfen, les Schtroumpfs...
They are no longer limited to the page and the screen. The merchandising business really explodes. The Smurfs have become techno-music stars, as well as inspiring a steadily increasing collection of popular figurines, video games, toys...and many other derived products. On top of that, many companies made use of their image to promote their own products.
They are no longer limited to the page and the screen. The merchandising business really explodes. The Smurfs have become techno-music stars, as well as inspiring a steadily increasing collection of popular figurines, video games, toys...and many other derived products. On top of that, many companies made use of their image to promote their own products.
Were the Smurf are we?
In August 2011, the Smurfs make their return to the big screen again, this time in 3D! The Smurfs Movie - Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation hybrid live-action and animated family comedy - in which the Smurfs get lost in present day New York City - was directed by Raja Gosnell and produced by Jordan Kerner. This event will introduce the beloved blue characters to a whole new generation of kids.
Peyo's death.
Peyo left us on December 24, 1992 but the Smurfs have continued their many adventures and are today looking forward to a bright and even more exciting future, always ready to take on new challenges.