Crabby

I have noticed that people become confused when it comes to Smurfs and whether or not they are related. Well I’m here to give the facts!

The Live action Confusion

The Smurf live action movies from 2011 made everything confusing in terms of Smurf relationships. Since it is the one Smurf movie that people usually remember watching. The live action movies depicted Smurfette as an “adopted daughter” yet also having the other Smurfs crush on her. Which is very weird. Keep in mind though, that Smurfs are never depicted as anything sibling like in any other Smurf media besides this one.

In that movie they depicted papa as very fatherly in general especially to Smurfette. When in the 80s show and comics; (that were made by the creator of Smurfs himself unlike these live action movies). Had Papa hitting on Smurfette and many other things. This movie made things very confusing because they also depicted the Smurfs as “papa’s sons” which is why people believe they are siblings when they are not. That movie is just weird when it comes to depicting papa’s relationship to the Smurfs and Smurfette. Especially since they crush on her.

Why is Papa called “Papa”?

“If they aren’t related, then why do they call him Papa?”

Well, his name was turned into Papa for the english versions of Smurfs. But his name given by his creator is “Le Grand Schtroumpf” which directly translates to “The Great Smurf” or “The big Smurf” meaning he’s literally just the oldest Smurf. He’s more of a leader, than a father. Sure he did raise all of them and is technically a caretaker to them, but none of the Smurfs are even related to him. (I will explain later on in the article).

Another example of “being Papa” being a leader role in Smurf village is a comic; (“Smurfette the Great”) and an episode of the 80s Smurfs; (“Papa for a day”) In the comic, Smurfette is “in charge” because she is wearing Papa Smurf’s hat and red clothes. The episode, included the Smurfs appointing themselves as “papa” (or “mama” for Smurfette). Whenever they got the red hat, they would become the boss. It would be different if they tried to act like a father or mother with the hat, but they would start being the boss once they became “Papa”.

This proves that being “papa” in Smurf village just means he is the boss, not the father.

How are the Smurfs not related?

Smurfs are delivered by storks once in a blue moon, individually. Nothing happens. Once in a blue moon they just kind of show up. Meaning, none of them are blood related. There is Smurfette, however, who is created by magic from Gargamel. Smurfs can only be created through magic or being delivered once in a blue moon.

Do the Smurfs see each other as brothers?

Smurfs can have different relationships with each other. They CAN have brotherly-like bonds but this would be for certain Smurfs. For the most part the men are almost always fighting. Over anything really. Once they even went to war. (“King Smurf”) Some Smurfs don’t even know much about each other at all. More like people living in a neighborhood than in a giant family.

That is all of my Smurf talk! I hope I could clear up any confusion!

Sources:

https://smurfs.fandom.com/wiki/The_Great_Smurfette

https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/2868.html#000000

https://youtu.be/8Ivf8buMJqQ?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/KG3mPGpLg68?feature=shared