Schleich Smurfs & "The Smurfs" Cartoon (1981-1989)

The Smurfs Schleich Figures 

The Smurf figurines, born from the imagination of Belgian cartoonist Peyo (Pierre Culliford), transitioned from 2D comic characters to a global 3D obsession through a long-standing partnership with the German toymaker Schleich. While the first latex Smurfs appeared in 1959, the true "Smurfmania" was ignited in 1965 when Schleich began mass-producing the iconic 2-inch PVC figures, starting with a core trio: Normal Smurf, Gold Smurf, and the striped Convict Smurf. These hand-painted collectibles became a marketing juggernaut throughout the 1970s and 80s, often used as "gas station giveaways" by companies like BP and National Benzole, which helped the blue characters invade households worldwide even before the Hanna-Barbera cartoon debuted. Collectors meticulously hunt for specific markings on the bottom of the figures' feet—such as the "Peyo" signature and "W. Germany" or "Hong Kong" stamps—and seek out rare "Super Smurfs" that came with larger detachable accessories like the windsurfing board or the garden swing. With over 400 unique designs produced and 300 million units sold, the Schleich Smurfs remain the definitive example of how a simple comic book side-character can become a permanent fixture of global toy history.

Donated by: Robyn Babina

"The Smurfs" Cartoon

On September 12th, 1981, "The Smurfs", an animated cartoon by Hanna-Barbera and based on the comic series of the same name by Belgian cartoonist Peyo, debuted in North America. It aired on NBC at 8:30 A.M., and became a major success for the network, and one of the most-successful and longest-running Saturday morning cartoons in television history. "The Smurfs" was nominated for multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, and won Outstanding Children's Entertainment Series in 1982-1983. In 1989, the show reached its 200-episode threshold, and its ninth season, which was an extreme rarity, as most cartoons were cancelled after two seasons and 22 episodes. The last episode of the original series aired on December 2nd, 1989, with NBC ultimately cancelling the show, as well as other Saturday-morning cartoons to make way for new live-action programming starting in April 1990.