The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1983)

The Smurfs and the Magic FluteEarning money with a musical instrument is possible on the right subway platform.Mind you, the musician in this animated movie is making money through magic.When the king's jester Peewit (Cameron Clarke) gets a hold of a magical flute that can make people spontaneously dance when played, he attracts the attention of a merchant McCreep (Mike Reynolds), who steals the wind instrument to rob villagers.Now, Peewit and a knight's squire named Johan must use a wizard's spell in order to convene with the mystical blue-skinned forest creatures that first forged the flute if they hope to change McCreep's tune.Written and directed by the Smurf's creator Peyo, this 1976 hand-drawn feature from Belgium set the standard of what would go on to become the 1980s Saturday morning cartoon phenomenon; mostly because it feels like three episodes pieced together.Incidentally, when Smurf's hear the magic flute played they turn rabid.Green Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1976): Dir: John Rust / Voices: Cam Clarke, Mike Reynolds, Robert Axelrod, Michael Sorich, Ron Gans: Junk food animation so unappealing that like the flute it would likely put children to sleep. The first problem is that with the exception of Papa Smurf all of the little blue people look alike. In the Saturday morning cartoon they were given distinguishing identities but not here. Hefty had a heart tattooed on his shoulder. Handy wore overalls. Baker wore the obvious hat. Brainy wore classes. Vanity had a pink flower in his hat. And Clumsy looked sloppy. None of that distinction exists here. In fact the adult characters are more interesting than the little blue people, which is a kick in the ass in terms of marketing. Story is simple with repetitious animation. A magic flute falls into the wrong hands and a couple of humans seek help from the Smurfs in making a new one. Director John Rust directs with as little ambition as possible. The villain McCreep is perhaps the most interesting character. He steals the flute and uses it to rob people. Perhaps he should have used it to steal the screenplay for a decent rewrite. Knight Johan and his sidekick Peewit counter him until the last note is sprung from the second flute. Great cartoons are detailed in animation and personality. John Rust's film could only be improved if tossed in a fireplace. Score: ½ / 10

This is a real classic: fantastic story by Peyo, classy animation (far superior than Hanna & Barbera's) and great characters. For all the people complaining about the Smurfs not being the main characters, you just don't get it right. This was not meant as a Smurf's story, this was a Johan and Pirlouit story. In this story the Smurfs made their first appearance ever, and they were really meant as secondary characters. Only, they became so popular, that Peyo had to start the Smurf's comic book series, as well. So, blame it on the American distributors that marketed this as a Smurf film, while it's actually a fantastic Johan and Pirlouit story.

Though only 17 years since I've known of it, I thought I'd commemorate the 25th(!) anniversary of the film by revisiting my childhood memories of it. Being a kid of the 80's, the Smurfs was one of the cartoons I grew up on. Apparrently they've been around since the late 50's and made it to the big screen in 1976 with this Belgium feature. I still remember saying "Mom, why are their voices different than on the tv show?" Today is still puzzles me. If this was dubbed for American audiences two years after the show premiered, why did they not go with the tv voices? Still don't know. And also, the voices we do get all seem to be echoing somewhat, with the exception of Papa Smurf. And there is no Smurfette. Or Gargamuel. Or Azreal. But it doesn't hurt the film at all, as the Smurfs are secondary anyway. They don't even show up until 25 minutes in! And aren't even really seen until 35 minutes in! But when the Land of the Smurfs is reached, it's guilty pleasure time, for me at least. The three dopey songs featured are somehow extremely catchy. The one explaining how the Smurfs tell each other apart. Then later it's human character Pee-Wee trying to make out the Smurf language. Capped off by "We're the Smurfs, la, la!" The main story concerns the title instrument, which makes people dance upon hearing it. It's stolen by a villian named McCreep, who robs people by playing the flute, which causes them to be unable to defend themselves. They dance about and he makes off with their gold. The flute was created by the Smurfs, so a prince and a short, excitable musician from a royal court are recruited in tracking down the Smurfs for help. Harmless fun for kids, and I still get a kick out of it today. The animation if fair for a 25 year old movie, as the real star for me was Pee-Wee. So, give it a shot for youngsters or have fun taking yourself back in seeing it for the first time in awhile.