To celebrate the birth month of Peyo, the creator of The Smurfs, Sony Pictures Animation has mounted a Smurfs Invasion of the Skypark of the Marina Bay Sands – with some 5,000 Smurfs figurines!
Rendering the Skypark practically blue, the invasion was part of Smurfs Night which concluded the highly successful Sony Pictures Summit: Singapore, a four-day publicity blitz that highlighted the studio’s upcoming blockbusters, including “Ghostbusters,” “Inferno,” “The Magnificent Seven” and “Smurfs: The Lost Village.”
Pierre Culliford (born June 25, 1928), known as Peyo, was a Belgian comics artist, and best remembered for the creation of The Smurfs comic strip from which the cartoon show is based. His work is being carried on by his son Thierry Culliford, who has also currently adopted the pen name Peyo.
The newest entry in the Columbia Pictures movie franchise that has grossed more than $900 million globally, “Smurfs: The Lost Village” is set for a worldwide release on March 31, 2017. The fully-animated return to the tone and style of the beloved comic book creations of Peyo is directed by Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2,” “Gnomeo & Juliet”), produced by Jordan Kerner (“Charlotte’s Web,” “The Smurfs”) and co-produced by Mary Ellen Bauder (“Hotel Transylvania”), and executive produced by Raja Gosnell and Ben Waisbren.
In the film, it seems to Smurfette that everyone else in the Village has a purpose — Papa Smurf (leading), Baker Smurf (baking), even Grouchy Smurf (grouching) — except for her. So what’s the only girl in the village to do? Go in search of hers, of course! When she accidentally crosses paths with a mysterious creature that takes off into the Enchanted Forest, she follows, and sets off into the uncharted and strictly forbidden woods. Joined by her brothers Brainy, Hefty and Clumsy — and with the evil wizard Gargamel shadowing their every step — Team Smurf undertakes a wild journey full of action, danger and discovery, setting them on a course that leads to the biggest mystery in Smurf history!
“Smurfs: The Lost Village” stars Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Rainn Wilson as Gargamel and Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf. Also starring are triple Emmy nominee Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) as the sweet, awkward and honest-to-a-fault Clumsy, who’s forever trying his best and missing the mark; Danny Pudi (“Community”) as book smart and geek proud Brainy, who’s long on knowledge, but short on inter-Smurf-onal skills; and Joe Manganiello (“True Blood,” “Magic Mike”) as the strong and super-positive Hefty, a loyal dynamo struggling with his hero complex.
Opening across the Philippines on March 2017, “Smurfs: The Lost Village” will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.