The Smurfs international license holder IMPS has introduced it’s rebranding as Peyo Firm after the pen identify of Belgian comedian guide artist Peyo, who created the enduring little blue creatures within the late Nineteen Fifties.
The corporate additionally revealed it’s embarking on a brand new technique to increase The Smurfs franchise and revive different unique creations from Peyo’s ‘Johan & Peewit’ and ‘Benny Breakiron’ comedian books.
Set towards the backdrop of Medieval Europe, the Johan & Peewit caricature collection was first printed in 1946, and finally generated 13 separate albums.
Peyo first launched the Smurfs in a Johan & Peewit story known as The Smurfs & the Magic Flute in 1958. Readers beloved the characters a lot that Peyo determined to create a spin-off devoted to their adventures.
Benny Breakiron (Benoît Brisefer) was launched in 1960, about revolves round an outwardly regular little boy with secret superhuman energy.
Johan & Peewit
IMPS introduced its identify change and growth plans on the Annecy Worldwide Animation Movie Competition’s MIFA market on Tuesday.
The corporate was based in 1984 by Peyo’s daughter Véronique Culliford, to advertise and protect her father’s work and legacy. Beneath her watch, The Smurfs has develop into one of many highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
“It’s been an honor to have the ability to construct so successful out of the blue characters my father created,” mentioned Culliford.
“And now I hope we’ll do the identical for a few of his different creations, ‘Johan & Peewit’ and ‘Benny Breakiron’. To underline our engagement to increase his legacy past the Smurfs, we’re renaming IMPS as The Peyo Firm,” she continued.
“It’s a well-deserved tribute to my father, and options his signature, with which he signed hundreds of drawings, as our new brand. Peyo was a storyteller, and so is Peyo Firm. The renamed firm will inform new tales impressed by Peyo’s creations with a contact of modernity that may resonate with new generations.”
The brand new technique will kick off with two TV collection undertaking: The Tales of Johan & Peewit and Benny Breakiron for which the corporate is at present searching for companions.
IMPS/Peyo Firm additionally gave an replace on upcoming tasks impressed by The Smurfs IP.
They embody Smurfs’ Village: Season 2 which launches on Netflix on June 30, adopted by Season 3 on Nickelodeon this summer time, with Season 4in pre-development.
As well as, CCO Nele De Wilde mentioned the corporate was enthusiastic about Paramount Animation’s upcoming The Smurf Film.
The film was additionally teased by the studio in a separate occasion in Annecy on Tuesday fronted by Paramount & Nickelodeon Animation President Ramsey Naito and director Chris Miller.
“Paramount pulled collectively a dream group of filmmakers led by the smurftastic director, Chris Miller, co-director Matt Landon, and producers Ryan Harris, Rihanna, Laurence ‘jay’ Brown, and Tyran ‘ty-ty’ Smith,” Stated De Wilde.
“This recent tackle the beloved Smurfs will see them go on an interdimensional journey to find the ability inside and reply the common query: “What’s a Smurf?”. We’re thrilled that Rihanna is on board to voice Smurfette and write, produce, and carry out unique songs for the movie.”
The movie is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical launch in February 2025.
