Following the 40th anniversary of The Smurfs’ first animated series, IMPS has developed a new partnership with HarperCollins to build on the publishing background of the brand. Focusing on the U.S., Canada and The Philippines, the further adventures of The Smurfs are tailored to audiences in the focal regions and features content from a new animated series.
“We are so excited about this new partnership with such a prestigious and powerful publisher as HarperCollins,” says Véronique Culliford, president, IMPS/Lafig and daughter of The Smurfs’ creator Pierre Culliford. “My father was a storyteller, and books are at the heart of the Smurf’s DNA. With HarperCollins, we have found the perfect publishing partner to continue my father’s work, telling great stories and smurfing our beautiful blue planet.”
The publishing program includes a new picture book for the U.S., “How Much Farther, Papa Smurf?” which will launch in time for Father’s Day 2022, early education books and gift sets, a storybook series with stickers and a 5-minute storybook collection featuring 12 stories over 175 pages.
“We couldn’t be more smurfed about partnering with Peyo Productions to bring our little blue friends to a new generation of readers,” says Rich Thomas, vice president, director of publishing, HarperCollins Children’s. “Smurfs is a true publishing brand, and we are so honored to have the opportunity to carry on Peyo’s tradition of thrilling and heartwarming stories.”