Customer Reviews

The Smurfs - Season One, Vol. One

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The 80's gave us a golden age of Saturday morning cartoons. I can't think of any other era that had such a wide variety of different themes and approaches. These days most shows fall into the Japanese anime/card game genre. Back then you had several genres. One of them was the child friendly, parent approved, sugary sweet cutesy cartoons. The Smurfs has to be the top of the heap of those shows. The reason being was good production values and solid pacing of their stories which makes even a sedate and "safe" show fun to watch.

My first experience with the Smurfs wasn't this television. In fact my first exposure to the little blue creatures were in the form of little plastic figurines sold at the local Hallmark card store. I only knew of them as different little blue guys who wore different clothes that apparently denoted their profession or interest (I personally had the Karate Smurf and the Police Smurf) and they were created by somebody named Peyo (according to box that held the Smurfs). The television translation of the only thing I know about Smurfs was different, but appropriate.

You see every Smurt in the cartoon has some characteristic, trade, or skill that sets them apart from the rest. In this colony of 100 Smurfs you would have a baker, poet, carpenter and other useful trades along with Smurfs who were lazy, clumsy, vain (and were named as such). Each episode was about their interacting with each other and their surroundings based on who they were. Top it all off with a Papa Smurf to keep them all in line and a human wizard named Gargamel who wants (of all things) to eat the Smurfs and get the gist of show.

This simplistic premise was all you needed to make a fun, if overly cutesy, series that would evolve each season with new characters and themes. One of the most memorable things about the show was the use of classical music played in it's full brilliance. Not toned down or "lightened up" for the kids. It helped give me a good appreciation of the genre of music at a young age. The animation was solid and the style of the show actually lended itself to the limited frames per second that Saturday morning cartoons were stuck with to keep their budget low.

Some might overly analyze the show and see things like how the Smurf commune and soceity promote communism. To be honest that's what they were. Communists. Everybody helped out in the betterment of their society as a whole and apparently everything was shared. The theory of communism would actually work in such a small community if done right, and the Smurfs didn't have such hangups over greed and power that normally keeps any utopian ideal from happening... or at least Pappa Smurf was always there to keep his Smurfs from taking it too far.

What you are getting in this DVD set is the first half of the first season. The original plan was to put all 28 episodes onto one set, but apparently the studio changed their mind and now you get 19 episodes. Still that's six hours of content. On top of the standard eps you also get two bonus features: The Smurfs Springtime Special (an Easter holiday special) and Smurfs: The Music Video (which is not much more than the title theme with clip highlights of the show set to the music). Not much else on the extras category.

The good news is this DVD set has been remastered and Warner Home Video announced that the episodes are uncut. For purists that's really the only important thing. Don't expect Dolby Digital or anything like that. This is strictly a monophonic affair just like the show was back in the 80's. If you have kids and don't want them to see anything too violent or socially disruptive then this is a good show for you. For those of you who remembered the Smurf from when you were kids and long for their return here you go.

Join the lovable, peaceful, fun-lovin' Smurfs as they outwit the evil wizard Gargamel and his pet cat Azreal in 19 Smurf-arrific episodes from the Hanna-Barbera-produced, Emmy-nominated animated series in The Smurfs - Season One, Volume One.

Starring the veteran voice talents of Paul Winchell (Winnie the Pooh), Lucille Bliss (Space Kidettes), Frank Welker (Scooby-Doo), Don Messick (Jonny Quest), June Foray (Rocky & Bullwinkle) and many others, The Smurfs was a monster Saturday morning hit for NBC, lasting for nine seasons (1981-1990).

Season One of The Smurfs originally aired as an hour-long show, comprised of two eleven minute episodes and one full half-hour episode. Because episodes were repeated as early as Show #3, resulting in more repeats than original episodes being aired, Warner Home Video gives you the episodes in original order from Season One's hour-long format, minus all the repeats.

The Smurfs - Season One, Volume One is a 2-disc (345 min.) set featuring 19 digitally remastered and uncut episodes (complete with original broadcast version title screens); Full Frame (1.33:1) video; English Mono audio; English subtitles; plus extras. Here are the contents of this collection.

Disc 1:
1. The Smurf's Apprentice
2. The Smurfette
3. Vanity Fare
4. King Smurf
5. The Astrosmurf
6. Jokey's Medicine
7. St. Smurf and the Dragon
8. Sorcerer Smurf
9. The Smurfs and the Howlibird

Disc 2, Side A:
10. The Magical Meanie
11. Bewitched Bothered and Be-Smurfed
12. Smurf-Colored Glasses
13. Dreamy's Nightmare
14. Fuzzle Trouble
15. Soup A La Smurf
16. All That Glitters Isn't Smurf
17. Romeo and Smurfette
18. The Hundredth Smurf
19. Smurphony in 'C'

Disc 2, Side B:
(Special Features)
* Bonus Episode: "The Smurfs' Springtime Special" - Gargamel plots against the Smurfs as the Smurf village prepares for Easter.

* "Smurfs: The Music Video" - A 3-minute music video featuring the famous title sound track, cut to the rhythm of the best moments from the first season.

I randomly did an amazon search for smurfs dvd just now, and it looks like we will FINALLY see an official US release of this cartoon next year. The only thing that makes me hesitate to buy this is that it is season one volume one. I wonder if Turner is planning to release a special edition "complete series" box set at a later date.

If they were smart, the publisher would sell each of these dvd's with limited edition smurf figurines.

I've been hooked on the Smurfs since I was in the Navy, in 1983! Back then, it was the only thing on TV on Saturday mornings. I love this series, and can't wait. I dont know why it took so long!

VOLUME ONE IS GREAT AND WORTH THE PURCHASE, NOW BRING ON THE OTHERS!!!
Us smurf fans "PLAY ALL" when we watch our beloved smurfs, bring on volume 2, volume 3, the boxed sets season by season, oh don't worry hanna-barbera...... WE'LL BUY THEM.
More smurfs More smurfs.

This is a great DVD set. Hopefully they release more soon and not once a year. Otherwise we'll be waiting another 20 years for the complete 421 episode library.

Episode Listing:
The Astrosmurf
Jokey's Medicine
Vanity Fare
St. Smurf and the Dragon
The Magical Meanie
Sorcerer Smurf
Bewitched, Bothered And Be-Smurfed
King Smurf
The Smurfs and the Howlibird
Soup a la smurf
All that glitters isn't smurf
Dreamy's Nightmare
Romeo and Smurfette
Smurfony in 'C'
The Hundredth Smurf
The Smurfette
The Smurf's Apprentice
Smurf-Colored Glasses
Fuzzy Trouble
The Smurf Springtime Special
The Smurf Music Video

I haven't seen this show since I was about 7 years old (about 20 years), and I have long-been-awaiting this release. After several announcements and a couple of rescheduled release dates, it's finally here!!!

The DVD set is well worth the price. I honestly don't like that there's so few episodes on here in comparison to how many were made, but it's a great start. The box itself is very colorful and even poppish-style accents around the charecters and writing to enhance its visual enjoyment. I really like that neither one of the two discs are double sided, like they were in "Josie & The Pussy Cats", and "The Flintstones" season sets. You get two single-sided discs which also looks great sitting inside the case. And the picture quality of the cartoons are great, as well. Hard to believe these cartoons were made more than 25 years ago. Very bright, colorful, and very little dust or dirt (and I watched them on an HDTV).

So, if you're a Smurf fan, go grab this smurfin' great DVD collection and tell Warner Bros. they need to release more soon. This set has me craving more sSmurfs more than any other cartoon set they've released lately. Must send more Smurfs to DVD...and smurfin' soon.

I have been waiting for eons for the Smurfs to come out on DVD! In my research, I found that this cartoon was in Dutch. Imaging my surprise when it came out in box set in September! Yes September! I purchased the box set on Amazon that is now showing unavailable........and it had six full discs of numerous episodes....so what's the difference between that one and this one with 2 disks?....Well I'm Smurfing all I can get before it disappears again! BUY BUY BUY!!! :)

This box set is great, have been waiting for a long time for the Smurfs to finally come to DVD. Why all one season couldn't have been in it's own box set instead of splitting it up into two sets is beyond me but great set nonetheless. Included on this dvd are episodes:
The Surf's Apprentice, The Smurfette, Vanity Fare, King Smurf, The Astrosmurf, Jokey's Medicine, St. Smurf and the Dragon, Sorcerer Smurf, The Smurfs and the Howlibird, The Magical Meanie, Bewitched, Bothered and Besmurfed, Smurf-Colored Glasses, Dreamy's Nightmare, Fuzzle Trouble, Soup a la Smurf, All That Glitters Isn't Smurf, Romeo and Smurfette, The Hundredth Smurf, Smurphony in 'C', and bonus episode: The Smurfs' Springtime Special. Enjoy the DVD's.

I relived my childhood watching this DVD set. It's cute, funny, harmony-promoting and sometimes profound.
For example, in the show "The Smurfette", it proved that by treating people with kindness and forgiveness, you can change people. It has subtitles.

I own it. It's worth every penny. I don't know why I could not set it to 5 stars rating.