The Smurfs and the Magic Flute
Overview
"The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" is a Belgian animated film that was first released in 1976. The film was directed by Peyo, the original creator of the Smurfs, and co-directed by José Dutillieu and Eddie Lateste. The film is based on the original comic book story "The Flute with Six Holes" by Peyo and Yvan Delporte. The story revolves around a magical flute that makes people dance uncontrollably, which is stolen by the villainous character, Matthew McCreep.
Plot
The film begins in the kingdom of King Pierrot, where the court jester, Peewit, comes across a magical flute that has six holes. This flute, when played, causes anyone who hears it to dance uncontrollably. The flute is stolen by the villainous Matthew McCreep, who uses it to rob and cause chaos. The king's page, Sir Johan, and Peewit set out to retrieve the flute.
Their journey leads them to the land of the Smurfs, tiny blue creatures who live in mushroom-shaped houses. The Smurfs reveal that they made the magical flute and agree to help Sir Johan and Peewit retrieve it. They create a second magical flute and the group sets out to confront McCreep.
After a series of adventures and close calls, they manage to retrieve the flute and return it to the Smurfs, who destroy both flutes to prevent them from causing any more trouble. The film ends with Sir Johan, Peewit, and the Smurfs celebrating their victory.
Characters
The film features a variety of characters, both from the original Smurfs comics and unique to the film. The main characters are:
- Sir Johan: The brave and noble page of King Pierrot. He is the one who leads the quest to retrieve the magical flute.
- Peewit: The court jester who initially finds the magical flute. He is a close friend of Sir Johan and accompanies him on his quest.
- The Smurfs: A community of small, blue creatures who live in a hidden village. They are the original creators of the magical flute.
- Matthew McCreep: The main antagonist of the film. He steals the magical flute and uses it for his own nefarious purposes.
Production
"The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" was produced by Belvision Studios, a Belgian animation studio. The film was directed by Peyo, the creator of the Smurfs, and co-directed by José Dutillieu and Eddie Lateste. The screenplay was written by Peyo and Yvan Delporte, based on their original comic book story.
The film was originally released in Belgium in 1976 and was later dubbed into English and released in the United States in 1983. The English version was produced by Stuart R. Ross and featured the voices of actors such as Bill Capizzi, Cam Clarke, and June Foray.
Reception
The film received mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics praised the film's animation and faithful adaptation of the original Smurfs comics, while others criticized its plot and character development. Despite the mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success and helped to popularize the Smurfs in the United States.
Legacy
"The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" played a significant role in popularizing the Smurfs in the United States. Following the film's release, an animated television series based on the Smurfs was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, which ran from 1981 to 1989. The film also led to the production of several other Smurfs films and television specials.