The Smurfs began as a comic strip in October 1958 in Belgium and quickly gained popularity, launching popular comic books and the classic figurines still sold today, but it wasn"t until the NBC eighties cartoon that audiences everywhere fell in love with Papa Smurf and Smurfette. After years of re-runs the Smurfs are hitting the big screen. This summer Sony is releasing a life-action Smurf film starring Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria (Gargamel) and featuring voices from Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, George Lopez, and many more. The upcoming film release has generated new publicity for the series and has introduced a whole new generation to the characters. The World of Smurfs will feature extensive character bios of Smurf village residents like Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and Hefty. It will also delve into the history of the smurfs, with a biography of the creator, Peyo, and a look back at the popular Hanna-Barbera produced cartoon series. And of course, no history of the smurfs would be complete without a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming movie. The World of Smurfs will be the ultimate collector"s item for both new and old fans. The upcoming Smurfs movie has reignited pop culture"s focus on these little blue characters, and there is no other book that chronicles the smurf"s history from comic strip to cartoon to live-action movie. Ours will be the first and only book for all the smurf fans.