Global Smurfs Day: June 25, 2011

CULVER CITY, Calif., June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 25, 2011, in celebration of the birthday of Peyo, the creator of the Smurfs (born June 25, 1928), Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation will coordinate events all over the world as part of Global Smurfs Day, a worldwide event in anticipation of the release of the Smurfs' trip to movie theaters, it was announced today by Marc Weinstock, president, Worldwide Marketing for Sony Pictures.  Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's The Smurfs will be released in theaters in the U.S. on July 29, 2011.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/globalsmurfsday/50669/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110613/MM17683 )

Commenting on the announcement, Weinstock said, "There are few characters as iconic as The Smurfs – for more than 50 years, they have been icons of popular culture, appealing across generations.  Peyo's creation endures, and that's why Global Smurfs Day is a fitting way to celebrate his birthday."

On Global Smurfs Day, as participants enjoy fun Smurf-related activities in cities worldwide, they will be invited and encouraged to come to the events in Smurf costume in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Records® title for Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Smurfs within a 24-hour period in Multiple Venues.  The events will be synchronized around the world – this will be the most Smurfs that have ever been gathered at the same time. To achieve recognition from Guinness World Records® the global events must collectively add up to more than 2,510 Smurfs. Adjudicators from Guinness World Records® will be on hand in 12 cities around the world as it is expected that hundreds of participants in each city will come to the event dressed as Smurfs (white Smurf hat, white pants and shoes, and body painted blue).  While all are being asked to arrive at the event in head-to-toe Smurf costume, each event will have Smurfs hats and blue T-shirts available.

Among the cities participating in the record attempt as part of Global Smurfs Day are Brussels, Belgium (Peyo's home country); Athens, Greece; Scheveningen (The Hague), Holland; Dublin, Ireland; Mexico City, Mexico; Panama City, Panama; Warsaw, Poland; Moscow, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; New York, USA; and London, UK.  Events include a Smurfs Experience in London as The O2 is turned into The "O-Blue" and a family event at New York's "Smurf Street Blueport" (a/k/a South Street Seaport); also, Peyo's family will be on hand to join in the fun in their home country of Belgium.

In addition, there will be Global Smurf Day events in many other locations around the world.  For example, in Spain, the village of Juzcar, in the province of Malaga – one of the famous White Towns of Andalusia, renowned for their characteristic whitewashed walls – will kick off the celebrations by painting the entire town blue for the occasion.  In addition, "life-size" (that is, 7 1/2-inch tall) Smurf figurines will inhabit Paris's Trocadero Terrace (in front of the Eiffel Tower), the main square in Reykjavik, Iceland, Bogota, Colombia's El Dorado International Airport, and high-traffic areas in Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland.  In Taiwan, the landmark Red House will be transformed into a "Blue House," populated by Smurf figurines.  In Copenhagen, Denmark, the event will be at the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, where participants can enjoy face painting, dance-alongs, and more fun-filled events.  And in Los Angeles, at Santa Monica Place, there will be a celebration of Peyo's birthday with Smurfy activities.

For more information about Global Smurfs Day, please visit www.GlobalSmurfsDay.com or contact your Columbia Pictures representative.

The Smurfs make their first 3D trip to the big screen in Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation's hybrid live-action and animated family comedy, The Smurfs. When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the Smurfs out of their village, through a magical portal, and into our world, they land in the middle of New York's Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. Directed by Raja Gosnell.  The producer is Jordan Kerner.  The screenplay is by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick & David Ronn from a story by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss, based on the Characters and Works of Peyo.

SMURF, and all Smurfs characters ©Peyo.  All Rights Reserved.  “Smurf” and “The Smurfs” are registered trademarks of STUDIO PEYO.

About the Smurfs

The story of the Smurfs – a property created by Peyo – started in 1958 with the creation of comic books which were later brought to both the big and small screen.  Over the years, the little blue characters haven't just limited themselves to the page and the screen.  They have inspired records and CDs that have sold millions of copies, entire collections of figurines and toys, and many more products.  In all, more than 3,000 derived products have been produced and leading brands and companies have spread their messages worldwide with the help of the Smurfs.  A multitude of new projects appear regularly, thus making the success of the Smurfs planetary!

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 140 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

About Sony Pictures Animation

Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its 2009 worldwide hit, the mouth-watering 3D comedy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and the 2007 Academy Award®-nominated Surf's Up with a full slate of feature films including the live-action/animation hybrid film The Smurfs (3D) and the family comedy, Hotel Transylvania (3D). The division is also in production with Aardman Animations on two feature films, the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas (3D) and the stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates!  Band of Misfits (3D). Open Season 3, the third adventure in Sony Pictures Animation's successful Open Season franchise, was released on DVD and Blu-Ray January 2011. Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions.

About Lafig Belgium S.A.

Lafig Belgium is the owner of the rights to produce audio-visual works based on the Smurf universe and of the Smurf worldwide licensing rights (together with IMPS).  Lafig Belgium is controlled by the heirs of Pierre Culliford, better known under his pseudonym Peyo, the author/creator of the Smurfs. For 50 years, the Culliford family has controlled the Smurf characters and all licenses worldwide.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Entertainment