posted                  

quote:

---

Unicef bombs the Smurfs in fund-raising campaign for ex-child soldiers

By David Rennie in Brussels


The people of Belgium have been left reeling by the first adult-only episode of the Smurfs, in which the blue-skinned cartoon characters' village is annihilated by warplanes.

The short but chilling film is the work of Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund, and is to be broadcast on national television next week as a campaign advertisement.

The animation was approved by the family of the Smurfs' late creator, "Peyo".

Belgian television viewers were given a preview of the 25-second film earlier this week, when it was shown on the main evening news. The reactions ranged from approval to shock and, in the case of small children who saw the episode by accident, wailing terror.

---

quote:

---

It is intended as the keystone of a fund-raising drive by Unicef's Belgian arm, to raise £70,000 for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers in Burundi.

---

Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002  |  IP: Logged | 

posted                   

quote:

---

And I have received three e-mails from people who wrote the old Hanna-Barbera Smurfs show telling me how they had longed to do that scene.

---

Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged | 

posted                   

quote:

---

Given that it says nothing about any particular country or issue, but instead speaks to all wars, I think it's a great commercial and that they should show it here in the U.S..

---

Posts: 3564 | Registered: Sep 2001  |  IP: Logged |