Financial Definition
Apparently, smurfing is the specific stage of structuring, a money laundering process that involves breaking up a large sum of money into smaller transactions in order to avoid detection by regulatory authorities. This is not the definition I was looking for.
Interestingly, it has a similar definition to the one I was thinking about. If you've ever played a multi-player video game, you've probably heard the term "smurf" or "smurfing" in reference to a highly skilled player playing in a lower-ranked lobby.
Gaming Definition
The term originates from two highly-skilled Warcraft 2 players, Geoff “Shlongor” Fraizer and Greg “Warp” Boyko. These players were so good at the game that other people would refuse to play against them as soon as they saw their usernames, so they used the aliases "PapaSmurf" and "Smurfette."
If you're not a video game player, then these names may ring a bell (see below). Due to the game's old age, released in December 1995, the only recordings left of this event are from one of the progenitors himself, Scholngor, who recorded his exploits on the forum page (click here to see a record of a forum page).
[Warcraft 2(left), Player result screen from end of Warcraft 2 game between Shlongor, Warp, and Zima (right)]
Scholngor's post actually details an incident where another highly skilled player, "Zima," smurfed against them using the alias "Spider-man." Smurfing has become a common practice with the prevalence of the rise of E-sports and online gaming, automated matchmaking, and free-to-play models.
Origin of Smurfs
Papa Smurf and Smurfette are main characters from the cult-classic, The Smurfs. The Smurfs, or "Les Schtroumpfs (in French)," are blue dwarf-like creatures who live in mushrooms. Created by Pierre Culliford, aka Peyo, The Smurfs first appeared in issue #1071 of the Belgium magazine, "Le journal de Spirou" in October 1958 (note there is a French and Belgium version).
Their first cover appearance was in the following issue, #1072. These issues can go for $300 USD raw and easily over $1000 USD in a high CGC grade.
"Le journal de Spirou" began publishing by the Dupuis in 1938. The magazine featured the titular character Spirou, an elevator operator and bell boy at the fictional Moustique Hotel, and later a reporter for the in-story Spirou magazine. Le journal de Spirou would also feature a mix of comic strips, like Peyo's The Smurfs, and serialized features.
In fact, the success of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters as well as the Adventures of Titin (a Belgium-made character that draws comparisons to Spirou) in France and Belgium prompted Dupuis to market to the youth market, hence the Johan and Peewit (see picture below).
That's not a typo, the Smurfs were originally supporting characters to Peyo's older series, Johan and Peewit "Johan et Pirlouit" (in French). The Smurfs quickly gained popularity and starred in their own series from 1959. Since then, Smurf-short stories, gags, and comics have been translated into over 25 languages and sold millions of copies.
English translations were published in the U.S. by Papercutz and Marvel Comics in the mid-1980s, however, Smurfs would gain cult status in North America through its Saturday morning cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
The Smurfs television show aired on NBC from 1981 to 1989, on the USA Network until 1993, and on the Cartoon Network until 2003. From 1983 to 1989, The Smurfs was consecutively nominated for Daytime Emmy awards and won Outstanding Children's Entertainment Series back to back in 1983 and 1984. The show was nominated for the Kid's Choice Award "Favourite Cartoon" in 1988, 1989, and even in 2023.
Original Definition and Use: Smurf and Smurfing
The original term "Smurf" or "schtroumpf" derived from a conversation between Peyo and a friend, André Franquin, over a meal. Peyo momentarily forgot the word "salt" and instead asked his friend to pass the schtroumpf. Playing along André replied: "Here's the Schtroumpf — when you are done schtroumpfing, schtroumpf it back".
The use of schtroumpf became a running gag between the two. Schtroumpf would later be translated to Smurf in Dutch which would be carried on to the English translations. Ironically the term "smurfing" in both its financial and gaming definition is similar to how the Smurfs talk.
The Smurfs have their own Smurf language, a variation of a human language where the word "smurf" is substituted for whatever noun, verb, adjective, or adverb is being used as Peyo and André had done. Thus, smurf can mean anything and often depends on what context the word "smurf" is being used in.
Conclusion
So, now you know the origin of smurfing, I guess it did come back to these lovable blue smurfs and smurfettes. The Smurfs is still a household name in its truest-Peyo-intended sense, not the money laundering or gaming sense, and recent Smurf-news seems like it will stay that way.
Earlier this year, the Smurfs celebrated its 65th anniversary, and, akin to its original format, a free Smurfs comic was one of the options available for Free Comic Book Day.
First announced on stage at the Paramount presentation at CinemaCon 2021, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies will be teaming up to create a musical Smurfs movie set to release in 2024. At CinemaCon 2023 it was revealed that in favour of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Smurfs would be released on Valentine's Day: February 14, 2025.
The three previous modern Smurf films combined to gross over $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Fans can expect this movie to also be a success, especially with the most shocking news from CinemaCon 2023; mega-star Rihanna will star as Smurfette. The movie looks to be in good hands with Oscar-nominated Chris Miller directing as he's taken the reins on other big-named animated movies like, The Penguins of Madagascar and Shrek the Third.
Parents accompanying their kids to the movies can also look forward to it as, Pam Brady, who previously worked on animate adult comedy show South Park and adult puppet comedy movie Team America: World police, is the script writer.
One more thing...
At SDCC 2023 it was announced The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner Of The Green Stone, a 3D platforming video game, will be released on November 2, 2023.
Are you a Smurfs fan? Let us know in the comments!
