Aerobic Smurfette which is which

Today I thought I would like to share and discuss some information on Aerobic Smurfette. But which one? As there are two Smurfettes that share the same name but not the same aerobic exercise. Which one do you prefer, the first one with her arms outstretched, wearing a pink leotard and leg warmers (#20183) or the second one where she is lying on her back, with her raised while wearing matching pink leotard and leg warmers (#20457)?

Aerobic Smurfette – #20183

Aerobic Smurfette was first released in 1984 and was sold up until 1995 by Schleich. The interesting thing is that Aerobic Smurfette started with light coloured leg warmers and in the years 1987 to 1990 they were displaying her with darker coloured leg warmers.

In 1985 Schleich included Aerobic Smurfette as part of the Jubilee Set that was released to celebrate their 20th anniversary producing Smurfs. The set consisted of 19 Smurfs, individually blister packed. Each Smurf chosen to represent its year of production, is stamped in gold on the back of its head with a design consisting of leaves, date of issue and Peyo’s signature. Each package also contains Smurfs Jubilee postage type stamps.

Aerobic Smurfette was also produced by Applause (formerly known as Wallace Berrie) in 1984 and 1985. In 1984, Smurfette was extremely popular in the US. One only has to flick through an old catalogue to get an idea on how popular Smurfette was. One such campaign was referred to as Smurfette Boutique.

As you will find with this Aerobic Smurfette, there are nice coloured variations to be found. The most obvious colour variations is her leg warmers. From light lavender leg warmers to pink to dark purple. Collectors who like different markings will also not be disappointed.

Aerobic Smurfette – #20457

In 1999 Schleich released a new Aerobic Smurfette. In the beginning it was only sold for two years. The Smurfs produced in 1999 were at the time known as the New Generation Smurf Series. This was mostly because some of these new Smurfs had been produced earlier by Schleich and had received a completely new makeover.

Aerobic Smurfette was later re-released in 2011 as part of the 1990 to 1989 Decade Box Set. At the time I took the Smurfs out of their display boxes as I wanted to see what markings were used, I now regret this.

In 2013 Aerobic Smurfette along with the other Smurfs used as part of the decade box series were either sold individually on a blue blister card.

What do you think?

What are your feelings about new Smurf figurines that are produced with the same names as figurines that were produced previously? In my opinion as both Aerobic Smurfette’s are quite different from each other I don’t have a problem with it. At least it keeps you on your toes when you are looking to add more Smurfs to your collection.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

The Smurf with the hard hat

This smurf can also be sometimes referred as Architect, Baumeister, Master Builder or Foreman (#2.0229) We commonly know this smurf, by his orange hard hat, yellow jacket and green boots. While carrying his plans in the right hand and a measuring stick in the left hand. It also looks like he is yelling out instructions.

Architect was one of four Smurfs released in 1989. This included Wild Smurf, Hula Smurfette and Fitness. However can be seen on the cover of the 1988 Schleich catalogue wearing a white hard hat. I don’t think it was ever released like this, as in the following year Architect can be found with an orange hard hat. There were no new smurfs released by Schleich in 1988.

Irwin Toys

In 1995 Irwin Toys started selling Smurfs in the US and Canada. This venture did not last long as by October 1996 Irwin Toys stopped selling Smurfs due to poor sales. Architect was one of the smurfs that was sold by Irwin Toys either on a blister card, a loose smurf from counter top box or as a keychain.

Architect was also included an 8 pack of normal smurf display box. These were produced for the US and Canadian markets, so possible to find in English and French. For example the Canadian box referred to these as – SMURFS SCHTROUMPFS.

All the smurf figurines sold by Irwin Toys were all made in China and given the same article number #20825. There is also no reference to Irwin Toys on the markings found on the smurf.

Schleich continued to sell Architect up until 1999. Over the ten years there appears to be no major changes made. If anything, if I were to compare my collection of Architect Smurfs, some have been painted with shiny paint colours and others with more matte colours. The size of their tongues also vary. Again nothing major but a difference when closely comparing one to another.

Architect, is a beautifully designed and a well made smurf figurine. The detail work of the hard hat and the boots are both worthy of a mention. If you like smurfs with plenty of colour and character, Architect is a must for your smurf collection.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Smurf with Mirror

When we think about the 80’s, images of the Smurfs is never far from one’s imagination. Recently I went to 80’s theme party and out of the 12 or so people dressed up as Smurfs there were at least 3 people dressed up imitating Vanity also known Smurf with Mirror. Vanity has always been one of the main characters of the Smurfs comics, cartoon series and movies. Which may help explain why people easily associate with this Smurf.

With his red mirror in his right hand, Vanity Smurf admires his own reflection. In the beginning Schleich and Bully referred to this smurf as Eitler which translated from German to English means Vain. This may explain why BP Australia referred to it as Vanity Smurf when it was first released in 1979. However in the US, Wallace Berrie referred to as Mirror Smurf. All of these countries used the same Smurf but referred to as something different.

Know what to look for

When looking to add Smurf with Mirror to your collection, you must take into consideration that this Smurf was first produced back in 1972 by Schleich. So it is possible to find it with a Schleich emblem under it’s feet.

Around 1974 Bully had the rights to produce the Smurfs, and removed the Schleich emblem. The markings found on the Bully ones, has no reference to Bully it is just W.Germany © Peyo.

As on many of these with this marking you can find the smurf made out of both the softer pvc material and harder pvc material. Typically the ones made with softer pvc material, has it’s pupils painted more centred. Whereas the ones made out of harder pvc material has it’s pupils painted closer to the nose.

In Australia, the Smurf with Mirror was made out of Hong Kong using a harder pvc material. They are also typically painted with a darker extreme colours compared to the ones made out of Germany. Apart from that, it looks like they used the same mould.

This is a Smurf worth adding to one’s collection. Not only is it still easy to find, but most people can easily identify who this Smurf is when it is displayed. Over the years Schleich has made newer versions of Vanity which are also worth collecting. However, I still prefer the early Smurfs produced by Schleich and Bully. I like that a simple design of a figurine can be altered ever so slightly by the way it’s pupils have been added by the painter.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

The Injured Smurf

This must be the most accident prone Smurf within my collection, the one most of us refer to as Injured Smurf (#20097). With his right arm in a yellow sling, left foot wrapped in plaster, using a wooden stick to get around and two brown cross adhesive stripes on hat. The concerned look in his eyes tells us he has been through quite an ordeal.

Injured Smurf was first produced by Bully in 1978 until 1980. After 1980 Bully lost the rights to the Smurfs to Schleich, who continued to sell Injured Smurf with Bully markings until 1984. After this time, Schleich removed the Bully marking and added their own Schleich marking to the smurf. Schleich ended up selling InJured Smurf between 1980 to 1991, then 1999 and 2000.

There are two shades of brown for the wooden stick that can be found. I tend to find the lighter brown stick has Bully markings and the darker brown stick has Schleich markings.

Both in Australia and New Zealand, Injured Smurf was released by BP. This version was made out of Hong Kong. Oddly enough, in the US Wallace Berrie did not release Injured Smurf until around 1984/85. You can find this one with Bully Hong Kong markings. The one sold in Australia had Schleich markings.

Injured with yellow bandaged foot

Made in Germany Schleich S Germany © 78 Peyo CE markings

Some collectors claim that there is a version with Injured with a yellow bandaged foot. It features in the Comicfiguren Preiskatalog and Gian & Davi Collezioni The Smurfs Official Collector’s Guide as a variation of the normal one. But does not feature in Frank Oswald’s Der Schlumpf Katalog IV.

I have never seen one up close and personal, so I cannot confirm that it actually exists as a genuine release from Bully or Schleich. I have seen photographs online showing the Injured Smurf with a yellow bandage with both W.Germany Bully © Peyo markings and Hong Kong Bully © Peyo markings. Both were claimed to be genuine.

My concern is that the yellow paint is added over the white raw pvc material. So this makes it hard to tell whether the paint was original or just a repaint of the common one.

Strange but true

In New Zealand, Injured Smurf was referred to as Accident.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Sauna Smurf

For some time now, Smurf collectors have been left scratching their heads and bemused by the fact that on some of the Sauna Smurf’s you can see its blue tail. One would have thought that it should be under the towel and should not be seen.

Sauna Smurf (#20108) can be found washing his back with a scrubbing brush with his left hand and holding a cake of frothy soap in his right hand, while wearing a red towel around his waist. It was first made by Bully in 1979 and later sold by Schleich from 1980 to 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000. It was also made out of Hong Kong between 1981 to 1984.

German made

All German made Sauna Smurfs have unpainted tails and can be found with Bully and Schleich markings. However, the Bully made ones are made out of a white pvc material and the Schleich ones are made out of blue pvc material. The colour and the thickness of the brush can also be found. I have always found it difficult to distinguish the colour differences on the brush, especially when looking at photographs online. For me, there are too many other factors in play, such as the lighting, the quality of the photo etc.

All the newer German made ones there are no differences found with the brushes.

Hong Kong made

Like the Bully made ones, the Sauna Smurf produced out of Hong Kong was made out of white pvc material. With the Hong Kong made ones, you can always see its blue tail. Not really sure why they did this…. But they did.

Sauna Smurf was first made in Hong Kong around 1981 and was sold by both BP New Zealand and Wallace Berrie for the US market. I don’t think it was released by BP Australia but I could be wrong.

Like a lot of Smurfs made out of Hong Kong, you can find ones with the year marking changed. From 1979 changed to 1980 and then back again to 1979. It is thought this happened around 1982 when Smurfs were only being made for Wallace Berrie. This was also around the same time that the colour of brush changed from light tan colour to an ocher brown colour.

Fakes

Due to the popularity of Sauna Smurf, there are many different fakes to be found. Some are beautifully crafted and painted like the PVC No Toxico ones and then there are the fakes from Mexico made out of different coloured rubber like material.

When looking to add Sauna Smurf to your collection don’t forget to check if you can see his tail. You can tell a lot about someone from looking at them from their behind.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B