Super Smurf Review: #40228 Papa Smurf in Rocking Chair

Can you believe March is almost over? Today, we are reviewing #40228 Papa Smurf in Rocking Chair. Papa Smurf is relaxing in his rocking chair, while smoking his pipe. (Not vaping) First released by Schleich and Wallace Berrie in 1983.

Super Smurfs are unique, as both Schleich and Wallace Berrie created their own versions. For example Papa Smurf’s Rocking Chair made by Schleich has no markings on the chair. Whereas, Wallace Berrie added a marking underneath the chair. Both Papa Smurfs were made using PVC but used different colours, blue by Schleich and white by Wallace Berrie.

You can always check the tips of a Smurf’s fingers or nose to see the pvc colour. Using zoom to enlarge a picture can also help. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than having a mixed up Super Smurf. Where someone has combined two different components from two countries to make a Super Smurf. Not a big deal for some collectors but for others it may feel like they have been duped.

1996 was a big year for Papa Smurf in Rocking Chair. Firstly, Irwin Toys released six Super Smurfs on blister cards instead of boxes.

Also Quick a fast food restaurant from Belgium released six Super Smurfs. Each figurine has the Quick logo embossed onto their hat. These Super Smurfs did not come in boxes but plastic bags with their meal boxes.

These Quick Super Smurfs are the same exact ones being featured by Irwin Toys. Except for #40235 Bath Tub came with a uniquely different Smurfette figurine, taking a bath and sitting in a tub, with soap suds in her hand. The Smurfette figurine used was #20448 Smurf Bathing, sold in 1997.

Final Thoughts

In summing up I like Papa Smurf in Rocking Chair because it’s a simple and an easy Super Smurf to ensemble. But I do not know if parents in 2023 want their children to have a Papa Smurf smoking a pipe.

I am going to give Papa Smurf in Rocking Chair a score of 2 Rare – not too difficult to find.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

What do you think of Super Smurfs? Let me know of your favourite Super Smurf!

Rarity Guide

Not really rare, but still worth collecting
Rare – not too difficult to find
Extremely Rare – you’re lucky if you have this one
Ultra Rare – requires skill to have this one
Very Rare – a legendary Smurf

Review: #20768 Caretaker Smurf

Back in 2015 Schleich released eight smurfs as part of the set called Office Smurfs. It is fair to say that most collectors found the theme are a little odd. But little may know, there are two different variations of #20768 Caretaker Smurf.

On the Schleich website this is the description on Caretaker:
The most important person in the company is the facility manager. At least that is what the janitor Smurf thinks. He wears a stylish blue overall that he does not want to get dirty. Sometimes, when asked often enough, he will come over and repair things. However, the repair usually does not last for very long.

Painted in matte colours, the Caretaker Smurf where’s a dark blue coat with his white trousers. In his right hand tool he carries some kind of tool. In the Schleich catalogue, the Caretaker’s collar of his coat is the same colour. However, most are found with the coat’s collar painted white.

In the 2015 Schleich catalogue Caretaker Smurf only has a blue collar. This makes me think it was first sold like this and then it changed to a white collar. Unsure why? I don’t think there were any other variations within the Office series. But if you know of any, let us know.

Final Thoughts

If it wasn’t for Christy’s Blue Village website, I would never have known about these two variations of Caretaker Smurf. Highly recommend this website for passionate collectors. http://www.christysbluevillage.com/collection.asp?show=list&group=2126

The Care Smurf with a white collar is given a score of 1 – Not really rare, but still worth collecting.

Though the Caretaker Smurf with a blue collar is given a score of 4 -requires skill to have this one

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

What do you think of the 2015 Office series? Let me know of any other variations in the comments!

Rarity Guide

Not really rare, but still worth collecting
Rare – not too difficult to find
Extremely Rare – you’re lucky if you have this one
Ultra Rare – requires skill to have this one
Very Rare – a legendary Smurf

2023 First Pictures and Names of Smurfs by Schleich

After weeks of anticipation, we finally have pictures and names of the 2023 Schleich Smurfs.

Here’s the list of the official Schleich names and article numbers:

#20839 Dimwitty Smurf
#20840 Scaredy Smurf
#20841 Wild Smurf
#20842 Vanity Smurf
#20843 Keep on Smurfin Smurf
#20844 Take Care of Earth Smurf

My thoughts of the 2023 Smurfs

Already there is buzz around the release of the new Smurfs. Some like that they have interesting poses and are not just standing holding a random item. Others like them as they are expressing real emotions.

But some have questioned why we really need another Smurf holding a sign. We already have two other Smurfs holding a sign. #20823 Smurf with a I love you sign from 2020 and #20829 Smurf with a Good Luck sign from 2021. Did we really need another one? Possibly not.

However, the one that caught my eye was #20841 Wild Smurf because it looked very familiar to one made by Sbabam in 2016. Sbabam is a toy company from Italy.

This isn’t the first time Schleich has released a Smurf that looked like one made by another toy company. For example #20815 Greedy Smurf looked like the Cook made by Plastoy in 2016. Plastoy is a toy company from France.

Once again we have another Vanity Smurf but this one is like no other. I am not sure about this one as yet.

The one that has created the most talk, is Take Care of Earth Smurf. One could say it’s about time we have a Smurf cuddling the globe. Or is it a way subtle message about the importance of climate change.

And that’s it for my short review of the 2023 Schleich Smurfs. It’s a really great line up and I especially like Wild Smurf.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

What do you think of the 2023 Schleich Smurfs? Which Smurf from this lot is your favourite?