The Smurfs
They all look the same. And you tell them apart by one single detail.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
How to tell each one apart
It is the question everyone asks at the shelf: all Smurfs look identical – blue, with a white hat and white trousers.
And they genuinely are. Each one is distinguished by a single detail:
In practice: if a child asks for "the dad" they mean Papa Smurf – the only one in red. If they ask for "the girl", Smurfette.
Nearly seventy years, and nothing has changed
The Smurfs were born in the comics of the Belgian artist Peyo in the late 1950s.
Since then they have passed through comics, a television series and four films – and their appearance has never essentially changed. Blue, white hat, white trousers.
For a gift that means something simple: there is no "which version". Whatever you pick – an older design or one from the new film – the child will recognise it instantly.
The 2025 film – what is actually true
In July 2025 a new animated film arrived, with Rihanna voicing Smurfette – a film she also produced, writing songs for it as well.
If you have read reviews, you have probably seen harsh words. Critics treated it roughly – a score of around twenty per cent.
Audiences disagreed. Viewers scored it around sixty-seven per cent – and that is the highest audience score any Smurfs film has ever had.
In other words: the families who saw it enjoyed it, whatever the critics wrote.
John Goodman voices Papa Smurf, with a large ensemble cast around them. The film is also available on Paramount+.
A small detail fans enjoy: every Smurfs film has a different pop star voicing Smurfette – Katy Perry in the first two, Demi Lovato in 2017, Rihanna now.
Age – here it genuinely is for young children
Plenty of themes look childlike without being so. The Smurfs are not one of them.
They are genuinely for young children – gentle stories, nothing frightening beyond a comical villain, and shapes ideal for small hands. They work comfortably from age three upwards.
There is also an adult audience that grew up with the 1980s series – which is why you will find collector figures here too, not only toys.
What to choose
- Plush: ideal for young children – the shape helps.
- Figures: small, collectable – this is where a collection is built.
- Apparel: children's and adult sizes.
- School gear: pencil cases, backpacks, bottles.
- Mugs & gifts: for the adult nostalgia audience too.
The safest choice: Papa Smurf or Smurfette. They are the two that even someone who has seen nothing will recognise – because they are the only ones who do not look identical to everyone else.
Same feel – classic European and timeless comics: Asterix, Snoopy and Garfield.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I tell the Smurfs apart?
- By one single detail. Papa Smurf is the only one with a red hat and white beard. Smurfette the only one with blonde hair. Brainy the only one with glasses. All the rest are blue with a white hat.
- Do I need to know which film they saw?
- No. The Smurfs' appearance has not essentially changed since the 1950s comics. Whatever you pick, they will recognise it at once.
- Is the 2025 film any good?
- Critics panned it, audiences did not. Viewers scored it around 67% – the highest audience score of any Smurfs film. Rihanna voices Smurfette and wrote songs for it. It is available on Paramount+.
- What age is it for?
- From age three upwards. It is one of the few categories that is genuinely for young children – gentle stories and nothing frightening. There is also an adult audience that grew up with the 1980s series.
- What should I buy as a gift?
- Papa Smurf or Smurfette – the only two who stand out at a glance, so they are recognised even by someone who has never seen the series.
