This new version of The Smurfs is slightly better than the 1980s cartoon series, but only in animation quality. Chef and Greedy are separate characters once again, along with Clumsy and Dimwitty. Baby Smurf makes a surprise return to the series, which is true since the little rugrat has not been seen since the 1980s. Brainy Smurf is no longer as self centered and arrogant as you'd expect, and his ego has been downplayed (reverting to a bookworm Smurf). While Hanna-Barbera was instrumental in extreme character build-up and taking artistic liberties in their version, this series is more accurate to the original comics. For some reason, characters such as The Smurflings, Grandpa Smurf, Nanny Smurf and Smoogle are absent. The Smurfy Grove inhabitants, on the other hand, make a fine addition to the series for a younger generation. Johan and Peewit don't appear in this series, which is quite sad because they were the ones involved in the Smurfs introduction from the "Magic Flute" story.
The only downside is the use of gross-out jokes, which never happened in the 1980s series. The biggest offender is "Who Nose?", where Hefty squirts booger substance at the other Smurfs in the end. Another downside is the show focusing more on the Smurfs, Gargamel and Bigmouth, which can get pretty boring to watch.
The animation is great, the pacing is faster, the story concepts are good stuff, but the character portrayals and voice acting is pretty mixed. Aside from that, the people in Belgium did a good job keeping the spirit of the original comics alive and The Smurfs were able to regain their original mischievous personalities they had once lost. It is not a continuation of the 1980s series, but an offshoot of the original comics. Overall, I give this new series a smurfy 6 out of 10.
