Unicef bombs the Smurfs!

Ghoulish Delight · 10-10-2005, 04:30 PM

In a bizarre campaign, Unicef is set to release a 25 second film in Belgium depicting the Smuf village being fire-bombed mercilessly with the tagline, "Don't let war affect the lives of children."

The received permission from the family of the creator.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...08/ixhome.html

Drince88 · 10-10-2005, 04:35 PM

Hmmm, I'm not sure if seeing something like that would compel me to donate money to UNICEF....

Prudence · 10-10-2005, 04:46 PM

I think that's sick. Just sick. Maybe I'm not understanding the role of Smurfs in Belgium. Here, they're a kids show. And using a kids show for the message, despite the 9pm limit, seems an awful lot to me like they're targeting the message at kids. Is that supposed to shame parents with "wailing terror?"

But again, maybe I don't get it. Maybe it's like Peanuts here and viewers are generally adults reliving their childhoods.

Ghoulish Delight · 10-10-2005, 04:55 PM

Well, the Smurfs are of Belgian origin, so I'll defer to them on its status as a cultural icon.

Morrigoon · 10-10-2005, 05:15 PM

Gee, that's just the sort of artwork I'd like to see *my* charitable funds used for (NOT!)

tracilicious · 10-10-2005, 05:40 PM

Wow. Nothing makes me want to take out my wallet like blown up smurfs.

Moonliner · 10-10-2005, 06:22 PM

Smurf's? Pain? Suffering? Sign me up!

I never could stand the blue buggers...

Cadaverous Pallor · 10-10-2005, 07:04 PM

I disagree with all y'all. They wanted a striking image to represent the suffering of children during wartime. They achieved that.

The Smurfs have been around for nearly 50 years and the images are supposed to affect adults that grew up with the innocent comics and TV show.

Quote:

Philippe Henon, a spokesman for Unicef Belgium, said his agency had set out to shock, after concluding that traditional images of suffering in Third World war zones had lost their power to move television viewers. "It's controversial," he said. "We have never done something like this before but we've learned over the years that the reaction to the more normal type of campaign is very limited."

Quote:

The film has won tentative approval from the official Smurf fan club. A spokesman said: "I think it will wake up some people. It is so un-Smurf-like, it might get people to think."

I'd agree.

Not Afraid · 10-10-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

In a bizarre campaign, Unicef is set to release a 25 second film in Belgium depicting the Smuf village being fire-bombed mercilessly with the tagline, "Don't let war affect the lives of children."

The received permission from the family of the creator.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...08/ixhome.html

I think using a native cultural icon to make a point in a country that experienced merciless fire-bombing can be effective. I'm not Belgian and have no connection to their cultural norms, but maybe this will serve as a good reminder or encourage people to take action so children in other smurflands are not effected. I'm not sure what propelled them to choose to release it now.

€uroMeinke · 10-10-2005, 09:11 PM

Considering Children are still being firebombed in the world, fire bombing smurfs doesn't seem to far a stretch of the horrific. There are plenty worse things happening to real people and children, if anything the cartoon probably lets them off easy.

10-10-2005, 04:30 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Unicef bombs the Smurfs! In a bizarre campaign, Unicef is set to release a 25 second film in Belgium depicting the Smuf village being fire-bombed mercilessly with the tagline, "Don't let war affect the lives of children." The received permission from the family of the creator. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...08/ixhome.html __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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10-10-2005, 04:35 PM	#2
Drince88 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 481	Hmmm, I'm not sure if seeing something like that would compel me to donate money to UNICEF....
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10-10-2005, 04:46 PM	#3
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I think that's sick. Just sick. Maybe I'm not understanding the role of Smurfs in Belgium. Here, they're a kids show. And using a kids show for the message, despite the 9pm limit, seems an awful lot to me like they're targeting the message at kids. Is that supposed to shame parents with "wailing terror?" But again, maybe I don't get it. Maybe it's like Peanuts here and viewers are generally adults reliving their childhoods. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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10-10-2005, 04:55 PM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Well, the Smurfs are of Belgian origin, so I'll defer to them on its status as a cultural icon. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ Last edited by Ghoulish Delight : 10-10-2005 at 09:07 PM.
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10-10-2005, 05:15 PM	#5
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	Gee, that's just the sort of artwork I'd like to see my charitable funds used for (NOT!) __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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10-10-2005, 05:40 PM	#6
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	Wow. Nothing makes me want to take out my wallet like blown up smurfs. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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10-10-2005, 06:22 PM	#7
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Smurf's? Pain? Suffering? Sign me up! I never could stand the blue buggers... __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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10-10-2005, 09:11 PM	#10
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	Considering Children are still being firebombed in the world, fire bombing smurfs doesn't seem to far a stretch of the horrific. There are plenty worse things happening to real people and children, if anything the cartoon probably lets them off easy. __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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