Smurf Communism

At first glance, The Smurfs seems like a simple lighthearted cartoon. Little blue creatures living in a mushroom village being hunted by a wizard. What could go wrong? It’s just a simple, tiny communist utopia. Why is Gargamel so intent on destroying it?

No money, no private property, and everyone is named what they’re good at. Brainy Smurf thinks. Farmer Smurf farms. Handy Smurf builds. Everyone has a job. No one’s trying to get rich or be above anyone else. Everyone is dressed the same in perfect egalitarian monotony. Even the dictionary has been relieved of difference. “Ok, Smurf, let’s Smurf the Smurf.” It’s all about working together for the good of the fully flat village.

Papa Smurf, the wise old leader with the red hat and a beard (that looks suspiciously like Karl Marx’) is not a boss in the traditional sense. He’s a kind guide keeping the peace and helping everyone get along. Problems come from outside the village or from someone breaking the harmony, not from jealousy or competition. When things go wrong, the story usually ends with everyone coming back together and realizing the value of community and cooperation. From every Smurf according to his ability, to every Smurf according to his needs.

And let’s not forget Gargamel, the ultimate Liassez Fair Capitalist. He’s all about money. He’s trying to catch the Smurfs to turn them into gold. He lives alone, dresses in rags, and is obsessed with wealth and power. Compared to the cheerful, cooperative Smurfs, he’s a symbol of capitalist greed, trying to turn workers into gold. He even created Smurfette, with all her differences, to create chaos. She was introduced by evil to create competition and spoil the utopian village.

The Smurfs is a multi-season long argument for communism aimed at influencing the imaginations of children.