The Smurfs - "The Astrosmurf"

The Smurfs Season One DVD

Original Air Date: September 12, 1981
Starring: Don Messick
Directed by: George Gordon, Bob Hathcock, Carl Urbano, Rudy Zamora, Ray Patterson

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Based on the popular comic strip by Peyo, the Smurfs are tiny blue creatures who live happily in a forest except for when they are being chased by their nemesis, the evil wizard Gargamel.

Cartoon Cat: Gargamel’s sidekick is an orange and white cat with a little nick in the right ear named Azrael (voiced by Don Messick). Both Gargamel and Azrael appeared in the original Smurfs comic strips by artist Peyo. In the original comic strips Azrael was female but was later changed to a male for the cartoon series and in later comics.

The Smurfs - original Peyo ink drawing of cat Azrael and Smurfs

Azrael’s background may go back even further, as he bears resemblance to a cartoon character Peyo created before named Pussycat (Poussy, le chat), a black and white cat who starred in a four-panel comic and then as an accompanying feature to the Smurfs.

The Smurfs - original Peyo ink drawing of cat Poussy Pussycat running

There was also an earlier adaptation of the characters in some black and white cartoons made for Belgian television and released as a compilation to Belgian theaters.

The Smurfs - Gargamel and Azrael cat in black and white cartoon

The Smurfs - Azrael cat in black and white cartoon

When Hanna Barbera adapted the comics to an animated series in 1981, they placed Gargamel and Azrael (voiced by Don Messick) in the prominent spot of being the Smurfs main antagonists, even including them in the show’s theme song. In the first version of the theme Azrael only has a quick appearance while Gargamel chases a Smurf and gets stuck in a log. Subsequent versions would have Azrael being the one who chases the Smurfs and gets stuck in a log.

The Smurfs - Azrael cat with claws out from theme song

The first episode to air was The Astrosmurf (although it was fifth episode to be produced) and the entire series begins at Gargamel’s cottage where he is cooking something in a pot. Poor Azrael’s tail catches on fire and he jumps to the ceiling. This sets the tone for the continual comic abuse he will face at the hands of his evil yet clumsy owner.

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Gargamel making potion with Azrael cat

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Azrael cat hanging on rafter with tail on fire

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Azrael cat with tail in pot

Gargamel creates a crystal ball which he believes will lead him to the Smurfs. As he and Azrael run through the forest Gargamel trips and Azrael tries to catch it but hits a tree and then the ball hits him. For all this trouble Gargamel only shows concern for the ball.

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Azrael cat after running into tree

The Smurfs are journeying to a volcano to help convince Dreamy that he has traveled to another planet. Gargamel and Azrael follow them and come to a river which Azrael is hesitant to cross. When he does, he jumps on Gargamel’s head and knocks him into the water, which the wizard definitely does not appreciate.

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Azrael cat putting paw into river

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Azrael cat using Gargamel to get across river

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Azrael cat looking nervous on other side of river

At the top of a cliff the pair pause in a rather unusual colorful shot.

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Gargamel and Azrael cat on top of cliff at sunset

Having reached the volcano, Gargamel and Azrael find themselves the victim of a magic spell cast by Papa Smurf which pounds them with bad weather including rain, hail and lightning.

The Smurfs - The Astrosmurf - Gargamel and Azrael cat being rained upon