How did Paramount get The Smurfs?

[Daikun]

From the TZ news page:

Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies will make a trio of CG-animated films based on the Smurfs, Box Office Prophets (http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/tickermaster/movienews.cfm?tmID=2831) reports, citing Variety. The first will be released in 2008 to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the characters’ creation.
Doesn't Time-Warner hold the rights to The Smurfs through Boomerang and Hanna-Barbera? How the heck did Viacom get these rights?

[Nobuyuki sama]

From the TZ news page:


Doesn't Time-Warner hold the rights to The Smurfs through Boomerang and Hanna-Barbera? How the heck did Viacom get these rights? The Smurfs are owned by their creator's company in Belgium.

Viacom must have bought a movie license.

[Jeff Harris]

Doesn't Time-Warner hold the rights to The Smurfs through Boomerang and Hanna-Barbera? How the heck did Viacom get these rights?Well . . .

Time-Warner does own the 80s Hanna-Barbera adaptation of Peyo's Smurfs property, but the original Les Schumpfs (The Smurfs) comic property is still owned by Peyo's estate, and they're the ones who engineered the deal with Viacom's Paramount Pictures unit to make the Smurfs 3D trilogy.

Though I have to ask . . . who exactly owns The Smurfs and the Magic Flute? I haven't seen that in eons, and, to the best of my knowledge, Hanna-Barbera didn't produce that film that came years before the series.

[PeppeRaskell1]

I expected to hear some "smurfy" news about Smurfs, but this wasn't it.

Do you think they'll ever release any season box sets of the show here in the states? It'd help "smurf up" some business for the movie.

PeppeRaskell1

"Smurf a fire under it, guys!"

[Brainatra]

I'd imagine the French or Belgium company that made the "Magic Flute" might own the rights to the film?

Hmm... wonder how this film will differ from the 80's cartoon (since you *know* it'll differ from the cartoon). Will any of the made-for-the-show versions of the characters show up?

[Wanted]

Do you think they'll ever release any season box sets of the show here in the states? It'd help "smurf up" some business for the movie.Hopefully, those start next year.

[Emperor Fred]

It would be strange, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see H-B's Smurfs show up on NickToons, what with the Smurfs movie being produced by Nickelodeon Movies and all.

I have to check the schedule, but is Smurfs currently on Boomerang right now? Kinda makes you wonder.

[CookieS]

Why does everything have to be CGI these days? I hope this isn't done by the Jimmy Neutron team.

[FredVelDaphFan]

In Santa Clara (NorCal) there is a Paramount Park--Paramount's Great America. About 20 years ago, Hanna Barbera had the rights to use their cartoon characters in the park, before Paramount bought it in 1992. I wonder if Paramount might not have used some kind of clasue in there to get in on the Smurfs?

[Dudley]

In Santa Clara (NorCal) there is a Paramount Park--Paramount's Great America. About 20 years ago, Hanna Barbera had the rights to use their cartoon characters in the park, before Paramount bought it in 1992. I wonder if Paramount might not have used some kind of clasue in there to get in on the Smurfs?
Well, I'd figure Paramount always had the right to the parks, but the Hanna Barabara characters can still be found at Paramount theme parks, namely Carowinds (in North/South Carolina), they have an area called the Animation Station, which has little kid rides themed on HB characters.

I'd imagine the French or Belgium company that made the "Magic Flute" might own the rights to the film?

I think the film distribution companies own the rights to the films (but not the characters themselves), adn according to the Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, it was the Atlantic Release Corporation. And whatever conglomerate who bought that company out, now owns the movie.
Well, the U.S. rights to it, anyway.

[FredVelDaphFan]

Well, I'd figure Paramount always had the right to the parks, but the Hanna Barabara characters can still be found at Paramount theme parks, namely Carowinds (in North/South Carolina), they have an area called the Animation Station, which has little kid rides themed on HB characters.
Great America completely dumped the HB characters and replaced them w/Nickolodeon characters. It seems strange that some parks still feature the HB characters, while others don't.

As for the difference between the US Smurfs and the Belgian Smurfs, well the US Smurfs have personalities--all the ones on the Belgian show look alike. No Vanity Smurf, Brainy Smurf or Handy Smurf.