Smurfs away in Smurf Village

Holy Smurf! The latest images of "The Smurfs" cartoon to air in Belgium show the beloved blue creatures facing a fate far worse than Gargamel.

A short video put together by UNICEF shows a seemingly pleasant day in Smurf Village, much like the opening sequence of the actual show. That is until the bombs come. After an air raid, the village is left in shambles, with the Smurfs' mushroom houses aflame, and an orphaned Baby Smurf crying as Smurfette lays dead in the dirt. It's a disturbing image--especially for those of us who grew up watching the show, in which the greatest danger the Smurfs ever encountered were the dreaded tail-biting purple fly or the razor-sharp teeth of Gargamel's cat, Azrael.

The short video is airing as part of a public service announcement, targeted at adults and using images from their childhood to highlight the harm war causes children. While it may be an unusual tactic, it's working, according to UNICEF Belgium spokesman Philippe Henon. "People are shocked and want to know the reasons behind this cartoon image," he told The Washington Post. And despite the PSA being aired in Flemish, it's piqued the interest of many in the English-speaking world as well, making the rounds online and even appearing as one of the top searches on Technorati's blog search tool. The Post reports that the piece is meant to raise awareness of the plight of ex-child soldiers in Africa. But unless the organization decides to release an English-language version, it may do little stateside other than make those Sunday reruns a little creepier. (Click for the video)