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Sharjah 24
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
French town breaks smurf number world record
Landerneau, population 16,000, on the far western tip of France's Britanny region, had tried twice before to wrest the record from Lauchringen, a town in Germany that managed to gather together a seemingly unassailable 2,762 smurfs in 2019. 3,076 people But on Saturday, the French challengers finally pulverised that record, assembling 3,076 people clad and face-painted in blue, wearing white hats and singing smurfy songs. "We smurfed the record," said one participant. Smurfs, created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and called "Schtroumpfs" in French, are small, human-like creatures living in the forest. The fun characters have turned into a major franchise that includes films, series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys. Participants "A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: 'Why not?'," said Simone Pronost, 82, sipping a beer on the terrace of a cafe, dressed as a smurfette. Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, travelled all the way from Rennes -- more than 200 kilometres (125 miles) away -- to join. "We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out," she said. Landerneau mayor Patrick Leclerc, also in full smurf dress, said the effort "brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we're living in". Pascal Soun, head of the association organising the event, said the gathering "allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours". Contestants were relieved that weather conditions were favourable, after the previous record attempt, in 2023, was sunk by heavy rain that kept many contestants away. In 2020, an initially successful bid -- with more than 3,500 smurfs -- was invalidated by Guinness World Records on a technicality because of a missing document. Landerneau's smurf enthusiasts were almost ready to give up but film production company Paramount persuaded them to have another go. Paramount, which is set to release "Smurfs, The Movie" in July, convinced them with an offer to handle the event's PR and provide 1,200 free tickets for a preview of the film.
Al Jazeera
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
Photos: 3,000 ‘Smurfs' – French town breaks world record
A small town in western France has set a new world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Smurfs, organisers say, with more than 3,000 participants counted over the weekend. Landerneau, a town of 16,000 in Brittany's far west, had twice previously attempted to claim the record from Lauchringen, a German town that brought together 2,762 Smurfs in 2019. But on Saturday, the French enthusiasts finally broke through, assembling 3,076 people clad in blue outfits, faces painted, donning white hats and singing 'smurfy songs'. The Smurfs – created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and known as 'Schtroumpfs' in French – are tiny, human-like beings who live in the forest. The beloved characters have since become a global franchise, spawning films, television series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys. 'A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: 'Why not?'' said Simone Pronost, 82, dressed as a Smurfette. Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, made the journey from Rennes, more than 200km (125 miles) away, to join the festivities. 'We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out,' she said. Landerneau's mayor, Patrick Leclerc, also in full Smurf attire, said the event 'brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we're living in'. Pascal Soun, head of the association behind the gathering, said the event 'allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours'. Participants were relieved to have good weather, after last year's attempt was hampered by heavy rain that deterred many from attending.
Kuwait Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
French town breaks smurf number world record
A small town in western France has set a world record for the greatest number of smurf-costumed people gathered in the same place, according to organizers, who counted over 3,000 this weekend. Landerneau, population 16,000, on the far western tip of France's Britanny region, had tried twice before to wrest the record from Lauchringen, a town in Germany that managed to gather together a seemingly unassailable 2,762 smurfs in 2019. But on Saturday, the French challengers finally pulverized that record, assembling 3,076 people clad and face-painted in blue, wearing white hats and singing smurfy songs. "We smurfed the record," said one participant. Smurfs, created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and called "Schtroumpfs" in French, are small, human-like creatures living in the forest. The fun characters have turned into a major franchise that includes films, series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys. "A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: 'Why not?'," said Simone Pronost, 82, sipping a drink on the terrace of a cafe, dressed as a smurfette. Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, travelled all the way from Rennes -- more than 200 kilometres (125 miles) away -- to join. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes share a juice in a bar on the sidelines of an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of Smurfs. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes drink blue-coloured juice at a cafe terrace. A makeup artist applies blue face paint on a woman to be disguised as a smurf (schtroumpf). A hairdresser wearing a smurf (schtroumpf) costume works on a client. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes take a selfie as they sit at a cafe terrac. A hairdresser wearing a smurf (schtroumpf) costume works on a client. A participant wearing s smurf (schtroumpf) costume sits at a cafe terrace. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes take part in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of smurfs. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes arrives to take part in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of Smurfs. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes take part in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of Smurfs. Participants wearing smurf (schtroumpf) costumes take part in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of Smurfs. "We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out," she said. Landerneau mayor Patrick Leclerc, also in full smurf dress, said the effort "brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we're living in". Pascal Soun, head of the association organising the event, said the gathering "allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours". Contestants were relieved that weather conditions were favorable, after the previous record attempt, in 2023, was sunk by heavy rain that kept many contestants away. In 2020, an initially successful bid -- with more than 3,500 smurfs -- was invalidated by Guinness World Records on a technicality because of a missing document. Landerneau's smurf enthusiasts were almost ready to give up but film production company Paramount persuaded them to have another go. Paramount, which is set to release "Smurfs, The Movie" in July, convinced them with an offer to handle the event's PR and provide 1,200 free tickets for a preview of the film. - AFP
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Smurf and proud: French town paints itself blue to smash world record
LANDERNEAU, May 19 — A small town in western France has set a world record for the greatest number of smurf-costumed people gathered in the same place, according to organisers, who counted over 3,000 this weekend. Landerneau, population 16,000, on the far western tip of France's Britanny region, had tried twice before to wrest the record from Lauchringen, a town in Germany that managed to gather together a seemingly unassailable 2,762 smurfs in 2019. But on Saturday, the French challengers finally pulverised that record, assembling 3,076 people clad and face-painted in blue, wearing white hats and singing smurfy songs. 'We smurfed the record,' said one participant. Smurfs, created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and called 'Schtroumpfs' in French, are small, human-like creatures living in the forest. The fun characters have turned into a major franchise that includes films, series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys. 'A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: 'Why not?',' said Simone Pronost, 82, sipping a beer on the terrace of a cafe, dressed as a smurfette. Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, travelled all the way from Rennes — more than 200 kilometres away — to join. 'We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out,' she said. Participants wearing smurf costumes take a selfie as they sit at a cafe terrace. — AFP pic Landerneau mayor Patrick Leclerc, also in full smurf dress, said the effort 'brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we're living in'. Pascal Soun, head of the association organising the event, said the gathering 'allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours'. Contestants were relieved that weather conditions were favourable, after the previous record attempt, in 2023, was sunk by heavy rain that kept many contestants away. In 2020, an initially successful bid — with more than 3,500 smurfs — was invalidated by Guinness World Records on a technicality because of a missing document. Landerneau's smurf enthusiasts were almost ready to give up but film production company Paramount persuaded them to have another go. Participants wearing smurf costumes arrives to take part in the largest gathering of Smurfs in Landerneau, western France. — AFP pic Paramount, which is set to release Smurfs, The Movie in July, convinced them with an offer to handle the event's PR and provide 1,200 free tickets for a preview of the film. — AFP
eNCA
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
French town breaks smurf number world record
A small town in western France has set a world record for the greatest number of smurf-costumed people gathered in the same place, according to organisers, who counted over 3,000 this weekend. Landerneau, population 16,000, on the far western tip of France's Britanny region, had tried twice before to wrest the record from Lauchringen, a town in Germany that managed to gather together a seemingly unassailable 2,762 smurfs in 2019. But on Saturday, the French challengers finally pulverised that record, assembling 3,076 people clad and face-painted in blue, wearing white hats and singing smurfy songs. "We smurfed the record," said one participant. Smurfs, created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and called "Schtroumpfs" in French, are small, human-like creatures living in the forest. The fun characters have turned into a major franchise that includes films, series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys. "A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: 'Why not?'," said Simone Pronost, 82, sipping a beer on the terrace of a cafe, dressed as a smurfette. Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, travelled all the way from Rennes -- more than 200 kilometres (125 miles) away -- to join. "We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out," she said. AFP | Fred TANNEAU Landerneau mayor Patrick Leclerc, also in full smurf dress, said the effort "brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we're living in". Pascal Soun, head of the association organising the event, said the gathering "allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours". Contestants were relieved that weather conditions were favourable, after the previous record attempt, in 2023, was sunk by heavy rain that kept many contestants away. In 2020, an initially successful bid -- with more than 3,500 smurfs -- was invalidated by Guinness World Records on a technicality because of a missing document. Landerneau's smurf enthusiasts were almost ready to give up but film production company Paramount persuaded them to have another go. Paramount, which is set to release "Smurfs, The Movie" in July, convinced them with an offer to handle the event's PR and provide 1,200 free tickets for a preview of the film.
