The Smurfs was first created and introduced as a series of comic characters by the Belgian comics artist Peyo in 1958, wherein they were known as Les Schtroumpfs.

The Smurfs are fictional creatures from a Belgian comic book series who all look basically similar - short, blue-skinned, white trousers with a hole for their short tails, white hat in the style of a Phrygian cap, and sometimes some additional accessory that identifies a personality. Smurfs can walk and run but often move by jumping on both feet. They love to eat sarsaparilla leaves, whose berries the Smurfs naturally call "smurfberries".