The Smurfs Meet Frankenstein (2002 direct-to-video film)

The Smurfs Meet Frankenstein is a 2002 American direct-to-video animated comedy horror film directed by Charles Visser, written by Gordon Bressack, Charles M. Howell IV and John Loy, produced by Warner Bros. Animation (though it included a copyright for Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. and a recreation of the 1979 Hanna-Barbera "Swirling Star" logo at the end), distributed by Warner Home Video and based on characters from The Smurfs. It served as one of Joseph Barbera's first solo animated projects without partner William Hanna (due to his death on March 22, 2001).

Synopsis
The Smurfs in their time-travel adventure to return the village, accidentally arriving to the modern day, on a amusement park named Majestic Movie Studios. When Gargamel also arrives here, he reads the novel Frankenstein, which he decides to make an Frankenstein monster with the help of Doctor Victor Frankenstein.

Voice Cast

 * Scott Innes as Papa Smurf and Dreamy Smurf
 * Jonathan Winters as Grandpa Smurf
 * Danny Goldman as Brainy Smurf
 * Bill Callaway as Clumsy Smurf and Painter Smurf
 * Michael Bell as Grouchy Smurf, Handy Smurf, Lazy Smurf and Doctor Victor Frankenstein
 * Frank Welker as Hefty Smurf, Poet Smurf, Azrael and Frankie, the Frankenstein's monster
 * June Foray as Jokey Smurf
 * Lucille Bliss as Smurfette
 * Jim Cummings as Gargamel
 * Kip King as Tailor Smurf
 * Henry Polic II as Tracker Smurf
 * Hamilton Camp as Greedy Smurf and Harmony Smurf
 * Bernard Erhard as Timber Smurf
 * Marshall Efron as Sloppy Smurf
 * Alan Young as Miner Smurf, Farmer Smurf and Scaredy Smurf
 * Alan Oppenheimer as Vanity Smurf
 * Nancy Cartwright as Baby Smurf
 * Charlie Adler as Natural 'Nat' Smurfling
 * Julie McWhirter as Sassette Smurfling
 * Pat Musick as Snappy Smurfling
 * Noelle North as Slouchy Smurfling
 * Susan Blu as Nanny Smurf
 * Russi Taylor as Smoogle

Additional Voices

 * Jim Meskimen as Mr. Yesman
 * Dee Bradley Baker
 * Mary Kay Bergman
 * Kevin Michael Richardson
 * Susan Boyd

Crew

 * Casting and Voice Director: Ginny McSwain

Development
In 1997, Studio Peyo broke ties with Disney after completing production of the third season to their version of The Smurfs cartoon series, stating that the show had already ran its course.

Still under construction...

Writing
The film was written by former Hanna-Barbera writers Gordon Bressack and Charles M. Howell IV, along with John Loy.

Voices
Scott Innes fills in for Papa Smurf and Dreamy Smurf, while Frank Welker does the voice of Azrael. Jim Cummings replaces the late Paul Winchell as Gargamel. Lucille Bliss returns to play Smurfette for this direct-to-video film.

Animation
Animation was outsourced to both Toon City Animation in the Phillipines and the Japanese studio, Tama Production, Co Ltd. The animation tends to be very fluid with the The Smurfs cartoon series as an improvement in quality.

Music
The original music scores were composed by Akira Miyagawa, with the use of a 35-piece orchestra.

Reception
The film received mixed reception, it was criticized for borrowing the time-travel storyline from Season 9 of the The Smurfs cartoon show, but it was praised for the songs and very fluid animation.

Songs
All original songs written by Michele Brourman and Amanda McBroom.
 * 1) "Things Out There"
 * 2) "If a Monster Came in Our Room"
 * 3) "If You Wanna Have Friends"
 * 4) "Dem Bones"
 * 5) "Sammy the Squirrel"

Trivia

 * The film was created for concluding the time-travel storyline from Season 9 of the The Smurfs cartoon show. The next direct-to-video special, The Smurfs Meet The Wolfman, will be set in The Smurfs ' Season 6-8 timeframe (predating the time travel stoyline from Season 9).
 * The movie had art style differences between The Smurfs characters and Scooby-Doo style humans, including its darker and edgier atmosphere from the Scooby-Doo series as well.