SMURFOCIDE

It's just another smurfy day in Smurf Village. The perpertually perky blue beings frolic around the fire, holding hands and singing that "tra-la-la-la-la-la" tune as bluebirds flutter by and rabbits hop around. A regular Smurftopia.

But then the bombs come.

Hundreds of them raining down from warplanes in the sky, wiping out the mushroom-shaped abodes. Amid the fiery explosions, Smurfette is killed. Papa Smurf disappears. As the smoke clears, only an orphaned Baby Smurf remains, sobbing among the corpses

The Smurfocide was perpetuated by the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF.

UNICEF's Belgian office is using the Smurfs as the centerpiece of a new fundraising initiative to shock viewers into donating money to help children in war-torn regions.

Julie Lamoureux, account director for Publicis, the ad agency that created the campaign, says the original concept included even more graphic imagery of weapons of mass Smurfstruction."We wanted something that was real war--Smurfs losing arms, or a Smurf losing a head--but they said no," The clip was previewed on Belgian TV last week during evening newscasts.

The spot evoked mixed emotions from viewers--including shock from children who accidentally caught the spot. Full article here.

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** Don't have any footage yet, but if I find it, I'll post it!! If anyone else stumbles upon it, please let me know!!