The little blue forest dwellers known as Smurfs had been in existence since 1958, when they were created by Pierre “Peyo” Culliford. But Smurf-mania didn’t hit the U.S. until many years later, in 1981, when they made their debut on Saturday mornings, thanks to Hanna-Barbera. From television to lunchboxes, toys and video games, the Smurf craze was in full force. It was time to bring them to the big screen, a feat accomplished easily enough, since there was already a film that had been produced in Belgium in 1976. A little bit of voice dubbing and, voila, 1984’s feature film, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute was ready for the big screen.

Smurf pals Johan, a prince, and Pee Wee, the prince’s consort, are on a mission to retrieve Johan’s magic flute, a musical instrument with the power to make listeners dance with reckless abandon. They enlist the help of a wizard with hypnotic powers to persuade fellow smurfs – Papa, Hefty, Brainy and the gang – to help them in their adventure. Soon, the gaggle of Smurfs are constructing a look-alike flute that Johan will need when he confronts Oilycreep, the thief who took his flute.

While not quite as successful as they had hoped, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute didn’t hinder the franchise any. Kids still tuned in religiously to their Smurf shows on TV and merchandise kept selling like hotcakes. Still, this would be the only big-screen adventure for the Smurfs, who decided they preferred the medium of television.