Brainy Smurf

Brainy Smurf is a male fictional character from the Smurfs.

Character

Brainy Smurf fancies himself as the all-around-brain of the village. Although he acts as though he is second-in-command behind Papa Smurf, this isn't the case and even Papa Smurf doesn't seem very fond of his sanctimonious attitude. In fact he could be considered as the class swot or know-it-all. He is a smurf that can be distinguished from the others because he wears thick glasses as he is extremely short-sighted. In fact, in the original Belgian version, he is called "Smurf with Glasses" (and, occasionally, "Lecturing Smurf").

Brainy Smurf is an avid reader and keeps a lot of books in his house (mostly his quotations). Fancying himself as being very close to Papa Smurf, he is quite arrogant and often lectures smurfs who don't behave and threatens to tattle on them to Papa Smurf. Loquacious, he often uses big words that he himself either made up or doesn't know what they really mean. A lot of the other smurfs dislike him, and when he enters into a long bout of lecturing, some frustrated smurf often angrily smashes him on the head with a big wooden mallet. Frequently, in the cartoon, after his blathering or posturing have gone too far, he is thrown a long distance (typically by Hefty Smurf) and always lands square on his head, usually outside of the village.

In the original comic books by Peyo Brainy has a very conformist personality, always sucking-up to the one who has the highest position around. When at one point Papa Smurf left the village and one of the smurfs was declared the new leader (after winning a election against Brainy, amongst others), Brainy started sucking-up to him (much like he did with Papa Smurf).

In fact, there were some stories suggesting he would love to be in Papa Smurf's place (in one story, for example, when he found a magic egg which granted wishes, he wished to be Papa Smurf), which may suggest he would not have moral problems with usurping him one day.

Perhaps because he sees himself as Papa Smurf's successor, he is the only smurf aside from Papa smurf to try using magic (although in the comics there was Apprentice Smurf, and in the cartoons, Baby Smurf clearly possesses some sort of magical power), although he is considerably less talented.

On the frequent occasions when Papa Smurf leaves the village, Brainy typically declares himself to be in charge. Other Smurfs typically regard this claim as dubious, but often fall in line with his plans after Brainy wears them down with bluster and pseudo-knowledge. In the cartoon version, Brainy even declares himself King Smurf on one occasion.

He was one of the cartoon characters featured in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.

Film

The Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies "Smurf" trilogy was announced in June 2008 and USA Today made their own casting choices. They chose "The Colbert Report" star Stephen Colbert as the voice of Brainy Smurf because both wear glasses (to which the Colbert character took offense to). No official casting choice has been made yet.

See also

*Characters in The Smurfs