
So check this out: in an effort to raise awareness about the tragedies of war, Unicef Belgium has created a short animation showing our beloved blue friends, The Smurfs, killing each other. They will be slaughtered and their homes bombed to rubble in full technicolour on Belgian TV.
But wait, there's more. Smurfette is killed (shock!) and Baby Smurf is left crying and orphaned at the edge of a bomb crater.
The 35-second animation is aimed at raising funds for former child soldiers in Africa. Julie Lamoureux (someone important somewhere) said, "In 35 seconds, we wanted to show adults how awful war is by reaching them within their memories of childhood."
The film will be screened after 9pm to spare the feelings of the Smurfs usual audience.
Firstly, appealing to adults with images of little blue people being maimed? I mean, if we can handle hours of real people dying gruesome deaths on TV and enjoy it, how is transferring the concept to imaginary blue happy people going to generate sympathy?
Secondly, cartoon characters getting horribly maimed? May I just throw out a few random words at you: South Park, Itchy and Scratchy, Wondershowzen? Cartoon violence is nothing new and would rather appeal to the little kids more than the somewhat homosexual world of the real Smurfs.
Thirdly, it's after 9pm. No body is going to miss that crucial beginning of Desperate Housewives or CSI to see little blue people dying. Those who would don't deserve to own a TV.
Frankly I think this plan is flawed from the beginnning and will never work. Here's a better idea: tell people to give you money otherwise you'll fill all the channels with images of Jay Leno bungee jumping naked.
I don't see why I don't work for the UN...