Scaredy Smurf (original French name Schtroumpf Peureux) is a minor character of the Smurfs comic books and the 1980s Smurfs cartoon show, first appearing in Season 1's "The Smurfs And The Howlibird", although he appears in Season 2 as one of the main characters. He disappeared after "The Littlest Witch" in Season 3. He reappears in the 2021 Smurfs cartoon show.
Character
As his name implies, Scaredy is a Smurf who gets easily scared by anything, whether it be a small insect or a coming storm. He is also prone to jumping or fainting, usually after someone gives him just a tap or says his name unexpectedly.
Scaredy is easily identified by his nervous and frightened body language, such as shaking or pulling his hat down over his eyes.
He is very likely to be the 66th Smurf of a poster of the 100 Smurfs published in 1964 as he is seen running from Tuffy, which Peyo eventually made canonical in the 1981 television series and comics. However, there is a 76th Smurf who has a similar personality to Scaredy, except the 76th Smurf shows more bewilderment instead of fear like Scaredy.
Personality
Scaredy lives in a constant state of fear and anxiety, making it difficult for him to do most things without finding something to be worried about or afraid of.
Scaredy can possess strength at times, however. In "Smurfs On Fire", he was one of the choices to replace Clumsy and Dimwitty but was unable to do much due to his nature. However, he completes the first course when Vanity scares him, running through the course in ten seconds.
While he may be cowardly, he often develops courage to accomplish things he was too afraid to do before for the sake of saving his friends or taking responsibility. He occasionally succeeds, only to revert back to his normal self after that, such as in the episode "The Smurf Who Couldn't Say No".
Relationships with Others
Due to his jittery, scaredy-cat nature, he is often teased by his fellow Smurfs.
His jittery nature and inadvertent lies cause problems for the Smurfs at times. "The Sky Is Smurfing! The Sky Is Smurfing!", Scaredy had mistook a volcano eruption for the sky about to fall down. Whilst riding on Feathers to find out why there are ashes all across the village, he and Hefty witness ashes come from above. Then and there, Scaredy is convinced that the sky is falling down as Hefty gets hit with a flying object, causing him not to see anything. Scaredy and Hefty return the village. Scaredy tells the other Smurfs that the sky is falling down but they do not believe him. He then decides to tell Papa Smurf about ends up being stopped by Brainy. Scaredy is then left is no one to believe him. The volcano finally erupted, and the Smurfs make it to safety. All but Hefty and Scaredy. Scaredy runs into Hefty, who finally got out of his daze and realized that Scaredy was right and that they need to take shelter. The next day, Scaredy and Hefty emerge from the ground as them and the other Smurfs witness the village covered in ashes. Scaredy then scolds Brainy to believe his friends when they have important things to say. Afterwards, he and Hefty enjoy having Brainy as their servant.
In the episode "The Three Smurfketeers", Scaredy was to present the play, but became almost paralyzed with fear and tongue-tied instead, causing the Smurfs in the audience to laugh at him. Despite their teasing, they care about Scaredy just as much as any other Smurf, which is shown in "A Thief Among Us!" where Brainy, Smurfette, Hefty, and Papa Smurf try to get him out of Gargamel's hovel while he is sleepwalking.
Often, the Smurfs try to get him to stop being scared. In "Mind The Cat", Smurfette and Brainy use Papa Smurf's Hypno-Glasses to get him to touch a bear.
Hefty Smurf
Scaredy has been seen with Hefty on occasions. In "Smurfs In Disguise", he and Hefty disguise themselves as girls so they do not have to face the wrath of Papa Smurf when they accidentally break his telescope. In "A Thief Among Us!", Hefty agrees to lookout for Scaredy when a "thief" (which later turns out to be him) steals their things.
Pushover Smurf
In "The Smurf Who Couldn't Say No", Scaredy works with Pushover. When Scaredy visits his home, Pushover reacts with an angry outburst, until he realizes it's him. He then asks Scaredy what's wrong, only for the fearful Smurf to unfortunately ask him for a favor: to take his lottery-assigned duty of lighting a torch with the Foxfire Flame from the Great Swamp and bringing it back in time for the Firefly Festival.
When Pushover has yet to return, Scaredy worries he might be in trouble and gathers up the courage to go find him. Before leaving the village, he's spotted by Papa, who tells him if the Foxfire is extinguished, the Marsh Monster would be awakened. Scaredy searches the forest, only to discover Pushover sinking in the marsh. He saves him and the two flee to avoid the chanting monster, who gives chase.
After Papa Smurf urges the two to return to the swamp with a magic scroll, Scaredy reads it and renders the monster harmless. He then urges Pushover to relight the Foxfire, which he finally refuses, telling Scaredy to do it himself. Scaredy tries and succeeds, feeling victorious in finally overcoming his fears. As the two walk home, Scaredy apologizes for giving his job to Pushover, while Pushover comments on how brave he was.
The next morning, this victory goes to Scaredy's head, putting him in a peppy mood where he believes nothing can scare him anymore (despite his reaction to Jokey's prank the night before), only to be startled by Pushover's yell of 'No!' when he begins to ask his friend for yet another favor.
Appearances
Comic Books
- 100 Smurfs Poster (Possibly)
- The Aerosmurf
- Salad Smurfs
- The Smurfs Christmas
- Smurf Heroes
- The Smurfs And The Golden Tree
1980's Cartoon Show
Season 1
- The Smurfs And The Howlibird (Non-speaking cameo)
Season 2
- The Smurf Who Couldn't Say No
- Sister Smurf (Does not speak)
- S-Shivering S-Smurfs
- The Three Smurfketeers
- Squeaky
- Gormandizing Greedy (Non-speaking cameo)
- The Last Laugh
- The Sky Is Smurfing! The Sky Is Smurfing!
- Bubble, Bubble, Smurfs In Trouble
- A Mere Truffle
- Sleepwalking Smurfs
- All's Smurfy That Ends Smurfy
Season 3
- Baby Smurf Is Missing (Does not speak)
- The Littlest Witch
2021 Cartoon Show
Season 1
- Smurf-Fu
- Who's Heftier?
- Mind The Cat
- The Scariest Smurf
- Smurfs In Disguise
- My Smurf The Hero
- The Majestic 5
- Chef Soup (On a picture as Supersmurf)
- Waffle Wednesday (On a picture as Supersmurf)
- Smurfy Secrets
- Fake News
- Cover Story
- Knight Smurfalot
Season 2
- A Thief Among Us!
- Manners Matter
- Smurfette Overdoes It!
- No Smurf Out!
- The Magic Pumpkin
- Never Wake A Sleeping Sorcerer!
- Smurf To The Future! (In the past)
- Smurfs On Fire
Smurf Video Games
He also appears in Smurfs' Village, where he gives XP if you find his hiding place at night and tap on him. His hut costs 20 smurfberries.
Trivia
- He was voiced by the late Alan Young in the 1981 TV series and Tess Bryant in the 2021 TV series. Bryant also voices Clumsy and Mummy.
- A Smurf very similar to Scaredy appears in Smurfs: The Lost Village, named Paranoid.
- He's the principal character (with Clumsy and Dopey) of the comic book Smurf Heroes.
- He thought about changing his name twice, in "Bubble, Bubble, Smurfs In Trouble" and "The Smurf Who Couldn't Say No".
- He along with Tracker and Sloppy are the only main Smurfs to only appear during the 2nd season.