I needed to get the last journal out of the way. The last few days were pretty bad with some issues. But frankly, everything seems to be better now thanks to some of you. <3 I was just not myself with some stuff getting me really bummed. So anyhow...

I have been wondering for quite a while about the Smurfs fandom here. And I am curious to know if I ever got anyone inspired to liking the Smurfs because of my art or for creating a female OC character as part of it.

I mean, back in early 2010, I was inspired to start watching the Smurfs again thanks to a video review done by the Nostalgia Chick on the 'Smurfette Principle' which can be found here: [link]

At first when I watched the review, I never knew that Smurfette was created by Gargamel. Apparently, I watched some episodes I remembered when I was a lot younger, but didn't really understand it all too well along with some other animated shows I use to watch. And I never really watched all the episodes. But when I found out about Smurfette's back story, I decided to find the episode and watch it on Youtube. After a while, I decided to start watching a few more episodes I can find, mostly because I never realized I somehow had a crush on Hefty when I was younger. So I basically looked for some episodes starring him. And I have to say, they were really interesting and fun, especially watching other episodes with the other Smurfs. So during that year, the more I watched the Smurfs and did some research on the history and show, the more my fandom for TMNT was fading. My fandom for the Turtles lasted a long run for at least 3 years when the CGI film came out in 2007. And mostly 2009 for their 25th Anniversary wasn't much of a great anniversary with some screw-ups with the franchise, along with selling the rights to Nickelodeon people weren't liking back then. But since the new series aired back in September, I haven't missed a single episode! And for the CGI version of this show, it's pretty damn awesome! I simply love the voice casting for them and it's.... IT'S JUST PERFECT!!

So as I was saying, my fandom for them was slowly dying as I began watching more Smurfs online and came across their first feature-length film. I just had to get it on DVD even though it was very rare to find. But somehow last year, I bought the newly released version of the movie. However, which is really funny... there are 2 different English dub versions. The one I had saw and owned first was the one dubbed here in the US. It was silly and fun, and of course, Cam Clarke who did the voice of Leonardo in the 1987 TMNT cartoon did the voice of Peewit. And then when I got the other version, which was dubbed in the UK, the actors there were all English with the accent which made more sense since the plot took place in medieval times. I thought about reviewing the difference between the American version and the English UK version for a while now, and I just might do that later in the future.

Later that year, I began reading a story on Fanfiction on the Smurfette Village by ~TheRavenChildca. The reason why I started reading was because I still crushing on anything that had to do with Hefty, which I still do today... It took me at least a day and a half to finish reading the whole story of how he came to Smurfette Village and met the other Smurfettes, including his female partner Toughette. Well, to make a long story short, months later I decided to come up with a Smurfette character of my own. I had one of my original OCs by turning her into a Smurfette as you see her today as Ashli. Or in her hero form, Tiger Smurf. No one in late 2010 was really much interested in my OC or my love for Smurfs. And I was a little embarrassed to even ask for some art trades from others I knew if they could draw some Smurfs for me with Hefty and my OC. I'd felt that they would think I'm weird for liking a Smurf... but hey, I was into the TMNT fandom and had my OC paired with Leo! Haha! 8D

So, I began drawing more of my OC along with some other Smurfs besides Hefty. And later on I actually started getting into the habit with some SmurfxSmurf pairings including Hefty and Handy, Hefty and Scaredy, and Brainy and Clumsy. But it was very rare and never really quite drew any boyxboy pairings together. But I did do at least 3 drawings with Hefty and Handy before I discovered Handefty a year later writing up a story with my closest friend. During that time also, I did come across some stories with SmurfxSmurf on Fanfiction. But there weren't really any smurfy ones. There were mostly HeftyxBrainy and HeftyxWeepy. But no HeftyxHandy... :<

2011 had came and I wasn't all too excited about the new live-action movie taking place in New York. There still weren't any other OCs besides mine while I did more drawings until I stopped for a bit. I decided to take a break and do some more icons, which I have done in between taking some commissions. That was when I began drawing again when the movie came out. I got to see the movie twice and I just determine to get the DVD when it came out. As I waited, I started to know some new Smurfette OCs coming along after the movie came out. There came Shini, Prima, Samoanette, Doodles, Angery, Florette, there weren't really many until more started coming around by last year. And all those characters had crushes on some Smurfs as well having them paired with each other. I was actually feeling more comfortable with the idea of the Smurfy fandom slowing increasing. But once when the whole SmurfxSmurf came to mind, it really hit the ceiling, starting with Handefty, and then Brumsy, Chaker, and so on. Along with stories done in roleplays and OMG there's so much I can't even go on!!

So I just wanted to ask now that it is 2013 and with the sequel coming out this summer along with more smurfy stuff to buy, if some of you were inspired either by me or anyone else or the franchise that made you love the fandom today? I know back in the past I've inspired many people who started making icons like I do, but I just wanted to know how some of you came to liking the Smurfs fandom.

Feel free to say whatever you like! I'll be here all day to read your answers!!