--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to…" description: "\"'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was really interested in the techni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg" --- # 'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young… ![“'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was really interested in the technical CG side of things. I'd never done a movie that I thought would be so physical and yet so precise. So I was intrigued by all of that.” quote by Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg) > “'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was really interested in the technical CG side of things. I'd never done a movie that I thought would be so physical and yet so precise. So I was intrigued by all of that.” [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes how the Smurfs project offered a unique blend of emotional storytelling and cutting‑edge CGI, allowing him to explore complex adult roles while mastering precise, physical animation techniques. **In simple terms:** Merging narrative depth with technical innovation. Key Takeaway Creative challenges drive artistic growth. Themes animation technology storytelling career development personal growth Mood curiosity enthusiasm Type personal anecdote industry insight When to use this quote - film production - visual effects pipelines - career transitions - creative problem solving Key Concepts CGI character design physical simulation precision Practical Applications - Developing high‑fidelity animated characters - Integrating narrative with technical pipelines Questions to Reflect On - How does technical mastery influence narrative choices? - What tensions arise when blending personal themes with advanced CG? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-father/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Precise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise/) [Smurf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smurf/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I do a lot of books on tape for Beverly Cleary, and another 'Smurfs' shout-out for that demographic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-do-a-lot-of-books-on-tape-for-beverly-cleary-and-another-smurfs/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I thought the idea of 'Smurfs' lent itself to the 3-D environment pretty well, I think, better than some of the farm animal movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-thought-the-idea-of-smurfs-lent-itself-to-the-3-d-environment/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [The fact that Maurice Sendak said, "This is something that I made at your age, this was something that was personal to me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/the-fact-that-maurice-sendak-said-this-is-something-that-i-made-at/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I think that when you're playing someone who does really questionable or even really terrible things in a movie, it's important to show where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-dehaan/i-think-that-when-you-re-playing-someone-who-does-really-questionable/) [Dane DeHaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-dehaan/) > [When somebody is making a movie about your life, that's different. A show is a live performance. Things are going to go wrong. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-valli/when-somebody-is-making-a-movie-about-your-life-that-s-different-a/) [Frankie Valli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-valli/) > [ It's really good to talk about it \[ hydraulic penises and prosthetic butts\], and it's very gratifying when people ask us about the other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/it-s-really-good-to-talk-about-it-hydraulic-penises-and-prosthetic/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I think Shrek makes an effect in older people. And there are many things in the movie that you saw that are not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-think-shrek-makes-an-effect-in-older-people-and-there-are-many/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I've done lots of improv things but not a whole movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-ve-done-lots-of-improv-things-but-not-a-whole-movie/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [There are so many things that go into a movie that it's amazing that anything gets made anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jenkins/there-are-so-many-things-that-go-into-a-movie-that-it-s-amazing-that/) [Richard Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jenkins/) > [One of the annoying things when you're in a movie is that gets talked about is everyone projects meaning onto everyone's intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-langenkamp/one-of-the-annoying-things-when-you-re-in-a-movie-is-that-gets-talked/) [Heather Langenkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-langenkamp/) > [I enjoy horse riding, spending time with my dog 'Smurf,' and basically having a really good laugh partying and having fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-price/i-enjoy-horse-riding-spending-time-with-my-dog-smurf-and-basically/) [Katie Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-price/) > [I thought it very strange, and very sad, that the fairy kingdom largely appears to be English. I thought it was time for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-thought-it-very-strange-and-very-sad-that-the-fairy-kingdom-largely/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The Smurfs 2 is a great movie. The Smurfs are tiny little creatures that everybody loves. They're like Justin Bieber - minus the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-smurfs-2-is-a-great-movie-the-smurfs-are-tiny-little-creatures/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“The book is almost always better than the movie. You could have no better case in point than FROM HELL, Alan Moore's best graphic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-book-is-almost-always-better-than-the-movie-you-could-have-no/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [I don't know who Azazel is," he said. "Isn't he the cat from The Smurfs?" He cast about , but Isabelle just looked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-know-who-azazel-is-he-said-isn-t-he-the-cat-from-the-smurfs/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Neil Patrick Harris > [My favorite time to dance is at, like, wedding receptions, when it's all ages and everyone seems to be having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/my-favorite-time-to-dance-is-at-like-wedding-receptions-when-it-s-all/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I pride myself in being able to straddle demographics, and if that was said as Barney Stinson, it would mean a little different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-pride-myself-in-being-able-to-straddle-demographics-and-if-that-was/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Paris is not so exciting and romantic when you’re jet lagged and alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/paris-is-not-so-exciting-and-romantic-when-you-re-jet-lagged-and-alone/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I didn't want to go marching down the street with camera crews. Oy. To get married? Really? It seems like you have an agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-didn-t-want-to-go-marching-down-the-street-with-camera-crews-oy-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [What defines a relationship is the work that's involved to maintain it, and it's constantly changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/what-defines-a-relationship-is-the-work-that-s-involved-to-maintain/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [“He wanted a home. He wanted a family. He wanted to have friends. But none of those things were realistic. At least not until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/he-wanted-a-home-he-wanted-a-family-he-wanted-to-have-friends-but/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Your genius will live on for generations to come...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/rest-in-peace-steve-jobs-your-genius-will-live-on-for-generations-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Before babies, I worked very hard to make sure I understood my surroundings and figured out where I fit in the world, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/before-babies-i-worked-very-hard-to-make-sure-i-understood-my/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I often teach a graduate theater seminar on Greek tragedy in performance. I usually begin by saying that no matter what technological advances occur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-often-teach-a-graduate-theater-seminar-on-greek-tragedy-in/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Thankfully I've been quite lucky in my career, but it's always good to re-evaluate things and think about what else you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/thankfully-i-ve-been-quite-lucky-in-my-career-but-it-s-always-good-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I think it has been a weird mistake to have people with their own music careers going on and judging people because when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-think-it-has-been-a-weird-mistake-to-have-people-with-their-own/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I have more artistic control in a smaller show. But it doesn't really matter. Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-have-more-artistic-control-in-a-smaller-show-but-it-doesn-t-really/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [As I learned from chapters past, it's important to try and stay in the chapter that you're in, and enjoy it while it's lasting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/as-i-learned-from-chapters-past-it-s-important-to-try-and-stay-in-the/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I'm a fan of driving. I enjoy time spent in my car. Phone calls, talk radio. I drive a Toyota Prius. I named mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-m-a-fan-of-driving-i-enjoy-time-spent-in-my-car-phone-calls-talk/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) [Explore all 174 Neil Patrick Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## More Being a father quotes > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [My favorite job is being a father. I have four girls now. They're a captive audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/my-favorite-job-is-being-a-father-i-have-four-girls-now-they-re-a/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [Real men don't babysit their kids, they Raise them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roumain/real-men-don-t-babysit-their-kids-they-raise-them/) [Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roumain/) > [Ive always liked the idea of being a father. And Ive always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/ive-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-ive-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father, but we do not hold that the right hand of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/christ-sits-in-the-body-at-the-right-hand-of-god-the-father-but-we-do/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Taking Care Of My Son Is My Top Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrell-flowers/taking-care-of-my-son-is-my-top-priority/) Gerrell Flowers > [I'm much more proud of being a father than being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/i-m-much-more-proud-of-being-a-father-than-being-an-actor/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [The Lord has directed, Bring up your children in light and truth. To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-lord-has-directed-bring-up-your-children-in-light-and-truth-to-me/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [People say you don't need a father to be successful. I take offense to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/people-say-you-don-t-need-a-father-to-be-successful-i-take-offense-to/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [The purpose of my life is being a father to my kids and being a husband to my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-purpose-of-my-life-is-being-a-father-to-my-kids-and-being-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-dad-is-someone-who-wants-to-catch-you-before-you-fall-but-instead/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [My favorite thing about being a father is just seeing my kids grow and do some of the same things that I did when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-father-is-just-seeing-my-kids-grow/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I will hold you tight, support you, guide you, teach you, hug you, protect you and love you with all my soul. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-hold-you-tight-support-you-guide-you-teach-you-hug-you-protect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love being a father, it's wonderful. It's changed my life. All the clichés are true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-love-being-a-father-it-s-wonderful-it-s-changed-my-life-all-the/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) [Browse all 122 Being a father quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-father/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was really interested in the technical CG side of things. I'd never done a movie that I thought would be so physical and yet so precise. So I was intrigued by all of that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Patrick Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being a father" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/neil-patrick-harris-2281_being-a-father_smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-r_54425.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in…” — Neil Patrick Harris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Patrick Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "'Smurfs' just seemed like a great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```