UNICEF has thought of a new way of trying to drum up financial aid for former child soldiers: commissioning a film showing the Smurfs getting bombed, with some getting killed.

(The clip that’s linked above is not the whole film, which is a pity.)

For child television, it’s quite graphic, and for those of us who remember the most violent thing on the old TV show as Azreal taking a swipe at a Smurf, it’s really disturbing stuff.

The question remains: why the Smurfs? Will this ad campaign be effective? Will it not simply frighten kids and have no impact beyond instilling fear? I’m not convinced that INICEF has hit its mark with this film.