Gargamel has been the main antagonist of The Smurfs since Peyo created the blue characters in Belgian comics in 1958, later becoming famous worldwide through the 1980s animated television series. Obsessed with capturing the Smurfs, he is known for his theatrical schemes and distinctive voice, which made his self-introductions easy to parody and reuse. In German-language versions and fan edits, the line Mein Name ist Gargamelius became a recognisable villain tag, and it now circulates online as a short sound for memes, edits and dramatic reveals.