This movie is a fully CGI remake of the Smurfs franchise, rather than a live-action sequel, with a different cast than The Smurfs (2011) and The Smurfs 2 (2013), except for Frank Welker (Azrael). It was made in favor of a third live-action film after the supposed failure of The Smurfs 2 (it earned over 348 million dollars worldwide) and the death of Jonathan Winters (Papa Smurf's voice actor from the live-action films).
Clumsy using three apples to fool Papa, may be a reference to Creator Pierre "Peyo" Culliford's original assertion that Smurfs are "three apples high".
The original title was "Get Smurfy".
Alan Mechem: co-author of 'The Man That Time Forgot and it's sequel 'The Stolen Tomorrow' has a cameo in this movie as the Smurf that speaks to Grouchy and Smurfette at the very start. Voicing a Smurf was one of his life-long dreams, being a fan of the franchise since childhood.