Gargamel is a fictional character and the main antagonist of The Smurfs media franchise created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo. He is depicted as a reclusive sorcerer who, alongside his cat Azrael (French: Azraël), frequently attempts to capture the Smurfs for various purposes. Although the character was intended to be retired after his first appearance, Peyo began incorporating Gargamel in future stories, allowing him to endure as the archenemy of the Smurfs.

In the 2011 motion picture The Smurfs, he is portrayed as wanting the Smurfs' "mystical essence" in order to power his magical wand.

Gargamel is depicted as a perpetually stooped man. His dark robe is worn and patched, he is balding and his teeth are rotten. He lives in a shack with his feline companion, Azrael.

Gargamel has a deep and strong hate for Smurfs, although he is not above pretending to befriend them when it serves his interests. He also frequently insults and mistreats his cat Azrael, who typically responds in kind.^{[citation needed]}

Gargamel always wishes harm on the Smurfs, however his reasons for doing so differ in various portrayals. In the earlier cartoons, it is revealed that he wants to use their essence to create gold, to use them as a key ingredient for a recipe, and to annihilate them entirely. However, the 2011 motion picture shows that the Smurfs' essence harbor mystical powers, which he seeks to exploit for various purposes in New York City.^{[citation needed]}

Gargamel is an eternal bungler. Some of his schemes to catch Smurfs border on the bizarre (such as a "blue magnet" that attracted solely blue items), though he does have rare moments of genius (the creation of Smurfette, for one, which only failed because she betrayed him and joined the Smurfs). He has a seemingly endless library of spellbooks ("grimoires"), potions, and gimmicks for his life's passion. However, no matter how elaborate Gargamel's plans, they invariably end in failure, causing him to spout his catchphrase: "I hate Smurfs!". Sometimes he will also throw a temper tantrum, and howl in grief that "I am brave and strong and they are puny and weak, and why can't I defeat those miserable vile little Smurfs?!" However, his defeats never discourage him, and he always vows, "I'll get you if it's the last thing I do!"

The character of Gargamel makes his debut in 'Le Voleur de schtroumpf' ('The Smurfnapper'), published in 1959. His aim is to capture a Smurf, which he intends to use to make a potion capable of transmuting base metals into gold (the Philosopher's Stone). This leads to a confrontation with the other Smurfs, who unite to rescue their kidnapped friend. In the ensuing struggle, the sorcerer is defeated, and vows revenge on the Smurfs.

Gargamel's plans oscillate between a desire to devour the Smurfs, transform them into gold, or otherwise destroy them. There are moments of sheer rage where he exclaims, 'I don't want to see them, I don't want to eat them, I don't want to turn them into gold; all I want to do now is destroy them!' His attempts to capture Smurfs are often both bizarre and elaborate, such as his creation of a 'blue magnet' designed to attract blue objects. Gargamel has a vast library of spell books (grimoires), potions, and gadgets, all dedicated to his obsession with the Smurfs. However, his plans inevitably fail, prompting his catchphrase: 'I hate Smurfs!'