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Sony Pictures Animation drops a new still for "The Smurfs 2", uncovering a very first look at the animated film's new villainous characters Vexy and Hackus. Released via Entertainment Weekly, the image shows the two tiny gray creatures, which are also known as "The Naughties", posing on a bridge in front of Eiffel tower.

Vexy and Hackus will be voiced by Christina Ricci and J.B. Smoove respectively. Both characters, which are magically created by Gargamel (Hank Azaria), are known as mischievous creatures who always cause troubles to the Smurfs gang. "They're not bad, they're misguided," says director Raja Gosnell. "They're just products of their upbringing. And they haven't had the best upbringing, let's say."

Explaining the origin of "The Naughties", Gosnell dishes, "Smurfette was a lump of clay that Gargamel put in his cauldron and he painted her blue as a disguise. Using that as a jumping off point, our Naughties are basically clay gray."

He goes on saying, "Vexy is smart, and mischievous and has lots of attitude. Attitude to spare. And she really does want to please her father." Of Hackus, the filmmaker says that "he's just very funny and very physical. He's the Tasmanian Devil meets a lovable puppy dog."

A follow up to 2011's "The Smurfs", the sequel is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on July 31, 2013. Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, Jayma Mays, Brendan Gleeson, John Oliver and Alex Martin are also lining up in the voice cast ensemble.