| Bluey | |
|---|---|
_title_card.jpg) | |
| Genre | Preschool |
| Created by | Joe Brumm |
| Written by | Joe Brumm |
| Directed by |
|
| Voices of | |
| Composer | Joff Bush |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 154(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Sam Moor[c] |
| Running time | 7 minutes |
| Production company | Ludo Studio |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC Kids |
| Release | 1 October 2018 (2018-10-01) – present |
Bluey is an Australiananimated television series originally aimed atpreschool children, created byJoe Brumm and produced byLudo Studio fromQueensland. It was commissioned by theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation and theBritish Broadcasting Corporation, withBBC Studios holding global distribution andmerchandising rights.Bluey premiered onABC Kids on 1 October 2018. It subsequently made its international debut onDisney Junior in the United States and is available for streaming onDisney+.
The show follows Bluey, ananthropomorphic six-year-old (later seven-year-old)Blue Heelerpuppy who is full of energy, imagination and curiosity about the world. She lives with her father,Bandit; mother, Chilli; and younger sister, Bingo, who regularly joins Bluey on adventures as the pair embark on imaginativeplay together. Other characters featured each represent a differentdog breed. Overarching themes include family life, growing up, andAustralian culture.Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, inspires the show's setting.
Bluey has received consistently high viewership in Australia on both broadcast television andvideo-on-demand services. It has influenced the development ofmerchandise, a stage show featuring its characters, and afeature film in development for a 2027 release. The program has won threeLogie Awards forMost Outstanding Children's Program, anInternational Emmy Kids Award in 2019, and aPeabody Award in 2024. It has been praised by television critics for depicting a modern everyday family life, constructive parenting messages, and the role of Bandit as a positive father figure.
Bluey Heeler, the titular character, is a six-year-old (later seven-year-old)[1]Blue Heeler puppy who is curious and energetic. She lives with herarchaeologist father,Bandit (voiced byDavid McCormack), her motherChilli (voiced byMelanie Zanetti), who works part-time inairport security, and her four-year-old (later five-year-old)[2] sister,Bingo.[3][4][5] All four members of the family engage in imaginative play together, occasionally involving their neighbors,Labrador RetrieverPat (voiced by Brad Elliot) and his sonsLucky andChucky, andChow ChowWendy (voiced by Beth Durack andEmily Taheny) and her daughterJudo.
Bandit's younger brotherStripe (voiced by Dan Brumm) lives with his wifeTrixie (voiced byMyf Warhurst) and their two daughters, opinionated three-year-oldMuffin and her baby sisterSocks, who over time learns to talk and walk on two legs. The extended Heeler family also includes Bandit and Stripe's older brotherRadley (voiced byPatrick Brammall) and his love interest and later wifeFrisky (voiced byClaudia O'Doherty), their motherChris (voiced by Chris Brumm), and their fatherBob (voiced byIan McFadyen andSam Simmons[d]). Chilli's extended family includes her fatherMort (voiced by Laurie Newman) and her sisterBrandy (voiced byRose Byrne).
Bluey's friends and classmates includeCoco (a pinkPoodle),Chloe (aDalmatian),Honey (aBeagle),Indy (anAfghan Hound),Mackenzie (aBorder Collie),Rusty (anAustralian Kelpie),Snickers (aDachshund), andWinton (anEnglish Bulldog). The children explore the world around them through creative roleplay, overseen by the kind and caringAustralian Shepherd teacherCalypso (voiced byMegan Washington). The child characters ofBluey are voiced by children of the program's production crew and are not credited on screen as voice actors.[3][6]
In July 2017, theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and theBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) co-commissionedBluey as an animated series for preschool children to be developed byQueensland production companyLudo Studio.[7][8] The production received funding fromScreen Australia and Screen Queensland, with the setting of the series drawing upon the unique semi-tropical Queensland climate.Joe Brumm is the show's creator. He conceived the idea for the show while working onCharlie and Lola withMark Paterson (who would later create the character design for the pilot).[9] The series was inspired by his experience in raising two daughters. Brumm wanted to portray the importance of children participating in imaginative play, creating the title character Bluey as a Cattle Dog to give the series an Australian voice.[7] Brumm had previously worked on children's programs in theUnited Kingdom as afreelance animator and decided to createBluey as a replica of the programPeppa Pig for an Australian audience.[10][11] He conceived the idea independently in 2016, and produced a one-minute pilot through his company Studio Joho, with a small team in their spare time.[12] Brumm approached Ludo Studio to develop the series; co-founders Charlie Aspinwall andDaley Pearson pitched the pilot at conferences such asMIPCOM in France.[12][13][14] Brumm stated that the first pilot contained some "dangerous" character behaviours which drew the attention of studio executives;[12] this included Bandit pushing Bluey on a swing in an unsafe way.[12][15] Pearson expressed that it was difficult to pitch the series as it was nothigh-concept; but rather "just a show about family and games".[4][16]
The studio developed a five-minute animation sample that was pitched at the Asian Animation Summit in Brisbane in 2016, and was thereby noticed by ABC and BBC executives.[11][17][18] Michael Carrington of the ABC viewed the presentation and secured $20,000 of funding for the studio to produce a refined, seven-minute pilot.[12][17] The new pilot was presented at the Asian Animation Summit in late 2017, which would be reworked as the episode "The Weekend".[12] The two networks officially ordered 52 seven-minute episodes ofBluey, with the BBC investing 30 percent of the funding and acquiring the global rights for distribution and merchandising.[10][7] The series was largely produced in Australia by a local team, many of whom were first-time animators fromBrisbane, while animator Mark Patterson worked remotely from Auckland, New Zealand.[10][19] The program was announced to premiere in Australia onABC Kids, followed byCBeebies.[7][8]
"There's no counting in Bluey, there's no learning this or that ... just show 'em playing. It's to show parents that the kids aren't just mucking around. They're learning to play, learning to share ... and generally you can just put your feet up and let 'em do it."
The stories featured inBluey depict Bluey and Bingo engaging in imaginative play. Brumm wanted to show that self-directed and unstructured play is natural in shaping children and allowing them to develop.[6] He consulted research based onsocio-dramatic play, reading the works ofSara Smilansky andVivian Paley, who both had backgrounds in early childhood education.[14] The episodes show the parents as guides for their children, who allow them to explore their immediate surroundings independently, giving them opportunities to practise adult roles.[6] Brumm drew inspiration for scripts from his own experiences in watching his daughters play, which he described was "as natural to them as breathing".[12][10][8] The program's scripts show how children can use gameplay to learn lessons and integrate the world of adults into their own; Brumm noticed how his children would recreate interactions such as visits to the doctor, through roleplay.[12][20] Pearson stated that gameplay represents children's first experiences of collaboration, cooperation, responsibility and emotions such as jealousy.[12] Brumm discovered the importance of play-based learning after his daughter struggled with formal education, which led him to exclude elements of literacy and numeracy inBluey and focus on the depiction of life skills.[10] Brumm stated that he wanted the series to depict his experience as a parent rather than aim for children to be explicitly taught something. His creative aims were to make children laugh, and show parents what children can learn while engaged in play.[14]
The characters ofBluey each represent a particulardog breed, some of which are drawn from Brumm's personal life. Brumm had a Blue Heeler named Bluey throughout his childhood, in addition to a Dalmatian named Chloe and an Australian Red Kelpie named Rusty, who was the title character of the series in its early development.[21] Bandit is based on a Blue Heeler belonging to his father's friend. Bandit's career as an archaeologist was inspired by Brumm's older sibling Adam.[12]
Brumm writes the majority of episode scripts, with Aspinwall labelling the series as an "observational" show, depicting Brumm's family life, and producer Sam Moor describing it as "[Brumm's] life on screen";[16][17] when producing the pilot, Brumm's daughters were aged between four and six, like Bluey and Bingo. Brumm's process for writing sometimes begins with making notes about his family's experiences; including games his children play and the conflict that arises between them. For this reason, Brumm has described the process as a challenge for other writers on the series. Moor stated that there are few writers besides Brumm, mostly animators already working on the series.[12] The program was designed to be a co-viewing experience for parents and their children to enjoy together.[10][13] Brumm described the process of writing each episode as "a chance to make a short film".[22] The conflict and humour in the episodes stems from Bandit's relationship with his daughters.[17] Bluey has been described as "rough and tumble" by Pearson, with both her and Bingo being seen to subvert thestereotypes of female characters, but rather have the characteristics of real puppies. This has led to uninformed viewers questioning if the characters are boys or girls. Pearson has credited the decision of Bluey and Bingo being girls to resemble the real families of Brumm, Aspinwall and McCormack.[16] In relation to the humour of the series, Brumm has stated there is a lot of physical activity and "craziness".[22]
Bluey is animated in-house at Ludo Studio in Brisbane, inFortitude Valley, where approximately 50 people work on the program.[14][16] Costa Kassab serves as one of the art directors of the series, who has been credited with drawing the locations of the series which are based on real places in Brisbane, including parks and shopping centres.[16] Locations featured in the series have includedQueen Street Mall andSouth Bank, as well as landmarks such asThe Big Pelican on theNoosa River.[15] Brumm determines the specific locations which are to be included. Post-production of the series takes place externally inSouth Brisbane.[16]
Approximately fifteen episodes of the series are developed by the studio at any one time across a range of production stages. After story ideas are conceived, the script-writing process takes place for up to two months. The episodes are then storyboarded by artists, who produce 500 to 800 drawings over three weeks while consulting the writer's script. After the storyboard is finished, a black and whiteanimatic is produced, to which the dialogue recorded independently by voice artists is added. The episodes are then worked on for four weeks by animators, background artists, designers, and layout teams. The entire production team views a near-completed episode ofBluey on a Friday. Pearson stated that over time, the viewings developed into test screenings where members of production would bring their family, friends, and children to watch the episode. The complete production process for an episode takes three to four months.[16][23] Moor described the program's colour palette as "a vibrant pastel".[23]Bluey is animated using CelAction2D.[24][25]
During thelockdown period of theCOVID-19 pandemic, the production staff of 50 were required to work on the episodes remotely from home. A skeleton crew of three remained working on the series at the studio.[12] After restrictions eased in May 2020, this number increased to 10 and later 20.[26] By 2024, work at the studio returned to normal. A few extra people were hired for "The Sign"—a 28-minute long episode towards the end of Series 3.[27]
The series featuresDavid McCormack, from the bandCustard, as the voice of Bluey's father, Bandit. He was initially approached to read what he assumed would only be "a couple of lines", but ended up voicing Bandit for the entire pilot. McCormack performs his voice work for the series remotely in Sydney, which is then sent to the production company in Brisbane. He stated that he does not hear any other voice actors or view footage while recording, and that he does not alter his own voice to produce Bandit's dialogue.[5]Melanie Zanetti provides the voice of Bluey's mother, Chilli; she became interested in the series after reading the script for the pilot.[4]
Brumm's mother, Chris Brumm, voices Nana Heeler, while his younger brother, Dan Brumm, voices Uncle Stripe, as well as working as a sound designer on the series.[12][15] The child characters of the series, including Bluey and Bingo, are voiced by children of the program's production crew and are not credited on screen as voice actors.[3][6]
Joff Bush serves as the primary composer ofBluey, writing half of the soundtrack himself and leading a group of additional composers, including David Barber.[28][29] Bush graduated from theQueensland Conservatorium, where he met Pearson, and beforeBluey worked on series such asThe Family Law andAustralian Survivor. Bush has stated that each episode has its own unique musical style, and he likes to become involved in the episodes as they are scripted. Live instruments are regularly played for the recordings.[28] Every episode ofBluey is individually scored, a decision made by Brumm, who was inspired by the original compositions forCharlie and Lola while working on the series in the United Kingdom.[11]Classical music is regularly used throughout the underscore, with pieces such asBeethoven's "Ode to Joy" andMozart's "Rondo Alla Turca (from Sonata No. 11)" being interpreted by composers.[30] A movement fromThe Planets byGustav Holst is prominently featured in the episode "Sleepytime".[31]Megan Washington, who voices Calypso, re-recorded her song "Lazarus Drug" from the albumBatflowers to feature prominently in the ending scene of "The Sign".[32]
Bush composed the theme song forBluey, and he has been nominated for severalAPRA Screen Music Awards, in2019 for the soundtrack of the episode "Teasing" and in2020 for "Flat Pack".[28][33][34] He was nominated for the APRA Award for Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas in 2022, and won the award in 2023.[35][36] The show's score won Best Music for Children's Programming in2021[37] and in2024, the latter for the episode "The Sign".[38] The music forBluey is licensed byUniversal Music Publishing on behalf ofBBC Worldwide Music Publishing.[33] The first soundtrack for the series by Bush,Bluey: The Album, was released on 22 January 2021.[39] It debuted at number one on theARIA Albums Chart,[40] and became the first children's album to reach the top of the charts in Australia.[41] It wonBest Children's Album at the2021 ARIA Music Awards,[42] and won the2021 APRA Award for Best Soundtrack Album.[37] The second soundtrack,Dance Mode!, was released on 21 April 2023, and the third soundtrack,Rug Island, was released on 25 October 2024.[43][44] ABurger Dog single was made available on 12 April 2025 as part ofRecord Store Day.[45]
Production on the third series concluded in April 2022.[23] In July 2023, Pearson stated that the production team were taking a short break from making episodes. He denied that the program would end after the third series, but explained that there were no immediate plans for a fourth series. Brumm indicated that the audience response to the long-form episode "The Sign" could influence the future of the series.[46] A collection of shorts titled "Minisodes" were produced before the break in production;[47] the first collection of these one-to-three minute episodes began airing on ABC Kids on 16 June 2024, and were released on Disney+ on 3 July.[48][49][50] The second set of shorts were released in October,[51] and the final group of shorts were released in December.[52] In December 2024, Brumm announced that he would be taking a hiatus from writing for the show in order to focus on the upcoming feature film.[53]
A central theme of the series is the influence of a supportive family; this is reflected in the relationships between Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli.[3] The Heeler family are presented as anuclear family. Brumm was eager to reflect contemporary parenting practices, with both adults shown to beworking parents; Bandit as an archaeologist and Chilli working part-time in airport security.[3][4][11] Bethany Hiatt ofThe West Australian explains that the series depicts the realities of modern-dayfatherhood, with Bandit seen regularly doing housework and engaging in imaginative play with his children.[13] Chilli's role as a mother is explored as she balances both work and family life.[54] Her struggles with newbornmotherhood and encounters of competitiveness in a parenting group are depicted through flashbacks of Bluey experiencing significant developmental milestones.[55] Both parents are shown to acknowledge and validate the emotions of their children, such as Bluey's distress after the death of a bird.[56][57] Bluey and Bingo are shown to navigate theirsibling relationship throughout the episodes, learning how to work together, compromise, and resolve conflicts.[22][58] Episodes detail the family's contemporary domestic lifestyle, with Philippa Chandler ofThe Guardian describing the series as "social realism".[17][59]
The series also depictsAustralian contemporary culture, and is set in semi-tropical Queensland.[7] The animation ofAustralian architecture in the series is designed to reflect the typicalQueenslander residential designs of Brisbane; high-set suburban dwellings with characteristicverandas, against representations of Brisbane skylines.[5] The characters speak withAustralian accents in local and international airings.[4] The series has a focus on theAustralian sense of humour withdry wit frequently expressed through the dialogue.[17][54] Several episodes detail the exploration ofAustralia's climate and nature,[5] with characters encounteringAustralian wildlife such as fruit bats, wallabies, kookaburras andibises.[11]Flora of Australia are also depicted in the series, includingPoinciana trees andJacaranda trees.[11] The series exploresAustralian sport through the inclusion ofrugby league; theMaroons and theBlues are featured in a depiction of theState of Origin series.[60] However, Brumm has expressed that he did not want to exaggerate thestereotypes of Australia.[11]
The series advocates the importance of play throughout childhood. Bluey and Bingo are the vehicle used to display this theme; the episode "Trampoline" features Bandit imploring Bluey to continue creating new games to play.[10] The siblings engage in imaginative play during "mundane" activities such as visiting the doctor or going to the supermarket.[17][20] The parents are shown to engage in the play with their children.[57] Bluey and Bingo also engage in imaginative play with their friends, learning lessons such as the importance of following the rules.[61] The characters also learn lessons such as the influence oftechnology, the economy and personal finance through their gameplay.[58][61] Pearson has stated that the characters experience emotions such as jealousy and regret through their gameplay. He commented that, while there is no antagonist in the series, these emotions form the central conflicts of the program.[16]
The character of Jack is shown to have attention deficit issues; he states that he "can't sit still or remember anything". Upon the online character announcement, parents praised the representation of children with attention deficit issues.[62] Dougie was introduced as a profoundly deaf character who usesAuslan to communicate with his mother in the episode "Turtleboy"; the character is shown signing but it is not the focus of the episode's story. Consultants were involved to authentically animate the Auslan signs, and viewers praised the representation. The episode "Onesies" alludes to the fact that Chilli's sister Brandy cannot have children, addressing the topic offertility without specifically labelling the reason why. It was also reported that "The Show" subtly approaches pregnancy loss.[56]
The first series premiered in Australia on ABC Kids on 1 October 2018, with 26 episodes airing daily throughout October.[6] The following 25 episodes of the series began airing on 1 April 2019.[63] The final episode of the first series, a Christmas special, aired on 12 December 2019.[64] It was reported in March 2019 that production had begun on a second series of 52 episodes; the order was officially announced in May.[10][54] The second series premiered on 17 March 2020, with the first 26 episodes airing daily, through April.[65][66] The remaining episodes began airing on 25 October 2020, and were followed by a Christmas special which aired on 1 December 2020, and an Easter special airing on 4 April 2021.[67][68][69] Preliminary discussions for the third series had begun by April 2020; the series order was made official in October.[12][26][67] The third series began airing on 5 September 2021 with a Father's Day-themed special,[70] followed by further episode blocks from 22 November 2021,[71] and 13 June 2022.[72] The series was moved to weekly episodes beginning 9 April 2023; episodes aired Sundays through June.[73] The final episode block of the third series aired on Sundays throughout April 2024, and included a special 28-minute episode titled "The Sign".[74][75]
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 52 | 26 | 1 October 2018 (2018-10-01) | 26 October 2018 (2018-10-26) |
| 26 | 1 April 2019 (2019-04-01) | 12 December 2019 (2019-12-12) | ||
| 2 | 52 | 26 | 17 March 2020 (2020-03-17) | 11 April 2020 (2020-04-11) |
| 26 | 25 October 2020 (2020-10-25) | 4 April 2021 (2021-04-04) | ||
| 3 | 50 | 26 | 5 September 2021 (2021-09-05) | 16 December 2021 (2021-12-16) |
| 11 | 13 June 2022 (2022-06-13) | 23 June 2022 (2022-06-23) | ||
| 10 | 9 April 2023 (2023-04-09) | 11 June 2023 (2023-06-11) | ||
| 3 | 7 April 2024 (2024-04-07) | 21 April 2024 (2024-04-21) | ||
The Walt Disney Company holds the international broadcasting rights toBluey for both linear television and streaming, having acquired the rights in 2019. The series premiered on theDisney Junior television network in the United States on 9 September 2019 and was later distributed on Disney+ on 22 January 2020 and in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2020.[59][76][77][78][79][80][81]Cartoon Network executives tried but failed to acquire the rights to the series.[82] It notably features the original voice actors while airing overseas, after producers were initially asked to replace the Australian accents of the characters.[4] The second series debuted on Disney Channel in the United States on 10 July 2020.[83] The distribution deal with Disney originally encompassed the first two series of the program;[76][84] the third series was acquired in May 2021.[85] The first half of the third series debuted on Disney+ in licensed territories on 10 August 2022 and later premiered on Disney's television networks;[23][86] another group of episodes debuted on 12 July 2023, and further episodes were released on 12 January 2024.[87][88] The Series 3 episodes "Ghostbasket", "The Sign" and "Surprise!" debuted on Disney+ on the same day as their respective Australian premieres in April 2024.[75][89]
In October 2019,Bluey debuted in New Zealand, airing onTVNZ 2 and streaming onTVNZ OnDemand.[90][91] The first series made its Australianpay-TV premiere onCBeebies on 4 May 2020.[92] It made its free-to-air television debut on CBeebies in April 2021 in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia.[93][94][95] The series debuted in the Philippines onTV5, dubbed inTagalog, in April 2024.[96] Supplementing its availability on the Japanese version of Disney+, the first two seasons ofBluey made their terrestrial network debuts in Japan in October 2024, airing onTV Tokyo with aJapanese dub.[97]
The series was first distributed on DVD in Australia by Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and BBC Studios, with the first two volumes, entitledMagic Xylophone and Other Stories andHorsey Ride and Other Stories released on 30 October 2019. They were followed by further volumes at later dates.[98] In the United States, the first season was released on DVD in two volumes in early 2020.[99] ABlu-ray release containing all episodes from the first, second and third series was released in November 2024.[100] In the United Kingdom, the first volume was released on DVD in October 2021.[101]
Bluey has received positive critical reception.[17] The series received a seal of approval fromCommon Sense Media, with reviewer Emily Ashby commending its positive family and social themes.[102]Bluey was praised by Philippa Chandler ofThe Guardian for its "sharp script" and depiction of everyday family life, while commenting that its Queensland background set it apart from other cartoons on television.[17] Readers ofThe New York Times's parenting blog submittedBluey as their favourite children's show, describing it as charming, smart and "very real".[103] David Sims ofThe Atlantic opined that "Bluey is the kind of lively show a toddler anywhere on Earth can understand, but it’s also a particular representation of contemporary parenting."[104] The series was called "laugh-out-loud funny" by Stephanie Convery ofThe Guardian, who credited its humour to the "quirky behaviour" of the child characters.[105] In 2019,TV Week listedBluey at number 98 in its list of the 101 greatest Australian television shows of all time. Despite only being on air since 2018, the magazine wrote that Bluey "stole Australia's hearts faster than any other cartoon character" in what it described as a "cute, funny and modern" series.[106] The series was listed at number 14 inJunkee's list of 50 television programs that defined the decade, in which it was described as "an absolute delight".[107] In a list published byRolling Stone of the top 100 sitcoms of all time,Bluey was listed at number 96, the only Australian series to be featured.[108] The episode "Sleepytime" (Series 2 Episode 26) has been well received, with director Richard Jeffery winning anAustralian Directors' Guild Award in 2021, and the episode winning the 2022 Prix Jeunesse International Award in the category of TV – Up to 6 Years Fiction (Children's).[31][109]
The series was complimented for its constructive parenting messages and depiction of Bandit Heeler as a positive father figure, who is patient, willing to do housework and play with his children,[13] and "moreemotionally intelligent" than the father fromPeppa Pig (2004–present).[17] Moreover, the show's messages about parenting align with published literature on parental well-being, noting how the show depicts the importance of play and learning social skills in child development.[57] Jennifer McClellan of theUSA Today described Bandit as "sarcastic, sympathetic and silly"[58] and Chilli as the "voice of reason" of the family. She further noted how Bluey and Bingo learned to navigate their sibling relationship.[58][110] Stephanie Convery ofThe Guardian commented that while the sisters were accurate depictions of children, the roles of the parents did not conform togender stereotypes.[105]
The series has also received online praise for its representation ofattention deficit issues through the character of Jack,[111] and the inclusion ofAuslan (Australian sign language) through Dougie, a profoundly deaf character.[56][62] Its sensitive handling ofinfertility,miscarriage, anddivorce has also been met with public approval.[56][104][112] The series three episodeCricket, which aired during the2023 ICC World Test Championship final received praise from cricket writers.[113][114][115]
The website of the series was criticised for, in the character description of Chilli, suggesting that her return to part-time work prevents her from being as involved a parent as other mothers; the description was later altered.[116] A separate incident saw an apology issued by the ABC in August 2020 in relation to the usage of the term "ooga booga" in the episodes "Teasing" and "Flat Pack", which was described as a term with "racial connotations and a problematic history forIndigenous Australians" through a viewer complaint.[117][118] The ABC claimed that the term had only been intended as "irreverent rhyming slang made up by children", and has stated that it maintains its commitment to addressing discrimination.[118] The two episodes were temporarily removed from rotations before being edited to remove the term, which prompted mixed reactions from viewers.[117][118] "Dad Baby" (Series 2 Episode 13) never aired on Disney's outlets. And while Disney has not officially disclosed a reason,Polygon speculated that it was withheld due to its depictions of pregnancy and childbirth.[119] It was released on the show's officialYouTube account on 2 May 2024.[120] During the third series, the episode "Exercise" was criticised on social media due to viewers perceiving a scene asfat-shaming; the episode was later edited to remove the scene.[121][122]
Bluey has received consistently high viewership on ABC Kids in Australia, becoming the most watched children's program across all channels on broadcast television in 2018 and 2019.[13][98] The highest-rated episode of the program, "The Sign", premiered on 14 April 2024 to a national television audience of 2,288,000 viewers across two broadcasts.[123][124] In 2019, the series was the most-watched program throughtime shifting.[65][125]
In March 2019,Bluey was the most downloaded program in the history of ABC'svideo on demand andcatch up TV serviceABC iview, with 21.3 million total episode plays.[13] Within one year of the show's premiere, this figure had risen to 152 million, and by May 2020, there had been 261 million plays of episodes from the first series.[12][126] The second series had totalled 43 million episode plays by May.[126] By May 2021, episodes from both series had generated over 480 million plays.[85] According toNielsen rankings,Bluey supplantedCocomelon (2018–2024) as the most popular children's program in 2023. In terms of minutes watched,Bluey was second only to legal drama showSuits (2011–2019).[127] By 2024, it became clear thatBluey commanded a global audience, being sold to 60 countries and dubbed in 20 languages.[27] That year, it became the top show on theCBeebies, the BBC's children's channel.[27] It was also the most-watched television show in the United States in a ranking that included both children's and adults' shows,[27][127] being streamed for a total of 55.6 billion minutes (106 thousand years).[128]
Despite its intended audience,Bluey has also been well-received among teenagers and adults without children.[112][129] It has garnered a substantial following on social media platforms,[111] above allTikTok.[27] For manyMillennials and members ofGeneration Z, the show alleviates and heals thepsychological wounds from their childhoods.[27][111]
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards | 2019 | Bluey | Best Children's Program | Won | [130] |
| 2020 | Won | [131] | |||
| 2021 | Won | [132] | |||
| 2022 | Won | [133] | |||
| 2023 | Won | [134] | |||
| 2024 | Won | [135] | |||
| Joff Bush, Daniel O'Brien, Jazz Darcy (for Bluey – "The Sign") | Best Original Music Score in Television | Won | |||
| Dan Brumm (for Bluey – "The Sign") | Best Sound in Television | Nominated | |||
| APRA Screen Music Awards | 2019 | Joff Bush (for "Teasing") | Best Music for Children's Television | Nominated | [33] |
| 2020 | Joff Bush (for "Flat Pack") | Nominated | [34] | ||
| 2021 | Joff Bush | Best Music for Children's Programming | Won | [37] | |
| Bluey: The Album | Best Soundtrack Album | Won | |||
| 2022 | Joff Bush | Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas | Nominated | [35] | |
| 2023 | Won | [36] | |||
| 2024 | Joff Bush, Jazz D'Arcy, Daniel O'Brien, Joe Twist (for "The Sign") | Best Music for Children's Programming | Won | [38] | |
| ARIA Music Awards | 2021 | Bluey: The Album | Best Children's Album | Won | [42] |
| 2024 | Dance Mode! | Best Children's Album | Won | [136] | |
| Asian Academy Creative Awards | 2020 | Bluey | Best Preschool Programme | Won | [137] |
| 2022 | Bluey (for "Rain" and "Fairytale") | Won | [138] | ||
| Australian Book Industry Awards | 2020 | Bluey (for "The Beach", Penguin) | Children's Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0–6) | Won | [139][140] |
| Book of the Year | Won | ||||
| 2021 | Bluey (for "The Creek", Penguin) | Children's Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0–6) | Nominated | [141] | |
| Australian Directors' Guild Awards | 2021 | Richard Jeffery (for "Sleepytime") | Best Direction in a Children's TV or SVOD Drama Program Episode | Won | [109] |
| Australian Toy Association | 2020 | Bluey (Moose Toys) | Preschool License of the Year | Won | [83] |
| BAFTA Children & Young People Awards | 2022 | Bluey | International | Won | [142] |
| Banff World Media Festival Rockie Awards | 2021 | Bluey | Animation: Preschool (0–4) | Won | [143] |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2022 | Bluey | Best Animated Series | Nominated | [144] |
| 2023 | Bluey | Nominated | [145] | ||
| 2024 | Bluey | Nominated | [146] | ||
| 2025 | Bluey | Nominated | [147] | ||
| International Emmy Kids Awards | 2019 | Bluey | Kids: Preschool | Won | [148] |
| Kidscreen Awards | 2021 | Bluey | Preschool Programming – Best Animated Series | Won | [149] |
| Creative Talent – Best Directing | Won | ||||
| Creative Talent – Best Writing | Won | ||||
| Creative Talent – Best Music | Won | ||||
| 2023 | Bluey (for Series 3) | Preschool Programming – Best Animated Series | Won | [150] | |
| Logie Awards | 2019 | Bluey | Most Outstanding Children's Program | Won | [151] |
| 2022 | Won | [152] | |||
| 2023 | Nominated | [153] | |||
| 2024 | Best Children's Program | Won | [154] | ||
| Peabody Awards | 2024 | Bluey | Children's & Youth | Won | [155] |
| Prix Jeunesse International Awards | 2020 | Bluey | TV – Up to 6 Years Fiction (Children's) | Nominated | [156] |
| 2022 | Bluey (for "Sleepytime") | Won | [31] | ||
| Screen Producers Australia Awards | 2019 | Bluey | Animated Series Production of the Year | Won | [157] |
| Screen Business Export of the Year | Won (Tied)[e] | ||||
| 2022 | Bluey (for Series 2) | Children's Series Production of the Year | Won | [158] | |
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2021 | Bluey | Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming | Nominated | [159] |
| 2023 | Bluey | Won | [160] | ||
| 2024 | Bluey | Won | [161] | ||
| TV Blackbox Awards | 2021 | Bluey | Most Popular Children's Show | Won | [162] |
| TV Tonight Awards | 2019 | Bluey | Best Kid's Show | Won | [163] |
| 2020 | Won | [164] | |||
| 2021 | Won | [165] | |||
| 2022 | Won | [166] | |||
| 2023 | Won | [167] |
In April 2019,BBC Studios entered a partnership withPenguin Random House Australia with a deal to publish threeBluey books before the end of 2019.[168] "The Beach", "Fruit Bat", and a sticker activity book entitled "Time to Play", were released on 5 November 2019.[169][independent source needed] All three books were recognised as the highest-selling releases in the weekly Australian book charts of November 2019,[170][171] and had sold a combined total of 350,000 copies by January 2020.[172] The combined sales of the first nine books reached 1 million in June 2020;[173] and the figure for all books had reached 5 million by October 2022.[174] In September 2020, the partnership with Penguin Random House was expanded to include global distribution rights, allowing the books to be released in the United States and the United Kingdom.[175]
Moose Toys was named as the global toy partner forBluey in June 2019; the company announced that toys would be released in Australia by the end of 2019, and later in the United States.[176][independent source needed]Plush character toys of Bluey and Bingo were released in November, and a character figurine set was released in December.[177] The plush Bluey topped theToys "R" Us release chart of Christmas 2019, while the demand for the plush Bingo exceeded the number of toys being supplied to stores.[178][179] By December, over 100,000 plush character toys had been sold in Australia.[179] The toy line was launched in the United States in June 2020.[83][180]
In January 2020,Bluey partnered withBonds to release a clothing range for children, including pyjamas and socks featuring character designs.[181][182] A more comprehensive clothing range was made available at Australian retailers in March, including clothing, sleepwear and underwear.[183] A range of adult pyjamas were released in May 2020 throughPeter Alexander stores, which became the fastest selling collection in the retailer's history.[184]Bauer Media Group released the first issue of a monthlyBluey magazine in May.[185] A lifestyle range of children's furniture was released in June 2020.[186] In October 2024, a collaboration withCrocs was announced.[187] In January 2025, a partnership withLego was announced.[188] Encompassing the Duplo and +4 ranges, theBluey sets are set to release in June 2025.[189]
The mobile gameBluey: Let's Play! was released by Budge Studios in August 2023 oniOS andAndroid. The game received attention for its use of a subscription model.[190][191] A console game, titledBluey: The Videogame, was released on 17 November 2023 onMicrosoft Windows,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Nintendo Switch,Xbox One andXbox Series X and Series S. The game, which was developed by Artax Games and published byOutright Games, is an interactivesandbox game with an original story, and features the voice actors from the series.[192][193] The release of the aforementioned LegoBluey sets will be accompanied by a mobile game that is set to be released on iOS and Android.[194]
A live stage show developed in 2019, titledBluey's Big Play, toured in fifty theatres around Australia and featured the characters from the series.[84][195] The tour was initially scheduled to begin in May 2020, but was delayed due to restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.[196] After eased restrictions, two preview performances were held at theCanberra Theatre Centre in January 2021 before further shows across the country.[197]Bluey's Big Play also toured the United States, debuting at theHulu Theater atMadison Square Garden in November 2022.[23][86] The play debuted in the United Kingdom and Ireland in December 2023, and continues to expand worldwide.[198] An encore season of the production in Australia commenced in Brisbane in December 2023.[199] A pre-recorded version of the play was released on ABC iview on 20 April 2025.
Ahead of the release of the long-form episode "The Sign" in April 2024, Moor stated that it was "not the end forBluey", while Pearson expressed interest in creating a feature film based on the series.[200] In December 2024, BBC Studios andThe Walt Disney Company announced thatBluey: The Movie would be released theatrically in 2027 byWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.[201] The feature film will see the series' voice cast and crew returning, with Brumm reprising his role as writer and director for the film. The film is a joint collaboration between Disney, BBC Studios and Ludo Studio; with Disney handling theatrical and streaming rights, BBC Studios handling financing and licensing rights, and Ludo Studio producing the feature.[202] The film is set to continue the events of the show.[203] Australian animation studio Cosmic Dino Studio will provide thecomputer animation.[204]
A balloon of the Bluey character appeared atMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2022,[205] and returned for the 2023[206] and 2024 parades.[207] A tourist attraction titledBluey's World was developed at Northshore Pavilion inHamilton, Queensland; it opened on 7 November 2024 and launched on 13 November 2024.[208] The interactive attraction features an original story and replicates settings from the series on a life-size 4,000 square-metre site.[209] On 19 December 2024, it was announced that characters from the show would appear at variousDisney experiences, including theDisneyland Resort in California, theWalt Disney World Resort in Florida, andDisney Cruise Line ships originating from Australia and New Zealand.[210]
A companionpodcast produced by the ABC entitledBehind Bluey was first released on 10 April 2023, in which Brumm and other creatives discuss the production of the series and its latest episodes. This podcast covers the 2023 batch of series three episodes.[211] The characters Bluey, Chilli and Bingo made cameo appearances inThe Simpsons shortMay the 12th Be with You, released onDisney+ in May 2024 to celebrateStar Wars Day andMother's Day.[212]
Commemorativebirth certificates featuringBluey artwork were made available to Queensland residents from March 2020.[213] Commemorative$1 coins featuring designs of Bluey and the Heeler family were released by theRoyal Australian Mint in June 2024.[214] These coins wereuncirculated, with only 30,000 of each being minted, and could only be purchased directly from the Mint or their authorised distributors.[215]
On 12 July 2024,New South Wales Police Force received a report that 63,000 of a separate set of unreleased Royal Australian Mint coins,[216] which were selling at the time for 10 times their face value at $600,000 in total, had been stolen, and began an investigation into the theft codenamed Strike Force Bandit.[217] On 31 July, they seized 189 of the coins from a legitimate collector who had innocently purchased them,[216] and on 7 August recovered 1,000 of the coins and arrested a 47-year-old man, charging him with three counts of breaking and entering.[217] A second man was arrested on 20 August,[218] and on 30 October police recovered 40,061 of the coins, still in their original bags, from a self-storage business inWentworthville, arresting an additional 27-year-old woman who had acted as agetaway driver.[216]
Brumm: My favourite dog was a kelpie called Rusty [...] the show was originally calledRusty and it was gonna be about him, but it switched toBluey.
Fast forward through a tonne of contracting and we're about to embark on making an animated Bluey movie! [...] I always said I wouldn't keep making the show if I thought I couldn't make any new season as good as the last. This would have been the case for me with a potential season four, so I've decided to take a break from my involvement in the TV series. In the event I can't wrap my head around doing more seasons myself, The Sign will mark my TV finale for Bluey and I wrote it as such.
Emmy-winning breakout kids seriesBluey will go free-to-air in Japan. Episodes of the Australian animated show from Joe Brumm will begin on TV Tokyo's Eeny Meeny Many Moe' slot on Saturday, October 26 at 7am local time, following the network's deal with distributor BBC Studios.
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