POP JUNIOR: FANDOM FEATURE
THE HEELER FAMILY HEADS STATESIDE WITH AN IMAGINATIVE TOY LINE. BY JACKIE CUCCO, SENIOR EDITOR
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hat the bald eagle and Elvis Presley are to the U.S., the Blue Heeler is to Australia. A “Bluey” is more than just a type of dog: It’s a cultural icon, thanks in part to the skyrocketing popularity of Bluey, a kids’ show about a family of pups who use their imaginations to inspire lessons in make-believe. Debuting in Australia in 2018, the animated series follows a 6-year-old Blue Heeler puppy named Bluey; her 4-year-old sister Bingo; and her parents, Chilli and Bandit. In each episode, Bluey uses her boundless energy to play elaborate games that result in heartwarming and hilarious lessons. Following a successful launch down under with Ludo Studio, BBC Studios helped bring Bluey stateside in 2019 with a cross-platform Disney debut in the U.S. Bluey is now thriving with two seasons available to stream on Disney+ and DisneyNOW, and perhaps more to come after season three rolls out in Australia. “When we met with Disney, what was surprising was that a lot of people in America didn’t know what a Blue Heeler or a ‘Bluey’ was,” says Daley Pearson, executive producer at Ludo Studio. He explains that Australians have an affinity for Blue Heelers because they seem to represent the best parts of Australia: They’re loyal, hard-working, and energetic. “They love families, they’re insanely playful, and when they’re puppies, they’re even more insane. And all of that lined up with the personalities of a 6-year-old and a
4-year-old, so it really did work ... with where Bluey and Bingo are at.” Bandit, the father in the series, is even based on the series’ creator Joe Brumm’s family dog. “It’s always surprising how personal Bluey is, which is quite Debuting in Australia in 2018, Bluey is now streaming resonating,” Pearson says. on Disney+ in the U.S. | Source: BBC Studios Although it’s designed with preschoolers in mind, Bluey is meant to be a co-viewing SERIOUS GAMEPLAY series — a show that parents and kids can Aside from humor, gameplay is the watch together. The way to do that successreal backbone of the show. The creators had fully is through humor, according to Pearson. a clear vision to make it about gameplay “I think the sense of humor is definitely in from the very start. But, it wasn’t such an there, which I hear is traveling really well,” easy idea to pitch to a studio, Pearson says: he says. “I think in Australia, and I’m sure “It’s not about a comet heading to Earth. It’s America has a lot of this as well, no matter not about superheroes or a kid bitten by a how tough things get — and the episodes spider. There’s no big logline behind it. It’s are about tough stuff — there’s always room very Seinfeld-y when you explain it. Bluey for joking, laughing, and brevity. That’s defiis really just a show about playing games.” nitely something that has gone into Bluey.” But, all they had to do was get started, and For example, the “Copycat” episode shows the seed of gameplay started growing into Bluey coming to terms with the death of a so much more. bird after she finds it in a garden. Bluey then Gameplay can cover so many topics, reenacts the scene by putting her sister from kids role-playing what they want to be Bingo in a box as if she’s dead and driving when they grow up to experiencing their first her to the pretend vet (their Mum) in her emotions. “Gameplay is a kid’s first draft of ride-on car. everything,” Pearson says. “These games “It’s an incredibly heavy and moving are real. It’s not a game to a kid — and esepisode, but it’s also hilarious. It’s one of pecially not to Bluey and Bingo — and mom the funniest episodes,” Pearson says. “The and dad really support that. It’s the kids’ combination of the sweet and sour is very first draft of experiencing collaboration and Australian and is also very Bluey.” responsibility — all the things that are tough
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