By: Michelle Gómez
In case you missed this sensation that is popping up all over children’s programming, Bluey is an Australian animated series aimed at children that have been gaining quite a bit of popularity and has stolen the hearts of millions of children and ADULTS. Yes, you read that right, adults.
Bluey is a six-year-old Australian Cattle Shepherd puppy (of course, she was going to be one of the most loved pets in Australia), and together with her sister Bingo, they play along with their parents, Bandit and Chili. Where each episode is a different game in which the girls learn valuable life lessons. This is where it gets interesting because it’s not your typical children’s show where you learn the valuable meaning of friendship and love; Bluey has come to touch on sensitive topics while still being a cartoon with cute characters and funny dialogues. As are the following episodes:
Baby Race: The episode that talks about the first months of parenthood and how difficult it is not to compare yourself with other new parents.
Chili, Bluey’s mother, tries to make her daughter one of the first to crawl and be able to walk. However, she keeps comparing herself to other mothers and their children’s progress. This makes Chili think she is not doing a good job as a new mother.
Army: Episode that alludes to ADHD (Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder).
In this episode, we meet Jack, a little dog who is nervous about being transferred to his new school, as he mentions that he has difficulty paying attention and following orders. He also constantly forgets things. Suddenly, his teacher pairs him up at recess with another boy named Rusty, who invites him to play army.
Onesies: The episode about infertility.
After several years, Brandy, Bluey’s aunt, finally goes to visit. In this episode, we see how Bluey’s mother rubs Brandy’s nose at how much she has been absent in her nieces’ lives. It is not until the end of the episode that we discover that Brandy cannot have children, so it is hard for her to see her nieces and not feel sad.
Cafe: Episode that talks about friendship in grown-ups.
When visiting the park, Bluey quickly strikes up a friendship with another girl named Winnie. However, Bluey’s dad and Winnie’s dad will take more than one visit to the park to become friends. This episode refers to how difficult it is to make friends in adulthood.
Early baby: The title speaks for itself.
Bluey and her classmates play Doctors who delivered babies. One of her classmates, Indie, asks them to deliver her baby early, just like her real-life sister. In this episode, Bluey and her classmates learn about the care and sensitivity of premature babies.
Stickbird: Episode about men’s mental health.
Bingo and her dad are at the beach when they discover a stick in the shape of a bird’s head, inspiring them to get inventive. At first, this episode doesn’t seem out of the ordinary, however it’s not until the end that we realize that Bandit (Bingo’s dad) has been dealing with something internally.
Although its audience is primarily children, Bluey director and animator Richard Jeffery mentions that each episode is written for both children and adults.
“The show has been a success because it offers an honest portrayal of modern parenting. In most cartoons, the father is always a buffoon and the mother stays at home. It doesn’t have to be that way. I think, especially with Dad, we wanted to portray a very competent fathe… well, both parents being very competent.” Richard at The Sydney Morning Herald.
The appeal of this program for adults is due to its serious subject matter and ability to acknowledge the full spectrum of emotions that can be experienced in childhood and parenthood. It is a guide to modern parenting. And a result, Bluey is currently a global phenomenon and one of Australia’s most cherished programs.
Such has been the impact and popularity of this cartoon that it has even managed to appear on the cover of “InStyle Magazine Australia.” Paying homage to Chili Heleer, Bluey’s mother.
“Yes, that’s right, this month’s InStyle cover star is a cartoon dog. But not just any dog – Chilli Heeler is the matriarch of Australia’s biggest and most famous television export of all time. Bluey is the most watched show in history on all Australian on-demand platforms, but its impact has reached far beyond our borders. The series airs in more than 60 countries around the world and in 2022 ranked among the top 10 most watched programs of the year in the United States…” Wrote the magazine on its platforms.
If you and your little ones are already tuning in to this show, we just want to tell you: well done! And if you haven’t, get ready to fall in love with the Heeler family.
