Australian Animated Series Has Adult Fans Too
Bluish, a staple of the Nielsen streams Top 10is the number one streaming series among Disney+ subscribers and isn’t even produced by the company.
The animated series – about a family of Heeler dogs and about the magic of learning life lessons through play – is an Australian import, distributed by Disney+ and the BBC. It was created by Joe Brumm with Australian animation house Ludo Studio and has become one a huge phenomenon worldwide because… it really is a damn good show. When I recommend it, I compare it to a mix of them Paddington Feel-good fix with Taika Waititi Comedic feelings kids don’t need to have receive but nevertheless it is also made for them.
At this point I think Bluish has surpassed my love too Paddington. A bold claim, I’m sure! Let me take you back to lockdown for a moment (I’m so sorry) when watching streaming TV was something we were all becoming more and more accustomed to. There were so many shows I didn’t want to get into (which I eventually did!) that I enjoyed Guardian And Invincible. I remember getting really into it at some point Kim’s convenience –with The Mandalorian‘S Paul Sun Hyung Lee and Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Simu Liu – as a remedy for the heaviness of time. My quest for calming streaming prompted me to turn to film Twitter for more recommendations, and that’s where I found director Duncan Jones’ support Bluishwhat came Around the time a family of vloggers I follow also got on the show with their kid.
Watch and eat soon Bluish is honestly the best thing I made Film Twitter for. I was already a big animator, and I think I am a medium for everyone, even if it is said to be a program supposedly aimed at the little ones. Bluish presents sisters Bluey and Bingo as they relive moments from their childhood the Anton ego Ratatouille Effect on you when you watch them. There is a certain resemblance in the way her mother, Chilli Heeler (Melanie Zanetti) and father, Bandit Heeler (Dave McCormack of the rock band Custard) engage in their engagement that inspires longing to be a kid and feel safe. For some, the show offers a glimpse into what parenting can be like. Bandit and Chilli aren’t perfect, they learn just as much as their kids about breaking patterns or overcoming challenges. Her relationships with Bluey and Bingo are filled with adventure and wonder — and they stepped into fans’ lives when it was needed most, during the pandemic, when many of us were being separated from our own loved ones.
Take the “Sleepytime” episode for example – it made all the difference for me as the series evolved from an adorable, soothing bedtime clock into a cathartic screaming session.
In it, shy younger sister Bingo, who is just as reserved as the main character Bluey, escapes to a fantastical dreamland while learning to sleep alone in her bed. It’s filled with space imagery that captures the surrealism of dreams while showing how to age into your own agency, far removed from your parents. The hilarious beats in plot B show the family grappling with the sleeping patterns of growing children, but the ending packs a punch. It’s one of the best short films I’ve ever seen. I’d rather recommend it paired with “Grannies,” a goofy introduction to family with a glimpse into my favorite gag centered on the subject The grandmothers (If you know, you know).
Like many childless adults in the Bluish Fandom, I’ve dug deep into favorite characters, music releases, memes, and TikTok theories because even the friends and families outside of the Heelers are just as adorable as the main characters. Muffin, Bluey and Bingo’s cousin, is a confident little powerhouse and quite possibly the true alpha of the family. Muffin does things her way—although it teaches her great lessons in how to maybe share the space with others. Still, she’s an icon.
There are over 100 episodes of Bluish And not all of them can be found on Disney+, as the release schedule is staggered from Australia to the US. Waiting months for more shows is just as stressful as waiting months afterward Doctor Who is premiering so we can keep up to date. (Disney has deals with both now, so we’re hoping that changes soon.) In the meantime, it’s hard to look the other way when you’re at it BluishTok (it’s a thing) and scroll past episodes that haven’t made it here yet or have been removed or censored– since apparently some of the themes the series deals with are considered unsavory by ABC Disney, such as “Perfect” where Bandit talks about castration (ieIt’s Bandit getting dental treatment, or Daddy Putdown, where pregnancy is the theme.
Thankfully, other edgier moments subtly come through. I was particularly touched by an episode entitled “The Show” in which Bluey and Bingo act out the story of how their parents get married and start a family. There is a fan theory floating around BluishRemember that the moment Bingo depicts a pregnant belly with a bursting balloon – leading to Bandit putting his hand on Chilli and then Bluey being born – means Bluey is a “Rainbow Baby” (a child born after a non-viable pregnancy). It’s a small but powerful moment, and this courage to not hold back with the reality of family planning and adult issues makes the show all the more poignant and timeless. I hope Bluish heals your inner child in ways you didn’t know needed to be healed like I do. Get on Bluish Fandom train if you’re curious, love dogs and don’t have kids or plan to have kids but need pure feel-good content that’s easy to eat.
Seasons 1-2 and half of Season 3 (Release Part Two, Disney!) by Bluish are currently streaming on Disney+. You can also buy the seasons 1-2 DVD set Here.
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