Wackadoo! Everything you need to know about hit show Bluey
"Bluey is by FAR the most loved and watched TV show in our house."
Has a certain Blue Heeler family taken hold of your heart? Well, now they can capture your wallet too – with your very own collectible Dollarbucks!
On Thursday, June 6, the Royal Australian Mint is releasing a trio of one-dollar coins featuring Bluey!
The 2024 Bluey Dollarbucks are a collection of three colourful coins that feature Bluey on her own, the Heeler family together, and Bingo and Bluey dressed up as The Grannies.
The Dollarbucks will be available for sale as individual coin cards or in a three-coin set with a sticker sheet.
Mint CEO Leigh Gordon shared that this limited-run program aims to spark the same excitement for coin collecting as past favorites like the Wiggles, Mr. Squiggle, and Playschool.
“This is the mint’s classic storytelling and social culture commentary through coins,” Leigh said. We hope that through this new Bluey program we are cultivating the coin collector of tomorrow. What better way to start your child’s or grandchild’s coin collection, than with a Bluey coin?”
Kate O’Connor, the BBC Studios director of brands and licensing ANZ, added these coins perfectly capture Bluey’s playful spirit.
“Bluey is set to shine on this new Dollarbucks coin collection, marking the first-ever Bluey coins,” she said.
“These fun and colourful coins encapsulate the playful essence of the beloved TV series, making them a timeless treasure for fans and collectors alike.”
Kate said the collection would feature an Easter egg also hidden in episodes of Bluey.
“Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the hidden long dogs,” she said.
Due to the expected popularity of the coins the Mint has encouraged people to register now for an online ballot.
The coins will hit shelves tomorrow at the temporary mint coin shop, and will also be available from some licensed distributers.
“What better way to start your child’s or grandchild’s coin collection, than with a Bluey coin?”
The first ever Bluey video game!
For fans who can’t get enough of Bluey, they will love the first ever Bluey video game coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC on 17 November 2023.
Up to four players can play as Bluey, her sister Bingo, Mum, and Dad. Embrace your inner Bluey with minigames seen in the show such as ‘Keepy Uppy’ and ‘Magic Xylophone’ and complete activities to earn in-game rewards including new costumes, stickers, playable episodes, and locations.
Players will also be able to freely explore Bluey’s house alongside other iconic locations for the first time ever and experience Bluey’s world with original voice talent from the show.
Bluey video game will be coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC on 17 November 2023.
Gamers will also love the first-ever Bluey mobile app game. Bluey: Let’s Play is free to download and gives free access to locations such as the kitchen and backyard, as well as characters Bingo and Bluey. Paid subscribers will be given access to more characters and locations such as the Heeler living room, playroom and bathroom, with extra rooms launching later in the year.
Navigating through every room allows players to join in with making food, playing with toys, making music and so much more. Everything is interactive and responds to your touch. Make up your own stories as you go, just like Bluey!
The whole family can engage in story-driven episodic gameplay with activities inspired by fan favourite moments from the series such as “Keepy Uppy” and “Chattermax”. Players can also revisit favourite moments, discover hidden surprises, interact with beloved characters, play with Bluey and her friends, while exploring the world of Bluey.
Bluey: Let’s Play is now available at the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore.
Watch the video below for a look at Bluey: Let’s Play.
A very Bluey Christmas
Check out the stunning Bluey Christmas windows at Myer Melbourne….
The Heeler family opening presents on Christmas morning.
Preparing Christmas lunch, Bluey-style.
A very merry Christmas lunch with the Heeler family
A Chrissie swim at Uncle Stripe’s house.
Christmas day at the beach. Oh what fun!
A magical light show at the Heelers’ House.
Is there a Bluey movie?
If the rumours are true there may be a Bluey movie in the works.
“I do think it’s time for a Bluey movie,” Melanie Zanetti, who voices Bluey’s mum Chilli Heeler, told New Idea on the Logies red carpet.
“I would be 1000% percent be open to doing that.”
Melanie Zanetti, who voices Bluey’s mum Chilli Heeler, says it’s time for a Bluey movie. Fingers crossed!
ABC iView’s most watched program – it’s Bluey!
The insanely popular Australian animated series about a dog called Bluey and her family premiered on ABC Kids in October, 2018. Since then, Bluey has become ABC iView’s most watched program in history and has gone global after been picked up by Disney and the BBC.
Aimed at five-to seven-year-olds but loved by people of all ages, the cartoon follows a six-year-old blue heeler puppy, Bluey who lives in Brisbane with her parents, Bandit (dad) and Chilli (mum) and four-year-old sister, Bingo.
Jane Gould, senior vice president of Disney Channels Worldwide says it’s Bluey’s ability to depict day-to-day family life with humour that attracts fans, young and old.
“The warmth and authenticity of Bluey’s family dynamic is what first captured our interest in the show,” says Jane.
“Bluey reminds us all of our own families, and it plays out the small but emotionally epic dramas of day-to-day life in surprising, heartfelt and very funny ways that will engage children and parents alike.”
Bluey is a global hit
The show has also become a global hit and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
In February 2023, Chilli Heeler, the matriach of the family, graced the cover of one of Australia’s biggest fashion magazines, InStyle.
Of her decision to put Chilli on the cover of their ‘Australian Icons Issue’, InStyle Editor Justine Cullen shared the cover image to Instagram, writing:
“Chilli Heeler: icon, mother and now… InStyle cover star. IMO the smartest, coolest and most stylish quarter of the most phenomenally famous Australian family in the world, ever (if you’re not a @officialblueytv convert you’ll need to read @kat_madd’s story in the issue to even get close to understanding the brain-exploding success and impact of the show around the world) Chilli re-creates the equally iconic Max Dupain photograph ‘Sunbaker’ (slathered in dog-friendly SPF50+ of course) for the cover of InStyle’s February digital edition: the Australian Icons issue.”
Bluey at Thanksgiving Parade and BAFTAS
Last year Bluey made it’s debut in Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York and the Ludo Studios production is finishing 2022 on a high after winning the International category at the BAFTA Children & Young People Awards.
At the time, producer Daley Pearson tweeted, “Congratulations to Joe and the whole beautiful team of artists at Ludo with @joffbush and his team on music and Dan Brumm on sound #bluey #baftas #australia. Bluey is made from script to screen under one roof in Brisbane, Australia.”
Late last year, Bandit, voiced by musician David McCormack and Melanie Zanetti who voices Bandit and Chilli, shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, that the pair had only just met for the first time.
“(We met) two days ago, for the first time,” Melanie told the talk show host.
‘We record separately, we live in different cities and I travel a lot for work,” she explained.
David McCormack and Melanie Zanetti who voice Bandit and Chilli recently met for the first time.
Here’s everything you need to know about the hit show, Bluey.
Many viewers are surprised to find out Bluey is actually a girl dog
The lead character Bluey is a girl. Why is this a big deal? Because it’s generally assumed that Bluey is a boy. You see, Bluey is blue, just like her dad whereas Bluey’s little sister, Bingo is reddish-brown like her mum.
It’s an outdated stereotype to think that the show would need “boy colours” to identify boys from girls but for a lot of viewers it’s the gender-based assumption we make. For this reason, we love this show even more.
The show is voiced by a cool Australian cast
David McCormack is the former frontman for 90s rock band, Custard. He voices Bluey’s dad, Bandit. Actor Melanie Zanetti voices Bluey’s mum, Chilli, and the show welcomes regular guest appearances from radio host Myf Warhurst (as Aunt Trixie), musician Megan Washington (as teacher Calypso), and surfer Layne Beachley (as, you guessed it, a surfer).
Bluey and Bingo’s dad, Bandit, is heavily involved in parenting.
Bandit is a literally Father of the Year
Bandit is a laid-back, playful dad who helps out with chores, is very involved with the kids and is a role model for parents everywhere.
The show’s creator Joe Brumm says the show is based on his own experiences raising two daughters.
“He’s actually really competent,” says Joe. “He’s a good dad.”
The TV dad even won Father Of The Year (Canine category) in 2019. The gong was awarded by The Shepherd Centre after the organisation received a “surprising amount of nominations from the community”.
Bandit was been recognised “for his role as a kind and hard-working father for Bluey and the Heeler family” a statement from the charity for deaf and hearing-impaired children read.
Joe says the award is a “testament to Bandit as he tries his best to be a worthy role model to his kids.”
Bluey encourages families to engage in unstructured play
Bluey explores everyday life and follows sisters, Bingo and Bluey spending a lot of their time in unstructured, self-directed play at home.
“Playing seems as natural to them as breathing,” explains Joe. “It’s fascinating seeing how much they learn from devising and playing their own games, especially the more elaborate and social ones.”
Parents praise the show for depicting how families play and celebrating it on screen.
“I swear these series is making our family stronger and better through learning play options,” one fan on the Bluey Facebook page.
“In the midst of motherhood and parenthood it has been my saviour, in terms of a daily reminder to have fun with it all, and that I am doing ok at it,” wrote another.
Bluey and Bingo doing their “floss dance”.
Your kids can boogie with Bluey in dance mode!
Bluey and Bingo find it hilarious when they activate dance mode on their parents and they must stop whatever their doing and dance.
Now, your kids can get in on the dance mode action too.
The special Bluey augmented reality app works with your Facebook account.
Click here to get set up and before you can say ‘cheese and crackers’ your little ones will be able to dance along with their favourite Blue Heeler in the lounge room, the backyard or anywhere they please!
Fans can also update their Bluey dance mode videos to go in the running to win a Bluey prize. The most creative videos will be featured in a special video compilation. For real life!
Watch the video below to see it in action.
The Bluey soundtrack has topped the ARIA charts
Cheese and crackers! Bluey: The Album made history reaching number 1 on the 2020 ARIA Album Chart, becoming the first children’s album to take out the top spot.
Bluey’s composer, Joff Bush, composed the album with his music team and the cover artwork is designed by Joe Brumm, the creator of Bluey at Ludo Studio. The perfect soundtrack fun and play at home or an outdoor adventure, the album features 17 tracks, all original compositions from Series 1 of the animated series.
Harriet Newby-Hill, Brand Director, BBC Studios said, “Music is such an important part of Bluey, capturing the joy and spirit of the series. We are thrilled to see fans are enjoying this beautiful collection of songs”.
The album is available to stream or download from digital platforms, including Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube Music. In a special treat for Australian fans, they can also get their paws on the CD from participating retailers, including Amazon Australia, Big W, JB Hi-Fi and Sanity.
This album is a hit!
