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How we built Bluey’s world

• ramon156 1y ago
  Bit unrelated to the post, but I hate how Disney has done Blumm dirty. They want to milk bluey as much as possible (understandable), but if the creator says no then Disney won't listen. There's a high chance we'll never get a season 4, and I'm honestly fine with that if an alternative is a rushed fourth season.
  • righthand 1y ago
    Dance with the devil and don’t be surprised when the devil steps on your toes.
  • mrweasel 1y ago
    I don't really know why that "understandable". We see this with so many TV shows and movie francises. There's a reason why there's only two seasons of The Office in the UK version, but it's just beaten to death in the US version. Same with The Simpsons, Futurama, Big Bang Theory, pretty much the entire Marvel francise, Star Wars, Jurassic Park and so many more shows and movies. You just find yourself in the corner yield "Please stop, it dead! It's been dead for years!" For example Star Wars, that francise is completely ruined, but the fans are insufferable and just keeps pouring money into something that quite frankly sucks by now. Why must everything be milked dry to the point where we start hating it?
    • patentatt 1y ago
      I know this trope has been beaten to death elsewhere too, but it certainly seems like we haven't seen much really 'new' for like 20 years (as far as popular media that is)
    • dbetteridge 1y ago
      If you beat the dead horse and money falls out, would you stop beating the dead horse?
      • mrweasel 1y ago
        That depends on what you value, the money, or the art/story/quality. I get that studios also need to make money, but it feels like we swung to heavily in the "make money" direction.
    • superxpro12 1y ago
      I'm going to disagree on the Star Wars example because Andor is peak Star Wars. And in this hypothetical it would have never been made.
      • overfeed 1y ago
        I was going to reply gp with something in the vein of what you said > ...Andor is peak Star Wars... This is both true and false depending on how you mean it: Andor is one of the best story-telling set in the Star Wars universe, and yet, there's nothing emblematically "Star Wars" about it. The same story and characters could have been dropped into any universe, and it would have been fantastic television. It could have been a story about a partisan in WwII, or set in Babylon 5 or in any of the Mass Effect / Silo / Godfather / Fall Out / Dune / Marvel / DC universes, and it would still have worked been largely the same story. Andor gives to the Star Wars universe far more than it receives from the same, it was an expensive labor of love by people delivering their best work - I don't think we'll see anything like it again from Star Wars.
    • bombcar 1y ago
      If "we all" hated it, they'd stop milking it, because the cow would be dry. So clearly someone, somewhere is enjoying it - so they keep making them. And it's safer from a business perspective for Blizzard to release "another WoW expansion" than try to make a new game. (There is also the aspect that you can sell on nostalgia with the toys, etc, and that you can continue to sell the "old toys" and movies and account them as if they're part of the new, which makes you look better, etc).
    • doctorpangloss 1y ago
      Nothing forces parents to keep a television in their house at all.
• jnsie 1y ago
  [flagged]
  • bombcar 1y ago
    Suffixing "fact" makes it sound like marketing fakeness - fact!
  • szszrk 1y ago
    What show does come close in quality of production? Art, morale and educational value, actual fun ideas on how to play (some are impossible to reproduce, but still), consequence in plot over the seasons and even merchandise? Plus Polish dubbing that I use is of insane quality.
    • citizenkeen 1y ago
      They weren’t talking about Bluey, they were talking about a writing technique
    • jnsie 1y ago
      It's not about the merit of the argument but rather the act of shutting down any argument by declaring something as a fact. It's completely unnecessary and quite off-putting.
  • conductr 1y ago
    I don’t feel like it’s unjustly trying to assert Bluey an unfitting credit at all. Instead I feel like the use of “fact” here is a nod to how thoroughly this has been discussed and how common knowledge it has become, at least to anyone who knows what Bluey is, thus preemptively eliminating the need to explain what Bluey is to that part of the audience that found themselves reading an article about the art process of a show that they are unaware of in the first place. To those readers, it’s a concise cue to go do your own research if you’re lacking that context before getting too far into the article.
• x187463 1y ago
  Bluey is the best children's cartoon of this generation. The art is a joy to see, being full of color and well-defined lines/objects, without being overwhelming. I sincerely appreciate the creator's resistance to engineer the show for maximum attention and, instead, focus on telling a good story with relatable characters. The show can move slowly when appropriate and isn't afraid to keep the scene mostly static. The music is great and well directed to capture meaningful emotional moments without being campy. The episode length of ~7 minutes is perfect, especially for families wanting to limit screen time, as it covers a quick breakfast/lunch (or laundry/dishes break) and provides a natural stopping point to move to the next activity. I can't praise it enough and just hope its success inspires more studios to avoid the brain-rot algorithmic-lead nonsense. My only complaint is that I am a grown-ass man and shouldn't be tearing up every other episode of a children's cartoon...
  • alias_neo 1y ago
    > Bluey is the best children's cartoon of this generation Bluey is the best children's cartoon _for adults_ of this generation. Our kids are about the same age and age difference as Bluey/Bingo are portrayed, and I can't express how much relief it gives to watch it see your own life played out line for line. Some days, as a parent you wonder how (badly) you're doing, and Bluey takes some weight off as you realise (and talk to other parents about Bluey) that some things are just universal and you're possibly doing better than you think.
    • bombcar 1y ago
      One of the things not talked (much) about is how families are much more isolated now - since the average person is from a two-child family, and has a two-child family, most of their peer group growing up and when they have kids is in the "same boat" so they don't really have insight and experience of what the youngest years brings. Even the basic idea of "kids like games, make things games" that permeates Bluey is likely unknown to many new parents.
      • simgt 1y ago
        I completely missed your point, I think. Do you mean that the current generation of young parents didn't experience enough things being games as kids themselves?
• nmfisher 1y ago
  She didn't touch on how visually captivating the colour scheme is for kids. It's unsettling just how much it draws their attention, it's like a drug. It's also (partly) why I prefer Peppa Pig for my 3 year old, it's much easier to him to naturally disengage after 15-20 minutes.
  • bombcar 1y ago
    Bluey and Peppa Pig (and all shows, really) weren't meant to be binged; it's the downside to having local media or on-demand - it's terribly easy to put on a Bluey and realize you're still watching Blueys three hours later.
  • szszrk 1y ago
    My kid drooled in front of Peppa (until she decides she doesn't like it after all). The engagement was at the level of YouTube Kids movies from "creators" - which means kid is unresponsive, clearly doesn't process what's going on, wants more of it like, an addict. I had to cut off YouTube kids aggressively and my kid still wanted those idiotic movies even after a few months. Peppa had similar effect, but my kid resigned on it's own. They show is just dumb. Teaches nothing. Unless you value things like feeding ducks with bread and cake is good, destroying countryside camping spot with heavy equipment and concrete is fine just because you dropped keys in a hole etc.. Peppa games are also really bad - not clear when you can actually engage, what can be done, instructions are unclear or wrong, plus the is no goal at all.
    • superxpro12 1y ago
      Youtube in the context of children is brainrot. I had to ban it entirely. It's so addicting and has zero intelligent value. The last video was of a hamster running an obstacle course. Engaging, cute, kinda silly.... but just complete rot. No educational value. It's like brain sugar. We crave it but it demolishes brain cells.
      • szszrk 1y ago
        We had a problem with those unboxing of toys videos. Adults unpacking or playing with toys. YouTube delivered worse and worse ones, one by one.... The fact that it "doesn't violate policy" doesn't mean it's good for anyone.
• twalkz 1y ago
  Such a lovely show! It’s always fun to see examples of how it takes so much intention to make something that appears simple. For any adults who have either never heard of Bluey, or never thought of watching a “kids” show, maybe try to an episode the next time you can’t figure out what to stream next. “Sleepy time” (season 2 episode 26) is one of the most renown, but they’re all pretty good! (https://www.bluey.tv/watch/season-2/sleepytime/ https://www.bluey.tv/watch/season-2/sleepytime/)
  • superxpro12 1y ago
    Follow up recommendations: Camping (s1e43) and The Creek (s1e29). But TBH there's so many good ones it's hard to pick. Hammerbarn is hilarious too.
    • alias_neo 1y ago
      The Pool (s1e22). They accuse mum of fussing while dad's all about fun, but soon come to realise there's good reason mum makes a fuss, and everyone starts having less of a good time when they realise they needed those things mum was fussing about. (I'm dad).
      • x187463 1y ago
        That episode perfectly describes my experience as a father of a toddler. I'll decide on a whim to taking him hiking only to discover half-way through that I didn't bring enough snacks for him and forgot his water shoes at home. So now I'm out with a cranky toddler who's hungry and can't play in the river. I've learned to accept my wife's 30-minute packing phase to send us on our way with everything we need.
        • alias_neo 1y ago
          Absolutely; I think that's one of those things some of us learn the hard way; I don't know that it's specifically a dad thing, but at least for me and my wife; she's a planner, I'm a "FIWB"; If I think I can quickly fit a fun activity in by grabbing the keys and being in the car in the next 30 seconds we go, if we had to plan it we might not have time, but it's not necessarily always the best approach. I look forward (though not rushing for) a time when the children are old enough that I can say "grab your coats and be at the car in 2 minutes" and we can just go do something fun on a whim, carpe diem, and all that.
• johndhi 1y ago
  I haven't seen it yet - but been watching Tumble Leaf on Prime w/ toddlers recently. Animator friend recommended it -- it's good.
  • ericcholis 1y ago
    Tumble Leaf is incredible
  • _mlbt 1y ago
    Bluey is so good that it's worth the subscription to Disney+ all on its own. It is hands down, the best children's cartoon I've ever seen. My kids are starting to outgrow it unfortunately, but when they were younger they would constantly ask me and their mother to play "Bluey games" with them. It's a great show to encourage parents and kids to play together imaginatively. I agree with you on Tumble Leaf as well, it's a really good show. I also recommend Puffin Rock if you have Netflix.
    • bombcar 1y ago
      Apparently in 2023 Q4, 29% of all time on Disney+ was Bluey. That's actually insane
  • The-Bus 1y ago
    Tumble Leaf is really good as well. Highly recommend it.
  • guywithabike 1y ago
    It's an incredible show but the finale "season" catapults it into my personal top 3 children's shows of all time. They did an incredible job of bringing it full circle and tying a bow on it. Tumble Leaf doesn't normally make you cry the way Bluey does, but the finale will have you bawling.
• valtism 1y ago
  As someone who has lived in Brisbane, I can attest that it does a really good job of capturing the colour of the city. There is a unique golden hour shade there like no other city I have lived in.
• donpott 1y ago
  The primary source cited in TFA was itself submitted to HN some months ago and garnered 100+ comments, for your reference: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43816546 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43816546
• blondie9x 1y ago
  Mr Roger’s and Reading Rainbow will always be the best children’s programs ever made. No other show in history has been able to entertain children with real people as successfully as they were. You won’t know unless you let your children watch it. It’s just amazing because they engage with it and when you turn it off they don’t have a tantrum like many animated shows or Ms Rachel
  • trumbitta2 1y ago
    *ever made in the US Many people in Italy think the same of L'Albero Azzurro.
• tomhow 1y ago
  There was a brief moderation error, in which I changed the capitalisation to "How we built Bluey’s World", assuming that the article was about the immersive attraction called "Bluey’s World" [1,2], which has been open in Brisbane since last November. I can attest that it is incredible; we took our kid a few weeks ago and it exceeded expectation. Probably more exciting for the parents even than the kids. Strongly recommended if you can get to Brisbane or if it comes to a city near you some day. [1] https://www.bluey.tv/blueys-world/ https://www.bluey.tv/blueys-world/ [2] https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/bluey-s-world-opens-in-brisbane/ https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/bluey-s-world-opens-in-brisb...
  • stronglikedan 1y ago
    My niece would love this! As it is, we have to pay over a hundred dollars for our family to go watch bad acting in - not even costumes - but masks on sticks held up in front of faces. Seriously, that was a real, official show over here. Never again.
• breakingcups 1y ago
  It seems like a condensed version of the first 2 chapters of this: https://goodsniff.substack.com/ https://goodsniff.substack.com/ Good read so far! Chapter 3 delves more into the highs and lows of working on the show.
• dcchambers 1y ago
  This is wonderful. I am obsessed with the Bluey "aesthetic."
• rmccue 1y ago
  As a Queenslander now living in the UK, seeing Bluey for the first time filled me with homesickness in a way that no other media has. Despite the huge media industry in SEQ, it's so rare to see it actually represented as itself (rather than dressed up as Manhattan, eg). I also remember growing up and feeling that there was never really any media I could relate to; everything "Australian" is set in Sydney, Melbourne, or some non-descript outback setting. There was always a feeling of being second best - always America in the news, not Australia; always NSW or Victoria for settings, not Queensland; always Sydney or Melbourne, not Brisbane. The first time I watched Bluey, immediately I could see not just vague Australianisms, but actual places and sights I recognised. From small details like the bus stop signs to scenes which I can pinpoint exactly in Brisbane. Combine that with stories which I don't just identify with, but which I feel I can remember viscerally.
  • afavour 1y ago
    As a Brit living in the US, I'm jealous. My comparative experience was seeing Peppa Pig for the first time. And it's crap.
    • the_af 1y ago
      I'd argue Peppa Pig is not crap, it's quite funny and surprisingly watchable by grownups. Not something I'd watch by myself, but I didn't get bored when I watched it with my daughter. Of course, the art style is no good, intentionally so, I suppose for budget reasons. I'd argue Bluey is "a better Peppa": similar kind of humor (slightly more elaborate, but not by a lot) but with great artwork.
      • tialaramex 1y ago
        Peppa hanging up on Suzy because she has just been able to whistle following basic instructions while Peppa has been frustrated to discover she can't do it is stuck in my head.
      • afavour 1y ago
        I think part of the problem is definitely that Bluey exists. It's a "Better Peppa" and when watching Peppa I can't help but compare them. Given I'm a Dad myself I find the difference in the Dad characters to be illuminating: Daddy Pig is a klutzy idiot who, more often than not, makes mistakes other have to fix. By comparison Bandit is an incredible parent (maybe too incredible at times, so says my ego)
• hollywood_court 1y ago
  Bluey is by far the best children's show I've ever watched. My son and I love watching it together. It's so refreshing after having to watch Peppa Pig for a year or so before we discovered Bluey. I disliked Peppa Pig and I was relieved when my son said he no longer wish to watch it after finding Bluey.
  • halfmatthalfcat 1y ago
    What’s your beef with Peppa?
    • hollywood_court 1y ago
      It's just not as wholesome and Peppa is kind of a brat. And the whole picking on the dad thing kind of got old after a while. It just doesn't really offer any thing of any value to my child.
      • bombcar 1y ago
        Non-parents don't realize just how exactly toddlers and young children will mimic what they see; they don't see Bluey and decide to play 'keepy uppy' they see Bluey and decide to act out the entire episode, word for word, scene for scene. And then you realize why Peppa being a bit of a brat sometimes can be an issue.
        • deleted 1y ago
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        • _carbyau_ 1y ago
          If onscreen, Peppa annoys me immediately and constantly. Just the plain tone of voice or something. A single word irritates me, let alone being such a willfully unhelpful, ungrateful brat. I flatly refuse Peppa pig in my house. Not on TV, not on streaming, not on anything. That little pig is only good for cartoon bacon, ham, porkbelly...
    • theSuda 1y ago
• deleted 1y ago
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• smugma 1y ago
  Related: https://substack.com/home/post/p-160039885 https://substack.com/home/post/p-160039885 Which I found here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43816546 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43816546
• Amorymeltzer 1y ago
  As a companion to this, I'd recommend the podcast 20 Thousand Hertz: their two-party on the sounds of Bluey was excellent, and as a parent immersed in Bluey, really enjoyable. Seems like they put a lot of thought and care into nearly every aspect of the show. https://www.20k.org/episodes/thesoundofbluey https://www.20k.org/episodes/thesoundofbluey https://www.20k.org/episodes/thevoicesofbluey https://www.20k.org/episodes/thevoicesofbluey
• asciii 1y ago
  Kudos Catriona Drummond for letting the secret out of Brisbane, and perseverance to become a visual artist. What really attracts people to Bluey is the art. Seriously, it can be on mute and it's mesmerizing (not that the music is not awesome, because it totally makes it 10x better, too). The artistic mature here is also off the charts, to recognize that innate sense of what makes things amazing: > Appeal is such an intangible element to visual art, I could try and harp on in some pseudo-scientific way about what I personally think creates that deep satisfaction when viewing something ‘visually appealing’. I think there’s a whole weird matrix of things firing off in our monkey brains to illicit it. But I’ll just leave it at: we know it when we see it. I wanted to make something that was truly delicious to look at.
• aaronbrethorst 1y ago
  Just seeing the sketches of the Heelers' kitchen brings a smile to my face, reminding me of one of my favorite episodes of Bluey, Pavlova. If you haven't seen it before, take the seven minutes to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERyw2dz2-ZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERyw2dz2-ZM Despite being a cartoon specifically aimed at little kids, it's an absolute delight. I think my wife and I like Bluey more than our toddler does, actually.
• giann 1y ago
  When my son was in the last stages of leukemia, Bluey was on repeat all day. He was completely immersed in that world and we, his parents were there with him too. Now, 5 years after his death, he's little brother is also in love with the show and we watch an episode at least once a day. There will never be another TV show like this one for those personal reasons and also because it's just too good.
  • verst 1y ago
    My wife and I watched the episode about infertility with our little niece who kept asking when she'd have a cousin. Despite its subtlety it completely broke me. It addresses the subject in the best of ways. Well here we are 7 IVF cycles later and still trying.
    • worthless-trash 1y ago
      Can i take a moment to say I admire the strength that it takes to try 7 cycles. We gave up at 5, it became too heart breaking. Keep positive mate, I wish the best for you.
• russellbeattie 1y ago
  I finally watched an episode of Bluey because of this post. Bluey is a girl! Who knew? Cute show, but it doesn't hold a candle to Phineas and Ferb.
• protocolture 1y ago
  I love that its Brisbane. I hate that, the parts of brisbane you see are largely financially out of reach. I used to have a house on my street that was extremely similar to the Heelers, and it sold for 2 million, then the place next door to them went for 1.7. I spend most episodes in financial distress wondering how to practically afford the lifestyle, and how my kiddo would ever be able to afford that lifestyle. Even in terms of Nostalgia for the older generations, the suburbs depicted were well out of reach for a friends family. His father used to tell me he dreamed of moving into one of those suburbs but it was too expensive for their combined income, where one income was an aviation engineer.