The Next Generation's Cartoon Dog: Bluey
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
I’ve noticed that with each generation of children, a cartoon dog comes along to raise them. Being a fan of Disney as a child, my designated dog was Goofy, but for others, it may have Clifford the big red dog, or Blue, the mystery-solving companion of Steve. Following in the footsteps of her predecessors, this generation of children has a new friend, and her name is Bluey Heeler.
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Bluey, created by Joe Brumm in 2018, is an Australian cartoon following Bluey and the Heeler family, which consists of her younger sister Bingo, her dad Bandit, and her mom Chilli. Each episode has its own self-contained story, taking Bluey and her family on various adventures; for instance, one episode followed Bingo as she dreamed of exploring outer space with her stuffed animal, Rabbit; another involved Bluey and Bingo attempting to persuade their dad to take them for ice cream. While the plots of each episode are simple to follow, making it entertaining for children, the show is oozing with love, instantly becoming a comforting watch for adults, too.
I first discovered the show through TikTok as I was mindlessly scrolling through my 'For You' page. The episode shown in the TikTok was titled Camping, in which the Heelers went on a family vacation to a camping site. During their trip, Bluey meets a new friend named Jean-Luc, but has difficulty communicating with him due to their language barrier, as Jean-Luc is French. Despite this challenge, they still find a solution to understand each other through hand gestures, drawing, and other elaborate ways. Towards the end of the episode, Jean-Luc’s camping trip ends, leaving Bluey upset about the thought of never seeing him again. Chilli explains to Bluey people come and go, but what matters is the purpose they serve, while Bingo conveniently and hilariously pees in a bush. After finishing the episode, I found myself wondering how a blue cartoon Australian Cattle Dog and her family could teach me such a profound and desperately needed lesson about the passage of time and the importance of memories. I immediately started scrolling for more episodes, with each one hitting more deeply than the last.
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The emotional pull that Bluey has is not only due to its stories but how it presents its themes. For example, the animation of each episode is absolutely stunning, coloring its plot with beautiful visuals that demonstrate the world’s bright and colorful atmosphere. There isn’t a hint of bleak colors, thus making the deeper and more intimate themes comforting and sincere. Along with the animation, the episodes are accompanied by a musical score that is not only catchy but perfectly captures the simple nature of the show. One episode that does this notably well is Rain, which consists of no dialogue, but uses music to illustrate Bluey and Chilli's relationship as they each experience a rainy day. The playful nature of the strings complements Bluey’s lively and excited attitude as she plays outside, while also matching Chilli’s perspective, who views the rainy day as chaotic and exhausting. As the music aids in demonstrating Bluey’s child-like perspective versus Chilli’s adult view, it also highlights the theme of releasing one’s inner child, and how adults seem to forget they were once carefree children too.
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Despite the animation and instrumentals, what I found to be the heart and soul of the show were the characters themselves. The relationships within the Heeler family are exceptionally healthy. Bluey and Bingo are allowed to be kids, using their imagination as a source of entertainment and seeing the world as limitless. The show emphasizes and celebrates that they are children and uses their point of view to carry the themes, especially when it comes to handling adult-like topics. During an episode titled Dad Baby, Bluey and Bingo ask Bandit where babies come from. Rather than avoiding the question, Bandit comedically and whimsically demonstrates to the children what pregnancy is by pretending to be pregnant. What I appreciated about this episode was how it used comedy to present a topic that parents tend to shy away from, demonstrating that childhood curiosity is normal. Most importantly, the show doesn’t treat Bluey, Bingo, the other children, or its target audience. It explores adult topics using light-hearted humor and their characters as positive role models.
Bluey is targeted towards children and adults, presenting topics that both can learn from. Anyone can find facets of themselves in the characters due to how human they feel, making the show a relatable watch. While I was watching the show, I found myself relating to Bingo, as I am also the youngest in the family and tended to always be in my own bubble. I saw aspects of my family as well, seeing characteristics of my brother in Bluey, as he was the adventurous one who came up with the games, while I followed, just as Bingo did. No matter what age you are, Bluey has a lesson to teach everyone, and I think it's time we start paying attention. With every cartoon dog I’ve ever watched, Bluey is one to remember, being an impactful presence on the screens of today’s children and parents alike.
Strike Out,
Writer: Sophia Ferraro
Editor: Addy Crosby
Graphic Designer: Sophia Diaz
Tallahassee