The creator of Bluey has revealed he was inspired by a handful of other shows when drawing up plans for his TV canine phenomenon.
Joe Brumm recently spoke to Deadline about the future of the show, which was Disney+’s most-streamed title of 2023 with almost 44 billion minutes of the 145 available eps watched, according to Nielsen data, and was the U.S.’s second-most streamed title overall, behind only Suits. Last year, Bluey mania reached a new height in the U.S. when a giant inflatable Bluey led the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
This weekend, Brumm told The Guardian newspaper he was influenced by UK sitcom Gavin and Stacey, penned by James Corden and Ruth Jones.
Brum said: “Gavin and Stacey was influential in a big way. I loved how it genuinely crossed generations, like The Simpsons back in the day. I thought: ‘Why shouldn’t a kids’ show make parents laugh too?’ When the time came to do Bluey, that became the challenge.”
Brum cited another inspiration in Peppa Pig, as being “really English but without cliches or flag-waving”, explaining:
“Mr Bull would be digging up the road and say: ‘It’ll be finished when it’s finished.’ There are canal boats and castles in the background. That’s what I wanted my show to do – to feel Australian but not with kangaroos and koalas, just by capturing the fabric of everyday life.”
Brum added that Bluey’s patriarch Bandit, a father fully engaged with his children, had brought him letters from emotional parents:
“A very common response is: ‘It showed me a different way that I can be a parent.’ Often it’s a dad who didn’t have a great role model himself growing up. Bluey’s a funny little cartoon about a dog family but it’s become a touchpoint for people. Whenever I appear at an event, I end up hugging complete strangers and crying together.”