Bluey (TV series)

Ludo Studio

Industry	Animation production
Headquarters	Brisbane , Australia
Products	Bluey (animated series)
Number of employees	50

Bluey is an Australian animated series designed for preschool audiences, developed by Joe Brumm and produced by Ludo Studio based in Queensland. The show was commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation alongside the BBC, with BBC Studios overseeing worldwide distribution and merchandising. Bluey made its debut on ABC Kids on 1 October 2018, later expanding internationally through Disney Junior in the United States and available for streaming on Disney+.

The narrative follows Bluey, a six-year-old (later seven-year-old) anthropomorphic Blue Heeler puppy, characterized by her boundless energy, vivid imagination, and inquisitiveness. She shares her home with her father Bandit, mother Chilli, and younger sister Bingo, who frequently participate in her imaginative adventures. Various other dog breeds appear as supporting characters. The series explores themes such as family dynamics, childhood growth, and aspects of Australian culture, drawing inspiration from Brisbane’s environment.

In Australia, Bluey has garnered substantial audience engagement across broadcast and digital platforms. The brand has spurred merchandise success, a live stage production featuring its characters, and a feature-length film planned for release in 2027. Accolades include three Logie Awards for Most Outstanding Children's Program, a 2019 International Emmy Kids Award, and a 2024 Peabody Award. Critical reception praises the series for its contemporary family portrayal, positive parenting insights, and Bandit’s depiction as a supportive father figure.

Premise

The central character, Bluey Heeler, is a six-year-old (later seven-year-old) Blue Heeler puppy known for her curiosity and spirited nature. She lives with her father Bandit—an archaeologist voiced by David McCormack—her mother Chilli—who works part-time in airport security and is voiced by Melanie Zanetti—and her younger sister Bingo, who is four years old (later five). Their family frequently engages in imaginative play scenarios that sometimes include neighbors such as Pat—a Labrador Retriever voiced by Brad Elliot—and his sons Lucky and Chucky; as well as Wendy—a Chow Chow voiced by Beth Durack and Emily Taheny—and her daughter Judo.

Bandit's younger brother Stripe (voiced by Dan Brumm) resides with his wife Trixie (voiced by Myf Warhurst) and their two daughters: Muffin, an outspoken three-year-old, and Socks, a baby who is gradually developing speech and mobility skills. The extended Heeler family also features Bandit and Stripe’s older brother Radley (voiced by Patrick Brammall) alongside his partner Frisky (voiced by Claudia O'Doherty), their mother Chris (voiced by Chris Brumm), and father Bob (voiced by both Ian McFadyen and Sam Simmons). On Chilli’s side, her father Mort (voiced by Laurie Newman) and sister Brandy (voiced by Rose Byrne) are part of the family network.

Among Bluey’s peers are classmates like Coco—a pink Poodle; Chloe—a Dalmatian; Honey—a Beagle; Indy—an Afghan Hound; Mackenzie—a Border Collie; Rusty—an Australian Kelpie; Snickers—a Dachshund; and Winton—an English Bulldog. These children explore their surroundings through creative role-playing activities under the guidance of their compassionate teacher Calypso—an Australian Shepherd voiced by Megan Washington. The voices of the child characters are performed by children from the production team but remain uncredited.

Conceptualization

In July 2017, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) jointly commissioned Bluey, an animated preschool series created by Queensland-based Ludo Studio. Funding support came from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland, with the show’s environment drawing inspiration from Queensland’s subtropical climate. Creator Joe Brumm developed the concept while working on Charlie and Lola, influenced by his experience raising two daughters. His intention was to emphasize imaginative play, selecting a Cattle Dog as Bluey’s character to embody a distinct Australian identity. Having freelanced on UK children’s programming, Brumm envisioned Bluey as an Australian counterpart to Peppa Pig.

Initially, Brumm independently produced a one-minute pilot through his company Studio Joho with a small team before joining forces with Ludo Studio co-founders Charlie Aspinwall and Daley Pearson. Together, they presented the pilot internationally at events like MIPCOM. Early feedback highlighted some "risky" behaviors in the characters—such as unsafe play—that were subsequently adjusted. Pearson remarked that pitching the show was difficult because its focus was on family dynamics and play rather than high-concept ideas. Brumm briefly contemplated developing an adult-oriented version addressing parenting challenges but reverted to a children’s format after discovering The Letdown.

Ludo Studio created a five-minute animation sample showcased at the 2016 Asian Animation Summit in Brisbane, which attracted attention from ABC and BBC executives. ABC executive Michael Carrington secured $20,000 to develop a polished seven-minute pilot, later adapted into "The Weekend" (Series 1 Episode 6). Both ABC and BBC commissioned 52 episodes of seven minutes each; BBC contributed 30% of funding and obtained global distribution and merchandising rights. Production was predominantly Australian, involving numerous first-time animators based in Brisbane alongside Mark Patterson, who worked remotely from Auckland, New Zealand. The series debuted on ABC Kids in Australia before airing internationally on BBC's CBeebies.

Writing

Bluey centers on imaginative play narratives, highlighting unstructured, child-led play as essential for development. Brumm incorporated research on socio-dramatic play by early childhood educators Sara Smilansky and Vivian Paley. The episodes depict parents as facilitators who allow children autonomy while they practice adult roles. Drawing inspiration from his daughters’ spontaneous play, Brumm wrote scripts illustrating how play teaches life skills and introduces adult experiences, such as roleplaying medical visits. Pearson observed that gameplay fosters collaboration, responsibility, and emotional understanding like jealousy. After his daughter encountered difficulties with formal schooling, Brumm deliberately excluded literacy and numeracy content to focus on practical life lessons. His objective was to mirror his parenting journey rather than explicitly instruct children, aiming to entertain young viewers while offering parents insight into learning through play.

The characters are modeled after specific dog breeds familiar to Brumm. Bluey is a Blue Heeler inspired by his childhood pet; other breeds include a Dalmatian and an Australian Red Kelpie named Rusty, who was originally the show's title character. Bandit’s profession as an archaeologist draws from Brumm’s older brother.

Brumm is the primary scriptwriter, basing episodes on his own family life; producer Sam Moor describes it as "[Brumm's] life portrayed onscreen". When developing the pilot, his daughters were the same ages as Bluey and Bingo. He incorporates authentic family experiences and conflicts into scripts, which poses challenges for other staff since few writers beyond animators contribute. The series is crafted for shared viewing by parents and children. Brumm regards each episode as "an opportunity to create a short film". Humor and conflict often stem from Bandit's interactions with his daughters. Bluey and Bingo defy traditional female stereotypes by exhibiting "rough and tumble" behaviors typical of real puppies; this has led some viewers to question their gender. Their being female reflects the real-life families of Brumm and the producers. The show incorporates physical activity and playful chaos, which add to its comedic appeal.

Storyboarding and animation

Bluey is produced through in-house animation at Ludo Studio, located in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, with a team of approximately 50 employees dedicated to the series. Costa Kassab, serving as one of the art directors, creates location designs inspired by authentic Brisbane landmarks such as Queen Street Mall, South Bank, and iconic sites like The Big Pelican on the Noosa River. Specific settings featured in episodes are chosen by Joe Brumm. Post-production tasks are outsourced to a facility in South Brisbane.

The studio concurrently manages around fifteen episodes at different phases of production. Script development can extend up to two months, followed by storyboarding where artists generate between 500 and 800 sketches over a three-week period while referencing the scripts closely. A black-and-white animatic incorporating recorded dialogue is then assembled. Over the next four weeks, animators, background painters, designers, and layout teams collaborate on episode creation. Episodes nearing completion undergo weekly evaluations by the production team and progress to test screenings involving families. The entire production timeline for each episode spans roughly three to four months. The show’s distinct pastel color scheme was characterized by Moor, with animation executed using CelAction2D software.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the team of 50 transitioned to remote operations, maintaining only a small onsite presence of three staff members. As restrictions relaxed in 2020, onsite personnel numbers rose first to 10 and then 20. By 2024, studio activities had resumed full capacity with additional recruitment for "The Sign," a special 28-minute episode concluding Series 3.

Casting

David McCormack, known from the band Custard, provides the voice for Bluey’s father, Bandit. Initially invited to record only a few lines, McCormack ultimately voiced Bandit throughout the entire pilot episode. His recordings are done remotely from Sydney and sent to the Brisbane-based production team without him hearing other actors or viewing any footage during sessions. Melanie Zanetti joined as the voice of Bluey’s mother, Chilli, after reading the pilot script.

Chris Brumm, mother of creator Joe Brumm, voices Nana Heeler, while Joe’s younger brother Dan Brumm lends his voice to Uncle Stripe and also serves as the series’ sound designer. The child roles—including Bluey and Bingo—are performed by children related to the production crew and remain uncredited.

Music

Joff Bush serves as the main composer for Bluey, contributing approximately half of the soundtrack and overseeing additional composers such as David Barber. A graduate of Queensland Conservatorium who met creator Pearson there, Bush has prior experience on shows like The Family Law before joining Bluey. Each episode is scored with a distinct musical style featuring frequent live instrument recordings. Joe Brumm chose to score every episode individually, drawing inspiration from original music composed for Charlie and Lola.

Classical compositions by Beethoven and Mozart are woven into the underscore, with a notable example being Holst's The Planets featured prominently in "Sleepytime" (Series 2 Episode 26). Megan Washington, who voices Calypso, re-recorded her track "Lazarus Drug" specifically for "The Sign" (Series 3 Episode 49).

Bush also created the theme tune and has earned multiple nominations and wins at the APRA Screen Music Awards, including Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas in 2023. The score received Best Music for Children's Programming awards in both 2021 and 2024. Music rights are managed by Universal Music Publishing on behalf of BBC Worldwide Music Publishing.

The inaugural soundtrack album, Bluey: The Album, was released on 22 January 2021 and debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking it as Australia’s first children’s album to achieve this position. It secured Best Children's Album at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards and won Best Soundtrack Album at the 2021 APRA Awards. The follow-up soundtrack Dance Mode! was issued on 21 April 2023, succeeded by Rug Island on 25 October 2024. Additionally, a single titled Burger Dog was launched on 12 April 2025 for Record Store Day.

Future

The production of the third season wrapped up in April 2022. By July 2023, Pearson announced a temporary pause in creating new episodes, clarifying that the series was not canceled but that there were no immediate plans to launch a fourth season. Brumm emphasized that viewer reactions to the extended episode "The Sign" could influence the show's continuation. Before this hiatus, a series of short episodes called "Minisodes" was developed; the initial batch premiered on ABC Kids starting 16 June 2024 and became available on Disney+ on 3 July. A subsequent set was released in October, followed by a final installment in December. In December 2024, Brumm revealed he would pause writing for the series to concentrate on an upcoming feature film, adding he would only resume if future seasons maintained the established quality. He also suggested that "The Sign" might function as the concluding episode of the television series.

Themes

A key motif throughout the series is the impact of a nurturing family environment, showcased through the interactions among Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli. The Heeler family represents a nuclear family with modern dual-income parents: Bandit works as an archaeologist while Chilli holds a part-time role in airport security. The program highlights contemporary fatherhood by depicting Bandit’s active participation in household duties and imaginative play with his children. Chilli manages both her career and family responsibilities, with storylines addressing her experiences with newborn care and navigating parenting groups. Both parents consistently acknowledge and validate their children’s feelings, such as when Bluey is upset by the loss of a bird. The dynamics between Bluey and Bingo demonstrate lessons in cooperation, compromise, and resolving conflicts within sibling relationships. The show presents a current domestic lifestyle that aligns with elements of "social realism."

Set against the backdrop of Australian contemporary culture, the series takes place in semi-tropical Queensland. Its animation style faithfully represents typical Queenslander residences—elevated suburban homes featuring verandas—and includes depictions of Brisbane’s cityscape. Characters speak with authentic Australian accents across all versions. The show incorporates dry Australian humor and explores local climate and wildlife, featuring native species such as fruit bats, wallabies, kookaburras, and ibises. Indigenous flora like Poinciana and Jacaranda trees appear frequently. Australian sports culture is woven into episodes through rugby league references to teams involved in the State of Origin series, specifically the Maroons and Blues. Nonetheless, the creators deliberately avoid reinforcing exaggerated Australian stereotypes.

The importance of play is consistently emphasized as fundamental to childhood development. Bluey and Bingo engage in imaginative play during routine experiences such as doctor appointments or shopping trips. Their parents actively participate alongside them during these moments of play. Through interactions with friends during games, characters explore concepts related to rules, technology’s role, economic principles, and personal finance management. Emotional themes such as jealousy and regret are central to many storylines despite the absence of a conventional antagonist.

The character Jack provides representation for attention deficit challenges and has been commended for his realistic depiction. Another character, Dougie—introduced as profoundly deaf—communicates using Auslan, with consultants ensuring accurate portrayal of sign language movements. Additionally, episodes subtly address fertility-related issues through characters like Chilli’s sister Brandy and touch upon pregnancy loss without explicitly naming it.

Episodes

The debut season aired on ABC Kids in Australia starting 1 October 2018, featuring 26 episodes broadcast daily throughout that month. A subsequent batch of 25 episodes began on 1 April 2019, culminating with a Christmas special on 12 December 2019. Production for a second season comprising 52 episodes commenced in March 2019 and was publicly confirmed in May. This second season premiered on 17 March 2020, with the initial 26 episodes released daily during April. The remaining episodes were broadcast from 25 October 2020, accompanied by Christmas and Easter specials in December 2020 and April 2021, respectively.

Preliminary talks regarding the third season were underway by April 2020, with the official order finalized in October. The third season launched on 5 September 2021 with a special episode celebrating Father's Day, followed by subsequent episode blocks airing from November 2021 and June 2022. Starting April 2023, the release schedule transitioned to weekly Sunday episodes continuing through June. The final segment of season three aired every Sunday throughout April 2024 and included a notable extended episode titled "The Sign".

Broadcast

In 2019, The Walt Disney Company secured global broadcast rights for Bluey across both traditional television and streaming platforms. The series made its US debut on Disney Junior on 9 September 2019, later becoming available on Disney+ from 22 January 2020, and launched in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2020. Cartoon Network had attempted but failed to obtain the rights. To maintain cultural authenticity, producers preserved the Australian accents for international audiences; Disney's test screenings showed favorable responses to this choice. Jane Gould from Disney highlighted that widespread online availability diminishes the necessity to alter accents within English-speaking countries. The second season premiered on Disney Channel US on 10 July 2020. Initially, Disney's distribution agreement covered the first two seasons; however, the third season was added in May 2021. The first half of season three became available on Disney+ in licensed regions starting 10 August 2022, with further episodes airing across Disney channels and rolling out through January 2024. Episodes such as "Ghostbasket", "The Sign", and "Surprise!" were released simultaneously on Disney+ and Australian television in April 2024.

Bluey premiered in New Zealand via TVNZ 2 and TVNZ OnDemand in October 2019. The series appeared on Australian subscription channel CBeebies starting 4 May 2020 and later made its free-to-air debut on CBeebies across the UK, Singapore, and Malaysia in April 2021. In April 2024, it launched in the Philippines on TV5, dubbed into Tagalog. Japanese audiences gained access through Japanese Disney+ along with dubbed broadcasts of seasons one and two on TV Tokyo beginning October 2024. In China, Bluey is available for streaming with Mandarin dubbing via Youku.

Home media releases

In Australia, Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment together with BBC Studios initially distributed Bluey on DVD, releasing volumes titled Magic Xylophone and Other Stories and Horsey Ride and Other Stories on 30 October 2019, followed by additional volumes later. The United States saw the first season released across two DVD volumes in early 2020. A comprehensive Blu-ray collection containing all episodes from the first three seasons was issued in November 2024. In the United Kingdom, the first DVD volume was launched in October 2021.

Critical reception

Bluey has garnered extensive praise from critics. Common Sense Media emphasized its uplifting family and social messages. The Guardian commended the series for its "sharp writing" and genuine portrayal of family life deeply connected to Queensland's culture. The Globe and Mail highlighted its cross-generational appeal, distinguishing it from shows like Teletubbies. The New York Times parenting blog named it 2019’s top children’s program, applauding its realistic depiction of family dynamics and content that resonates with adults. According to The Atlantic, the show vibrantly captures modern parenting, while The Guardian described it as "hilariously funny," thanks to the amusing antics of its young characters. The passion of Bluey fans has even been likened to the fervor seen among Taylor Swift supporters.

In 2019, TV Week placed Bluey at number 98 in its ranking of Australia's greatest TV programs, noting its swift rise as a "charming, humorous, and contemporary" series. Junkee ranked it 14th among the decade’s most influential television shows. Additionally, Rolling Stone listed it at 96 in their all-time top 100 sitcoms, marking it as the only Australian title included. The episode "Sleepytime" earned the Australian Directors' Guild Award in 2021 and received the Prix Jeunesse International Award in 2022 for outstanding children’s programming.

Reviewers have lauded Bluey for delivering positive parenting lessons and portraying Bandit Heeler as an engaged, patient father who shares household responsibilities and enjoys playful moments—offering a contrast to less involved paternal figures seen in shows such as Peppa Pig. The narrative presents Bandit alongside his wife Chilli as equal partners, steering clear of conventional gender stereotypes. USA Today characterized Bandit as "sarcastic, empathetic, and playful," with Chilli serving as the family's "voice of reason." The show prioritizes play and social development consistent with contemporary parenting research. Psychologist Pamela Rutledge praised its balanced approach that respects children's perspectives.

The series is also recognized for addressing attention deficit challenges through the character Jack, incorporating Auslan (Australian sign language) via Dougie—a deaf character—and sensitively exploring themes like infertility, miscarriage, and divorce. The Series 3 episode Cricket, broadcast during the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final, was celebrated by cricket commentators for authentically depicting backyard cricket traditions.

Controversies and censorship

The show's official website encountered backlash over a description of Chilli that suggested her part-time employment limited her parenting role; this wording was subsequently amended. In August 2020, the ABC issued an apology after complaints arose regarding the use of the phrase "ooga booga" in two episodes, which was considered offensive to Indigenous Australians. The broadcaster explained that the term was intended as irreverent children's slang but reaffirmed its dedication to combating discrimination. Those episodes were temporarily removed and edited, provoking varied responses from viewers.

The episode "Dad Baby" (Series 2 Episode 13) was never broadcast on Disney platforms, reportedly due to its depiction of pregnancy and childbirth; however, Disney has not officially confirmed this reasoning. It eventually premiered on the official YouTube channel in May 2024. Another installment, "Exercise" (Series 3 Episode 39), drew social media criticism for alleged fat-shaming and was later modified to exclude the disputed scene.

Viewership and popularity

Bluey has consistently ranked among the top programs on ABC Kids in Australia, establishing itself as the leading children's show across all broadcast networks in both 2018 and 2019. In that same year, it also emerged as the most viewed show through time shifting. Despite receiving less promotional effort compared to major franchises like The Mandalorian or Loki, Bluey rapidly climbed to the summit of Disney+ viewing statistics following its launch on the platform in June 2020. Showrunner Joe Brumm credited part of this surge to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The episode with the highest ratings, "The Sign" (Series 3, Episode 49), aired on 14 April 2024 and attracted a national audience of 2,288,000 viewers across two broadcasts. Within one week, Disney+ reported that this episode was streamed 10.4 million times worldwide. In 2024, Bluey represented nearly one-third of all Disney+ viewing hours, maintaining a notable presence despite subscriber declines.

By March 2019, Bluey had become ABC iview’s most downloaded title, accumulating 21.3 million episode plays. This figure expanded to 152 million within a year and reached 261 million plays for the first series by May 2020. The second series had garnered 43 million plays by May of that year. By May 2021, combined plays for both series exceeded 480 million. Nielsen data indicated that in 2023, Bluey overtook Cocomelon as the most-watched children’s program in the United States and ranked second overall in minutes viewed behind Suits. Since its premiere, it has consistently appeared among Nielsen’s top ten most-streamed U.S. shows alongside long-running series such as NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, and Gilmore Girls. By 2024, the show had reached audiences in over 60 countries and was translated into 20 languages. That year, it became CBeebies’ highest-rated program on BBC and was the most-watched television show in the U.S., streaming a total of 55.6 billion minutes—nearly surpassing the all-time record held by Suits. The episode "The Sign" played a significant role in achieving this milestone.

Although designed primarily for preschool-aged children, Bluey has attracted a diverse audience including parents, teenagers, and adults without children. It maintains an active presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, Reddit, and notably TikTok. For many Millennials and Gen Z viewers, the series evokes emotional connections and nostalgia linked to their own childhood experiences.

Awards and nominations

Comprehensive list of accolades and nominations awarded to Bluey

Award	Year	Recipient(s) and nominee(s)	Category	Outcome	Reference(s)
AACTA Awards	2019	Bluey	Best Children's Program	Template:Won
	2020			Template:Won
	2021			Template:Won
	2022			Template:Won
	2023			Template:Won
	2024			Template:Won
		Joff Bush, Daniel O'Brien, Jazz Darcy (for "The Sign")	Best Original Music Score in Television	Template:Won
		Dan Brumm (for "The Sign")	Best Sound in Television	Template:Nom
Anugerah Penyiaran Ramah Anak	2025	Bluey (Mentari TV) session - The Doctor	Foreign Animation	Template:Won
APRA Screen Music Awards	2019	Joff Bush (for "Teasing")	Best Music for Children's Television	Template:Nom
	2020	Joff Bush (for "Flat Pack")		Template:Nom
	2021	Joff Bush	Best Music for Children's Programming	Template:Won
		Bluey: The Album	Best Soundtrack Album	Template:Won
	2022	Joff Bush	Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas	Template:Nom
	2023	Joff Bush	Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas	Template:Won
	2024	Joff Bush, Jazz D'Arcy, Daniel O'Brien, Joe Twist (for "The Sign")	Best Music for Children's Programming	Template:Won

|- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"|ARIA Music Awards

|2021

|'Bluey: The Album' |'Best Children's Album' | |'style=text-align:center;'| |- |2024 |'Dance Mode!' |'Best Children's Album' | |'style=text-align:center;'| |} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"|Asian Academy Creative Awards

|2020 |Bluey |rowspan=2 | Best Preschool Programme | |style=text-align:center;|

|- |2022 |Bluey (for "Rain" and "Fairytale") | |style=text-align:center;| |} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=3 | Australian Book Industry Awards

|rowspan=2 | 2020 |Bluey (for "The Beach", Penguin) |Children's Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0–6) | |rowspan=2 style=text-align:center;|

|- |Bluey (for "The Beach", Penguin) |Book of the Year | | |- |2021 |Bluey (for "The Creek", Penguin) |Children's Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0–6) | |style=text-align:center;| |} |- ! scope="row"| Australian Directors' Guild Awards

|2021 |Richard Jeffery (for "Sleepytime") |Best Direction in a Children's TV or SVOD Drama Program Episode | |style=text-align:center;|

|} |- ! scope="row"| Australian Toy Association

|2020 |Bluey (Moose Toys) |Preschool License of the Year | |style=text-align:center;|

|} |- !scope="row"|British Academy Children's Awards

|2022 |Bluey |International | |style=text-align:center;|

|} |- ! scope="row"| Banff World Media Festival Rockie Awards

|2021 |Bluey |Animation: Preschool (0–4) | |style=text-align:center;|

|} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=4 | Critics' Choice Television Awards

|2022–2025* 

• Nomination pending for 2025
• Consistently nominated for Best Animated Series
• No wins as of 2024
• Style=text-align:center; |

|} |- ! scope="row"| International Emmy Kids Awards

|2019 |Bluey |Kids: Preschool | |

|} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=5 |>Kidscreen Awards]

|| rowspan=4 2021 || Bluey || Preschool Programming – Best Animated Series ||  || rowspan=4 style=text-align:center; |
|- || Creative Talent – Best Directing ||  ||
|- || Creative Talent – Best Writing ||  ||
|- || Creative Talent – Best Music ||  ||
|- || 2023 || Bluey (Series 3) || Preschool Programming – Best Animated Series ||  || style=text-align:center; |

|} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=5 |>Logie Awards] ||2019–2025*

• Multiple wins for Most Outstanding Children's Program and Best Children's Program
• Only nominated in 2023
• Style=text-align:center; |

|} |- !scope=row>| Peabody Awards || 2024 || Bluey || Children's & Youth || || style=text-align:center; | |} |- !scope=row rowspan=2>| Prix Jeunesse International Awards || 2020 || Bluey || TV – Up to 6 Years Fiction (Children's) || || style=text-align:center; |

|- || 2022 || Bluey (for "Sleepytime") || same category as above ||  || style=text-align:center; |

|} |- !scope=row rowspan=3>| Screen Producers Australia Awards ||2019|| Bluey|| Animated Series Production of the Year|| || rowspan=2 style=text-align:center; |

|-||2019|| Bluey|| Screen Business Export of the Year||  (Tied)||
|-||2022|| Bluey (Series 2)|| Children’s Series Production of the Year|| || style=text-align:center; |

|} |- !scope=row rowspan=4>| Television Critics Association Awards || 2021–2025*

• Nominations each year from 2021 through to 2025 with wins in both 2023 and 2024
• Result pending for minisodes in 2025
• Style=text-align:center; |

|} |- !scope=row>| TV Blackbox Awards || 2021 || Bluey || Most Popular Children's Show || || style=text-align:center; | |} |- !scope=row rowspan=5>| TV Tonight Awards ||2019–2023|| Bluey || Best Kid's Show || Won annually || style=text-align:center; | |}

Books

In April 2019, BBC Studios joined forces with Penguin Random House Australia to publish a trio of Bluey books before the end of that year. The titles The Beach, Fruit Bat, and the sticker activity book Time to Play were all made available on 5 November 2019. Each title reached the top spot on Australian book charts during November 2019, with combined sales hitting 350,000 copies by January 2020. By June 2020, sales across the first nine books had reached one million, and by October 2022, cumulative sales exceeded five million. In September 2020, the collaboration expanded to include worldwide distribution rights, facilitating releases in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Merchandise

In June 2019, Moose Toys became the official global toy partner for Bluey, launching products in Australia by late 2019 and subsequently in the U.S. Plush versions of Bluey and Bingo were introduced in November, followed by a set of character figurines in December. The plush Bluey secured the top position on Toys "R" Us Australia's Christmas 2019 release list, while demand for plush Bingo surpassed available stock. By December, over 100,000 plush toys had been sold domestically. The toy collection made its U.S. debut in June 2020.

In January 2020, Bluey partnered with Bonds to introduce children's apparel including pyjamas and socks adorned with characters from the series. A wider assortment featuring sleepwear and underwear was available in Australian stores by March. Adult pyjamas launched through Peter Alexander outlets in May 2020, becoming that retailer’s fastest-selling line. Starting May 2020, Bauer Media Group published a monthly Bluey magazine, followed by a children's furniture lifestyle collection released in June.

A collaboration with Crocs was announced in October 2024. Subsequently, in January 2025, a partnership with Lego was unveiled encompassing Duplo and +4 product lines, with sets scheduled for release in June 2025.

Video games

The mobile title Bluey: Let's Play! was introduced by Budge Studios in August 2023 for both iOS and Android platforms, notable for its subscription-based model. On 17 November 2023, a console game titled Bluey: The Videogame launched across multiple platforms including Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S. Developed by Artax Games and published by Outright Games, this interactive sandbox experience features an original narrative alongside voice performances from the show's cast. Additionally, the Lego Bluey sets will be complemented by a mobile game available on iOS and Android devices.

Stage show

Conceived in 2019, the live production Bluey's Big Play toured fifty theatres throughout Australia showcasing characters from the series. Originally scheduled for May 2020, the tour faced postponement due to COVID-19 restrictions. Once conditions improved, two preview performances were held at Canberra Theatre Centre in January 2021 before commencing nationwide engagements. The show later expanded internationally with its debut at Hulu Theater within Madison Square Garden in November 2022 and launched across the UK and Ireland in December 2023. An encore season commenced in Brisbane during December 2023. A pre-recorded version became available on ABC iview on 20 April 2025.

Feature film

Prior to the debut of the extended episode titled "The Sign" scheduled for April 2024, Moor confirmed that Bluey would persist as a series, with Pearson showing enthusiasm for developing a feature-length film. In December 2024, BBC Studios and The Walt Disney Company revealed plans for Bluey: The Movie, set for a 2027 theatrical launch via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film will reunite the original voice actors and production team, including Brumm in his roles as writer and director. This project represents a collaborative effort: Disney will oversee theatrical distribution and streaming platforms, BBC Studios will handle financing and licensing responsibilities, while Ludo Studio will manage production. The movie will extend the narrative established by the series, incorporating computer animation crafted by Australian-based Cosmic Dino Studio.

Other

Bluey-themed balloons featured prominently in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades across 2022, 2023, and 2024. In November 2024, Bluey's World, a tourist destination located in Hamilton, Queensland, opened its doors. Spanning 4,000 square metres, this attraction showcases an original storyline alongside life-sized recreations of settings from the series. It is anticipated to inject approximately AU$16 million into Brisbane’s economy during 2025. On 19 December 2024, Disney announced that Bluey characters would be introduced at Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World in Florida, and aboard Disney Cruise Line vessels departing from Australia and New Zealand—marking the first occasion that a children’s show not owned by Disney has been incorporated into Disney theme parks.

ABC launched a companion podcast titled Behind Bluey in April 2023, offering listeners insights into the production process and episodes from the third season. Additionally, Bluey characters made cameo appearances in the The Simpsons short film May the 12th Be with You, which premiered on Disney+ in May 2024.

Since March 2020, Queensland residents have had access to commemorative Bluey birth certificates. In June 2024, the Royal Australian Mint issued limited-edition uncirculated $1 coins featuring Bluey and the Heeler family; each design was capped at a mintage of 30,000 pieces and made available exclusively through the Mint or authorized sellers.

In July 2024, New South Wales Police initiated an investigation following reports that 63,000 unreleased Bluey coins—valued collectively at $600,000—had been stolen. Subsequent arrests occurred throughout August and October, with over 40,000 coins recovered from a self-storage unit.

Brand Finance appraised the Bluey brand’s total valuation at roughly US$2 billion.