Bluish has managed to conquer the entertainment industry overnight, becoming one of the most profitable children's TV shows in recent years. In addition to its adorable character dynamics and unique settings, this show teaches kids how to handle some of life's biggest problems. So, just like its predecessors The bear in the big blue house AND Arthur, Bluish It is praised by parents and critics alike.
However, despite it being a rather simple series, some fans still question the gender of the main character. While the vast majority of the public believes that this doesn't really matter, many fans would like to get a better idea of how the Heeler family functions.
Bluey's relationship with Bingo challenges gender roles
- The actors who voice Bandit and Chilli, David McCormack and Melanie Zanetti, didn't meet in real life until 2022.
- Professionally, Bandit is an archaeologist, while Chilli works as a sniffer dog at the local airport.
- Due to their young age, the actors of Bluey and Bingo were not credited.
- A sausage-type dog is hidden in random episodes and can be seen in “Charades”, “Parents” and “Baby Race”.
- In 2023, XBOX released an exclusive Bluish-themed game consoles and video games.
Bluish follows the daily musings of the Heeler family, a group of happy dogs from Brisbane, Australia. The family consists of Bandit, Chilli, and their two sons, Bluey and Bingo. Like many young children, Bluey and Bingo are tirelessly energetic and love to explore the colorful world around them and embark on new adventures. Along with the Heeler family, fans are introduced to other locals, such as Muffin, the children's chaotic cousin. On the surface, Bluish It may seem like just another cartoon. But judging by its global success, wide selection of products and consistently positive reviews, it's clear that the younger generation appreciates everything this charming Australian package has to offer.
One of the main reasons fans have a hard time guessing whether Bluey is a boy or a girl is because the show rarely conforms to typical gender roles. When they do play with their siblings, the pair tend to play very active games that don't require a strong sense of identity. For example, in Season 1, Episode 3, “Keepy Uppy,” the kids play a game that involves trying to keep a balloon off the ground for as long as possible. Older viewers may remember playing this game as a kid and associate it with soccer, a male-dominated sport. But by keeping the game as innocent and simple as possible, it just feels like the kids are having fun. So by allowing Bluey and Bingo to engage in a harmless competitive game, the writers managed to make the characters more relatable to any audience.
Bluey and Bingo's father, Bandit, also reinforces the idea that children can play any game they want, as long as they have fun and are kind to each other. In Season 3, Episode 39, “Exercise,” the dogs play an unconventional game of ping pong with Bandit acting as the ball. Bandit's influence in this game is very important, as it shows that the show doesn't feel the need to adhere to rigid gender stereotypes. Bandit is more than happy to act silly and run around, as long as the children are having fun. Additionally, Bluey and Bingo's relationship is incredibly tender, teaching the children to respect their siblings, even if they are of different genders.
The show also shows a different side of modern parenting
- David McCormack also sings in the band Custard, who have released 13 albums since 1992.
- Bluey's favorite animal is the fruit bat.
- The protagonist also shares his name with the longest-lived dog, as confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records.
- After viewer feedback, Bingo's car seat was changed from a seat belt to a four-point seat belt.
- Whenever you hear parents humming, they are usually imitating the Bluish theme song.
There's no denying that parenting is hard work, but raising children in the 21st century is a whole different story. As such, many parents tend to feel out of their element, and with the advent of social media, they may often feel the need to compare themselves to others. Yet, Bluish doesn’t shy away from showing the more difficult side of child-rearing, and uses Bandit and Chilli as accurate reflections of those struggles. Take, for example, Season 1, Episode 40, “Sleepover.” Here, the kids invite Muffin over for a sleepover, and as usual, she quickly becomes a bit of a handful. However, Bandit rushes over to play with the kids and works hard to keep Muffin in line. He doesn’t feel the need to yell at them or exclude her from the fun. Instead, he simply redirects her attention to the game. Sure, some viewers might believe that it’s a mother’s job to discipline her kids in a case like this. Yet, Bandit does a great job of challenging the stereotype of the strict father and takes that pressure off of Chilli.
Chilli also works to portray the complexities of a working mother, showing the sacrifices that must be made to balance a family with a career. As a mother, Chilli is often seen as boring and this is especially evident in Season 1, Episode 22, “The Pool”. While Bandit and the kids enjoy their summer vacation, Chilli is forced to constantly enforce the rules and remind everyone to stay safe. As such, this can be an understandable struggle for women who go to work every day while raising their children, as they sometimes long to be labeled as the fun mother. Furthermore, Chilli's dominant parenting style could be seen as a good contrast to Bandit's laid-back attitude, ensuring that their children get the best of both worlds.
Despite the color of her fur, Bluey is a girl.
- It takes about five months to create a single episode of Bluey.
- Each episode is approximately 7 minutes long, which is considered an ideal length for children's television.
- Bluey's full name is Bluey Christine Heeler.
- Many fans assume that Bluey attends a school that is centered around play, almost like a Montessori institution.
- In the closing credits, the characters appear to play musical figurines.
Another thing that tends to confuse fans is Bluey's fur color. As his name suggests, he's a striking blue, the same color as Bandit. But some fans will be surprised to know that Bluey is a girl.. Although she doesn't mention her gender much, there are some clear examples that demonstrate her female identity. For example, in Season 2, Episode 39, “Double Babysitter”, the children's uncle, Radley Heeler, jokingly refers to Bluey as a boy. This infuriates the pup, who immediately yells “I'm a girl!” Then, It's clear that Bluey is often mistreated and isn't afraid to put adults in their placeIt must also be said that Bingo is also a girlmaking their strong brotherly bond even more precious.
The Heeler family draws inspiration from a real dog breed, the Blue Heeler. These Australian cattle dogs are widely recognized for their multi-colored coats, usually streaked with white. So, these black dogs often look red or blue. This explains why characters like Bandit and Chilli appear to be slightly more colorful than other characters. There is also a widely accepted fan theory that suggests the show plays up the colorblind nature of the dogs by adding a yellow tint to all of its scenes. Again, this could be why Chilli looks much lighter than a traditional red Australian Cattle Dog.
Overall, it would be wrong to say that Bluey is a completely androgynous character. There is no denying that Bluey's gender identity is far from obvious. But that could be intentional. Bluey is undoubtedly the star of the show, but it is his relationships with others that make the franchise so popular. From playing with his little sister to going to preschool, these are all normal milestones in any child's life. So, one could argue that Bluish It aims to explain to children and parents the ups and downs of normal life and is not concerned with whether the Heeler family conforms to the conventions of a typical nuclear family.