Bluey is an Australian animated preschool television series which premiered on ABC Kids on 1 October 2018. The program was created by Joe Brumm and is produced by Queensland-based company Ludo Studio. The show follows Bluey, an anthropomorphic six-year-old (later seven-year-old) Blue Heelerpuppy who is characterised by her abundance of energy, imagination and curiosity about the world. The young dog lives with her father, Bandit; mother, Chilli; and younger sister, Bingo, who regularly joins Bluey on adventures as the pair embark on imaginative play together. Other characters featured each represent a different dog breed. The child characters of Bluey are voiced by children of the program's production crew and, for privacy reasons, are not credited as voice actors.[1][2]
Bluey Christine Heeler[35] is a Blue Heelerpuppy. A six-year-old girl (roughly the size of a Cozy Coupe) who would later on turn seven,[36] Bluey has a sprawling imagination and is curious, nice, and energetic. She loves to have fun with her friends and family, enjoys roleplaying numerous roles, and loves to pretend that she is a grown-up. Bluey has many peers, most of whom are from her class, but she has also befriended other kids her age; one such example is a Labrador named Jean-Luc, who becomes one of Bluey's friends.[37] Her friends include Chloe, Indy, Coco, Rusty and Mackenzie, and she has a big buddy named Mia.[38] One of her more well-known personalities is that of a grandmother named Janet, who is depicted as a kind yet forgetful granny.[10] Bluey is depicted as a baby in "Baby Race",[39] a teenager in "Camping",[40] and as an adult in "Surprise!".[41] In the latter, Bluey, whose adult voice is provided by Geraldine Hakewill,[3] is the mother of an unnamed child. Bluey's middle name, Christine, is inspired by her nana, Chris.[35]
Bingo Heeler is a Red Heelerpuppy and the younger sister of Bluey. Bingo, who is four-years-old (later turning five[42]), is energetic, curious and playful, much like her sister, but is rather sensitive. Her favourite toy is a stuffed rabbit named Floppy. Bingo is depicted as a kindergarten student, and has made numerous friends there including a Maltese dog named Lila, who she deems her best friend.[43] Bingo shows an interest in bugs, taking breaks from the games she plays to observe them.[44][45] One of her more well-known personalities is that of a grandmother named Rita, who is depicted as a mischievous granny who is hard of hearing.[10] The episodes "Bingo", "Turtleboy", and "Slide" focus on her.
Bandit Custard Heeler[46] is a Blue Heeler, the husband of Chilli, and the father of Bluey and Bingo, whom he enjoys playing with. He takes any role he plays in a game they devise seriously despite often being seen as reluctant and unwilling to partake in their games. He often teaches life lessons to his daughters while he plays with them, but this strains his public relationship with them in some episodes. He is voiced by David McCormack.
Chilli Heeler (née Cattle)[c] is a Red Heeler, the mother of Bluey and Bingo, and the wife of Bandit. While she fully partakes in her daughters' games, Chilli is much more level-headed and acts as a balance to the chaos. However, she can join in with the chaos when she sees fit. When not playing games, Chilli is depicted as a caring and comforting mother who wants the best for her daughters. While raising Bluey, Chilli, seeing Wendy's daughter Judo being the first to get sit up by herself, initially set herself the goal to get Bluey to walk before Judo could, but she failed, causing her to believe that she was a bad mother. However, she was told by Coco's mum, Bella, that she was doing good nonetheless. Ultimately, Bluey learned to walk when trying to hug Chilli.[39] It is implied that Chilli has suffered a miscarriage in her past,[47] and that her mum had died before the events of the series.[16] She is voiced by Melanie Zanetti.[5]
Extended Heeler and Cattle family
Muffin Heeler
Muffin Cupcake Heeler[48] is a White Heeler[49] who is Stripe and Trixie's daughter, Socks' older sister and one of Bluey and Bingo's cousins. Muffin, who is three-years-old (later four[36]), is a very energetic and loud child who can sometimes be selfish and bratty, but has a good heart deep down. She is known to have a protracted phonological development where she struggles to pronounce the "L" and "R" sounds (e.g. "It was a vewociwaptor"[50]).
Socks Heeler
Socks Heeler is a Blue Heeler who is Stripe and Trixie's daughter, Muffin's younger sister and one of Bluey and Bingo's cousins. She is the youngest child in the Heeler family, being only one year old (later two). In earlier episodes, she barks and walks on all fours, much like a real-world puppy would, but later learns to walk and talk like the rest of her family.[8] Later, she begins to utter full sentences.[32]
Stripe Heeler
Stripe Heeler is a Blue Heeler who is the husband of Trixie, father of Muffin and Socks, one of Bluey and Bingo's uncles and is Bandit and Radley's younger brother.[12] Stripe is rather gentle, but is inexperienced when it comes to parenting. He shares a friendly sibling rivalry with his brother, Bandit.[51] He is voiced by Dan Brumm, who also works on sound production for the series.
Trixie Heeler
Trixie Heeler is a White Heeler who is the wife of Stripe, mother of Muffin and Socks, and one of Bluey and Bingo's aunts. Trixie is caring, energetic and level-headed, particularly when it comes to parenting, and she loves spending time with her family. However, she can have arguments with Stripe about certain parenting decisions, but she can always find a middle ground.[48] She is voiced by Myf Warhurst.[7]
Radley Heeler
Radley Heeler is a Red/Blue Heeler mix who is the uncle of Bluey, Bingo, Muffin and Socks and is the older brother of Bandit and Stripe.[12] Radley looks out for his family and is laid-back, but has an occasional tendency to zone out; such an instance of this is him mistakenly calling Bluey a boy because of her blue colouring.[52] He worked on an oil rig in the west of Australia and because of this, he was not able to visit his family often as he would have liked to. Radley later developed a relationship with Bluey's godmother, Frisky,[8] who he eventually married.[32] After learning that Frisky did not want to move west with him after their wedding, Radley decided to quit his job, moving to the city and getting a job there in order to remain close to his family. He is voiced by Patrick Brammall.
Frisky Heeler
Frisky Heeler is an English Cocker Spaniel who is Bluey's godmother, as well as Radley's wife and thus aunt to the Heeler cousins. She is one of Chilli's friends, and the two would frequent Mount Coot-Tha as teenagers.[32] Prior to meeting Radley, she had a boyfriend named Bosco. Frisky met Radley while babysitting Bluey and Bingo,[52] they eventually develop a relationship[8] and getting married in Bandit and Chilli's backyard soon after.[32] She is voiced by Claudia O'Doherty.
Chris Heeler
Nana Christine "Chris" Heeler is a Blue Heeler. She is Bob's wife, Bandit, Stripe and Radley's mother, and Bluey, Bingo, Muffin and Socks' paternal grandmother. When her granddaughters visit her house at the Gold Coast, she allows them to get what they want. In "Grannies", she and her husband Bob learn how to floss.[10] In "Fairytale", she is depicted as a kind-hearted yet strict and harsh mother to Bandit, Stripe and Radley. Bandit says that the reason for her harshness was because mums "were allowed to be mean" in the 80's.[12] She is voiced by Chris Brumm, who was the inspiration for the character.[6]
Bob Heeler
Grandpa Bob Heeler is a White Heeler. He is Chris's husband, Bandit, Stripe and Radley's father, and Bluey, Bingo, Muffin and Socks' paternal grandfather. In the episode "Grannies" he learned to floss alongside his wife. Sometime after this, Bob traveled to India to "find himself," resulting in a long absence that went unexplained until "The Sign", where it was then revealed. He is voiced by Ian McFadyen in "Grannies";[10]Sam Simmons voiced a younger Bob in "Fairytale", and would go on to voice him from "The Sign" onwards.[11][12][53]
Mort Cattle
Grandad Mort Cattle is a Red Heeler. He is Chilli and Brandy's father and Bluey and Bingo's maternal grandfather. Prior to retirement, he served in the Army.[54] He is voiced by Laurie Newman.
Brandy Cattle
Aunt Brandy Cattle is a Red Heeler. She is Mort's daughter, Chilli's older sister, and the maternal aunt of Bluey and Bingo. Prior to her appearance in "Onesies", she and Chilli were separated for four years.[55] It is implied in "Onesies" that Brandy faced fertility issues,[56][15] but by "The Sign", she has become pregnant.[32] She is voiced by Rose Byrne.
Chilli's Mum
Chilli's Mum was a Red Heeler. She was Mort's wife, Brandy and Chilli's mother, and Bluey and Bingo's maternal grandmother. She died at some point prior to the events of the series, but is depicted in Chilli's memory in the episode "Dragon" as a loving mother whose kind words of encouragement foster her daughter's drawing skills. She is voiced by Kate Miller-Heidke.[16][57]
Neighbours
Pat
Pat (often referred to as Lucky's Dad) is a Labrador Retriever, one of the Heelers' next-door neighbours, the husband of Janelle and the father of Lucky and Chucky.[36] He has close ties with the Heelers; he frequently involves himself with his neighbours' games, and has befriended Bandit's brother Stripe. He barracks for the Maroons along with the Heeler family and his two sons, Lucky and Chucky.[58] He is voiced by Brad Elliot.
Janelle
Janelle is a Labrador Retriever, one of the Heelers' next-door neighbours, the wife of Pat and the mother of Lucky and Chucky.[36] While she does not involve herself with her neighbours' games, unlike the rest of her family, she is generally kind-hearted and wants the best for her sons. She has a good eye for planning birthday parties and keeps up with modern trends, preferring to stick with a modern version of pass the parcel while Pat suggested putting only one present in the middle (as was the case during his time), which would be met with a strong reaction at Chucky's birthday party before the kids and parents slowly began to accept it.[36] She is the only member of her family to barrack for the New South WalesBlues, having moved from the region, so she watches their games alone. However, she joins the rest of her family in barracking for the Gold team.[58] She is voiced by Anna Daniels.
Lucky
Lucky is a Labrador Retriever, one of the Heelers' next-door neighbours, and the eldest son of Pat and Janelle.[36] He is depicted as an energetic kid who loves sports. While not explicitly attending Glasshouse Primary School, Lucky has numerous friends from there. He, his father and his brother Chucky support the Maroons.[58]
Chucky
Chucky is a Labrador Retriever, one of the Heelers' next-door neighbours, and the youngest son of Pat and Janelle.[36] Much like his brother Lucky, he is playful and kind; however, Chucky is also sensitive. While not generally as sporty as his brother, Chucky likes watching football and is starting to show an interest in the sport. However, during the third game of a State of Origin series, Chucky has to choose between supporting the Maroons and the Blues, the team his mum Janelle barracks for. He ultimately barracks for the Maroons with the rest of his family.[58]
Wendy
Wendy is a Chow Chow and the mother of Judo. Wendy is a sophisticated woman who initially appears to be above the Heelers' games, but later joins in on them herself.[17] She has done ten years of pilates, which allows her to lift people heavier than she is.[59] She is also kind towards her peers, having made the Heelers five lasagnas after Bluey was born.[54] She is currently voiced by Emily Taheny, having been voiced previously by Beth Durack.[17]
Judo
Judo is a Chow Chow who is one of Bluey and Bingo's friends and neighbours; Bluey has known her since she was a baby.[39] Being a Chow Chow, she tends to become attached to some people, such as Bluey, Bingo and Pom Pom, and her hair is very hard to clean.[17] Judo also tended to be bossy and domineering,[60] but in later episodes is receptive to cooperating when playing with Bluey and Bingo,[17] eventually becoming closer friends to the two.[32] It is implied that she is a child of divorce, due to her absence in most episodes that only feature Wendy.
Doreen
Doreen is an elderly Great Pyrenees who is one of the Heelers' neighbours. She is very sweet and nice. She is voiced by Kelly Butler.
Bluey's classmates
Mackenzie Border Collie
Mackenzie Border Collie[h] is a Border Collie who is one of Bluey, Jack and Rusty's close friends. Having moved to Australia from New Zealand, he has a big heart, but prefers to get to the point when playing games. Being a Border Collie, Mackenzie is adept at herding and jumping on sheep.[61][62] He has a big buddy named Captain,[38] and his family roots for the Kiwis, much to his confusion.[58] As a small puppy, Mackenzie was traumatised after being separated from his mum and thinking she had left him behind, but eventually came to terms with this.[63]Bluey creator Joe Brumm cites Dog from New Zealand comic Footrot Flats, also a Border Collie, as an inspiration for Mackenzie's design.[64]
Rusty
Rusty is an Australian Kelpie who is one of Bluey's close friends and the best friend of Jack Russell. Rusty is depicted as an adventurous, friendly and tenacious boy who puts his friends and family above himself, but can sometimes be a bit stubborn.[65] Aside from Jack, his best friend, Rusty's close friends include Bluey, Indy and Mackenzie. Rusty is quite sporty, and he aspires to play for the Australian national test cricketteam when he grows up, which he ends up doing as an adult. He has two siblings, Digger, his kind and caring older brother, and Dusty, his energetic little sister,[66] and his father is in the army.[67] During early development of Bluey, Rusty was the main character; Joe Brumm would switch the series' focus to Bluey.[68] This may be why Rusty and Bluey look very similar.
Chloe
Chloe is a Dalmatian who is Bluey's best friend. She is very sweet, smart, nice, and energetic. She has a baby brother. She enjoys playing with Bluey and Bandit, so much that she brings some of their game ideas back home to play with her dad Frank; who is hesitant to play due to finding it too "silly," but eventually warms up to it after they find their own way to play them.[69]
Honey
Honey is a Beagle who is one of Bluey's friends. Much like her parents, she wears round-rimmed glasses. Honey is caring and assertive towards others, but sometimes has trouble keeping up with Bluey's games. Her parents are British, but Honey speaks with an Australian accent.
Coco
Coco is a Poodle who is one of Bluey's friends, having known her since they were babies.[39] While sweet and good-natured, Coco can sometimes come off as controlling and impatient.[27] She has eight other siblings.[39]
Snickers
Snickers is a Dachshund who is one of Bluey's friends, having known her since they were babies.[39] While fun-loving and friendly, Snickers is aware of his skinny build and short limbs, which he considers a double-edged sword.[70] Snickers seems to particularly enjoy pretending to be a news reporter.
Indy
Indy is an Afghan Hound who is one of Bluey's friends. She is creative and playful. She has a regimented diet, leaving her unable to eat wheat, gluten, sugar, salt, dairy and food with any added ingredients.[71]
Jack Russell
Jack Russell is a Jack Russell Terrier who is Rusty's best friend and the new kid at Glasshouse Primary School. He is very nice and friendly and loves to play with his friends, which include Rusty, Bluey and Mackenzie.[67] He is shown to have ADHD; he states that he "can't sit still or can't remember anything".[25] He has a little sister named Lulu.
Winton
Winton is an English Bulldog who is one of Bluey's friends. He has shown difficulty in respecting personal space, but has gotten better with it over time. His parents are divorced, but his father is in a new relationship with the Terriers' mum.[32]
The Terriers
The Terriers are triplet Miniature Schnauzer brothers. They commonly roleplay as Roman soldiers. Their mum was a single parent, but she is currently in a new relationship with Winton's father, Cornelius.[32]
Pretzel
Pretzel is a Chihuahua in Bluey's class. Initially depicted as shy to play with his friends, implying that he may have autism. He eventually becomes open to playing with them after seeing his classmates work together. He has a pet guinea pig that ran away, and is implied to have two mothers, making him and his family the first LGBTQ characters in the show.[32][72]
Bingo's classmates
Lila
Lila is a Maltese who is Bingo's best friend. She was initially depicted as shy and apprehensive, but came out of her shell after meeting Bingo. The two become best friends, and a flash-forward in the episode "Daddy Dropoff" shows them remaining friends throughout their future school years.[73] Like Bingo, Lila has an affinity for bugs, saving a caterpillar that would become a butterfly[45] that Bingo named "Flappy".[32]
Missy
Missy is an Australian Terrier and one of Bluey and Bingo's friends. She is in Mrs. Retriever's kindy class.[22] She was depicted as scared while playing high-intensity games, but is learning to come out of her shell and become a braver person.[74] She is implied to have been adopted, due to her mother being a German Spitz and no father appearing in the show.[75]
Buddy
Buddy is a Pug and is good friends with Bingo and the rest of the kids in Mrs Retriever's kindy class. Buddy is a loud breather and is often seen picking his nose, falling asleep at the top of the slide, or staring into space at nothing at all.[61]
Lulu Russell is a Jack Russell Terrier who is Jack's younger sister.[67] A young girl who is curious about the world around her, she also has a mischievous streak, being blunt and sassy towards certain people, like her older brother Jack. Her perceived sassiness stems from her tendencies to repeat anything incriminating that other people says.
Dusty
Dusty is an Australian Kelpie and Rusty's younger sister. An energetic little girl, she likes cricket and playing it with her family. She gets excited when Rusty bats her a catch.[66]
Digger
Digger is an Australian Kelpie and Rusty's elder brother. He looks out for his younger siblings and is kind and caring. He allows Rusty to play cricket with his older friends, warning him that despite his age, he would have to brave the faster bowls.[66]
Other kids
Winnie
Winnie is a Chocolate Labrador who befriends Bluey upon her entrance into the same playground, where they played a game of Café with their dads serving as the customers.[76] Over the course of the subsequent mornings, Winnie, Bluey and their fathers are drawn closer and closer to each other as they play the same game.[76] Bandit later invites Fido and Winnie to show up for breakfast.[76]
Jean-Luc
Jean-Luc is a Black Labrador from Canada who becomes good friends with Bluey when they meet on a camping trip. He speaks French, which Bluey is unable to understand, but is able to communicate through play. Bluey is heartbroken after Jean-Luc leaves for home, but Chilli tells her she may eventually see him again. A flash-forward by the end of the episode proves this right, with Jean-Luc, who is now able to speak English, reuniting with Bluey.[40]
Captain and Mia
Captain, an American Foxhound, and Mia, an English Setter, who are the preteen-aged big buddies of Mackenzie and Bluey respectively. There is an implied attraction between the two of them, in spite of their buddies' friendly rivalry, which eventually leads them to have a conversation about starting high school.[38] The two are seen attending a school fair together,[18] and they are known to be friends with Rusty's older brother Digger.[66]
Pom Pom
Pom Pom is a Pomeranian and one of Bluey and Bingo's friends. While the smallest out of Bluey and Bingo's friends, Pom Pom does not let that bring her down.[77]
Dougie
Dougie is a deafCavapoo (a mix of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle) who plays with the same stuffed toy turtle Bingo finds at the park. He uses Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate with his mother.[78]
Other adults
Calypso
Calypso is a blue merle Australian Shepherd and Bluey's school teacher. She is known for her songs, stories, and unique methods of teaching. She is voiced by Megan Washington.[7]
Mrs. Retriever
Mrs. Retriever is a Golden Retriever and Bingo's kindy teacher. She has a bilby puppet named Bob Bilby. Her students take turns taking the puppet home, and they can take it on an adventure that gets recorded in a book. She is voiced by Ann Kerr.[22]
Rusty's parents
Rusty's parents are both Red Kelpies; Rusty's dad (voiced by Anthony Field[23]) is in the army and is occasionally shown to be out on patrol.[67] Not much is known about his mum (voiced by Jane Hall), but she tends to charge outside with a thong if her work is interrupted. Both parents raise three kids, Digger, Rusty and Dusty.[66]
Maynard
Maynard is an elderly and eccentric Irish Wolfhound who is friends and neighbours with Mort Cattle. He is voiced by Sean Choolburra.[79]
Fido
Fido is a Chocolate Labrador who befriends Bandit on a playground; the two are drawn by their respective daughters, Winnie and Bluey, to serve as customers in their game of Café.[76] The two fathers bond over many similar traits, such as an inclination to disrupt their daughters' games for their amusement and that of their offspring.[76] He is voiced by Eliot Fish.
Cornelius
Cornelius is an English Bulldog and Winton's father. He and his wife are recently divorced, which, according to Winton, has made him "lonely all the time." With both of their children's encouragement, he begins a relationship with the Terriers' mum, seemingly moving in with her.[32] He is voiced by Jake Bresanello.
Dougie's Mum
Dougie's Mum is a Cavapoo who uses Auslan to communicate with her deaf son.[78] She is voiced by Miranda Tapsell.
Busker
The Busker is an Irish Terrier who entertains others as a musician,[71] and has also officiated Radley and Frisky's wedding.[53] He is modelled on and voiced by the show's composer, Joff Bush.
Bella (voiced by Leigh Sales),[11] a pink poodle and the mother of Coco and eight other kids, who is friends with Chilli.
Yoga Instructor (voiced by Eva Mendes), a Saluki whose yoga lessons Chilli attempts to repeat while watching them on TV.[80]
Whale Documentary Narrator (voiced by Natalie Portman), the narrator of a whale documentary that Bluey and Bingo watch together.[28]
Major Tom (voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda), a Brown Icelandic horse who lives next to Bluey's school, and is given a voice within Calypso's retelling of events.[29]
Old Pug (voiced by Margot Knight), a pug and "grouchy granny" who is rude to everyone around her during Doreen's yard sale.
The Terriers' Mum (voiced by Carrie Bickmore),[30] the triplet Miniature Schnauzers' formerly single parent, who is now in a relationship with Winton's father, Cornelius.[32]
The Sheepdogs (voiced by Deborah Mailman and Brendan Williams), a couple who, at first, buy the Heeler family's house, but cancel the purchase and instead buy Cornelius' because it has a swimming pool.[32]
Policeman (voiced by Joel Edgerton),[34] a German Shepherd who stops Chilli on the road to check if Bluey is eligible to sit in the front seat.[32]
Television Commentator (voiced by Kurt Fearnley), the broadcaster on a wheelchair race that Bandit watches.[3]
Notes
^An adult Bluey was voiced by Geraldine Hakewill in a flash-forward sequence in the episode "Surprise!".[3]
^Writer: Joe Brumm (15 April 2019). "Mums and Dads". Bluey. Season 1. ABC Kids.
^ abcdeWriter: Joe Brumm (11 June 2023). "Cricket". Bluey. Season 3. ABC Kids.
^ abcdWriter: Joe Brumm (1 April 2020). "Army". Bluey. Season 2. ABC Kids.
^Two Bandits Watching Bluey (7 March 2022). Two Bandits Interview Joe Brumm!. YouTube. 18:14 minutes in. Retrieved 23 November 2023. Brumm: My favourite dog was a kelpie called Rusty [...] the show was originally called Rusty and it was gonna be about him, but it switched to Bluey.
^Writer: Joe Brumm (8 November 2020). "Octopus". Bluey. Season 2. ABC Kids.
^Writer: Joe Brumm (16 November 2020). "Typewriter". Bluey. Season 2. ABC Kids.
^ abWriter: Joe Brumm (20 October 2018). "Markets". Bluey. Season 1. ABC Kids.
