How “Bluey” Teaches Adults to be Playful Again | Sarina Petersen | TED

There's not a lot in this world that we can be truly certain about.

But I'm willing to guarantee

that most of us in this room

have seen this little blue dog before.

(Laughter)

This little dog is, of course,

the star of the global smash hit children's show "Bluey,"

created and founded right here in Brisbane.

The show also takes place here,

with the iconic skyline and sights

visible as we follow the adventures of the Heeler family.

Bluey, a primary school-aged blue heeler dog,

her little sister Bingo,

their dad Bandit and their mum Chilli.

Each bite-sized, seven-minute episode offers a slice of life,

delving into valuable life lessons

and the nuances of parenting

through a playful lens of childhood imagination.

Since the show's debut in 2018,

"Bluey" has taken the world by storm.

The international success in particular

is unlike any Australian media of its kind.

In fact, "Bluey" is so popular

that there are countless videos of kids in other countries

pronouncing things like "no,"

(Laughter)

and "mum" in little Australian accents.

But what if I told you that the show isn't just a hit with kids?

Evidently, I am not a child.

(Laughter)

Nor do I have any kids yet.

But let me tell you,

I have spent hours laughing,

crying, questioning life,

just being captivated by cartoon dogs.

(Laughter)

And it isn't just me.

You might be surprised to see

that this "Adult Bluey Fans" Facebook group

has more than 600,000 members.

(Laughter)

Then there’s the “Bluey” subreddit with over 200,000.

And Bluey is also Insta-famous with 1.3 million followers.

It's no secret,

older audiences love "Bluey."

Which really got me thinking.

I mean, there has to be something more going on here

because, well, no offense to the average three-year-old,

but you wouldn't find me watching something like "Peppa Pig"

or "Cocomelon" in my free time.

So what is it about "Bluey" that draws in older audiences?

The show's creator, Joe Brumm,

has spoken openly about his goal of creating something

that parents and carers can genuinely enjoy

rather than just tolerate.

And there are definitely parts of the show

that feel like they were put in for the adults watching,

which isn't a new thing.

I mean, we've all seen something like "Shrek"

and been kind of astonished by some of the things

that they slipped in there.

But what I love about "Bluey's" adult subtext, we'll call it,

is that its objective isn’t always being crude or cheeky

but being relatable.

And one of the most relatable moments of "Bluey"

are the scenes where we see the back seat of the family car.

I can see so much of my own childhood in this image,

and I bet a lot of you watching

have had a car that looks a lot like that one.

Like most children's shows,

"Bluey" episodes appear to be centered around some kind of life lesson.

There's the classic, listen to your parents,

eat your veggies,

get back on the bike when you fall down.

But then there are lessons like, work-life balance is important.

Raising kids isn't easy,

sometimes you'll make mistakes.

Aging can be daunting,

and your health means everything.

Not quite what you'd expect from a kids' show, is it?

There's no shortage of moral teachings for kids

and for adults.

In particular, the show portrays adulthood

in a way that's realistic and nuanced.

We see the adult characters making mistakes, getting emotional,

learning all kinds of lessons of their own.

You can imagine how reassuring that would feel for a first-time parent

or a teenager heading into adulthood.

In the episode "Baby Race" Chilli, the mom,

speaks openly about her experience with overthinking parenting

and comparing herself to the other moms around her.

She says she’ll never forget receiving a visit from her friend Bella,

a mother of nine who's learnt a thing or two.

Bella listens to Chilli's troubles

and tells her, “There’s something you need to know:

You're doing great."

These words are spoken to Chilli on screen,

but they aren't meant only for her ears.

And it's interactions like these that set "Bluey" apart

from the average kids' media.

The show openly engages with its older viewers,

not only acknowledging their presence

but often communicating directly to them.

The level of dimension and authenticity

in "Bluey's" stories and characters

is exceptional.

The writers haven't shied away

from portraying disabilities and neurodivergence

and have even touched on things like anxiety, divorce,

infertility, bullying

and death.

The show's received a lot of praise

for its portrayal of these more substantial themes,

in a way that is still digestible and meaningful for its younger audience.

It can prompt adults to have conversations with kids

about things that they might not have come across before.

It could also help a child understand their own experience

if they're going through something similar.

There's an authenticity in the way that "Bluey" incorporates very important,

real aspects of life,

with an appropriate balance of fun and lightheartedness

that you'd expect from a cartoon.

This authenticity has resonated with younger and older viewers alike.

The show captures a quintessential childhood experience,

evoking a rich sense of nostalgia in its older viewers,

especially for Australians,

seeing the crows and bin chickens hanging around the rubbish.

Or watching Bluey and Bingo get a sausage and bread

at their local hardware store.

Look familiar?

But you don't need to be Australian to appreciate "Bluey."

There's such a true-to-life portrayal of imagination and play

with themes of school and friends and growing up,

which makes the show so nostalgic.

There are so many games and rhymes

and dance moves that nobody even remembers learning.

Every kid just seems to know.

And "Bluey" incorporates these stunningly.

The human brain is hard-wired to crave that nostalgia.

It makes us feel good, warm inside.

From a psychology standpoint,

adults often turn to things like nostalgia

and childlike activities as a form of escapism,

transporting our minds back to a simpler time

to step away from the pressures of daily life for a little while.

And there's good reason for this.

As we grow up, life tends to become a lot less whimsical.

There's very little room in our adult world

for make-believe and pretend,

and the way that we use our imaginations becomes a lot more practical

and a lot less playful.

For me, I'm not sure exactly when,

but one day I stopped believing in the fairies

that were living in the garden.

And now if I fall asleep in the car,

I don't wake up magically in my bed.

I just wake up with a weird neck.

So the ability to escape for a moment,

to re-experience some of that long-lost childhood magic

through the lens of "Bluey"

has provided a lot of comfort

and wholesomeness that's really touched people's hearts.

Some adult fans who lived through difficult childhoods

have described watching "Bluey" as therapeutic and healing.

They find that it offers them a chance to vicariously experience the safe,

warm and positive environment

that the characters are growing up in.

It's also worth noting that "Bluey's" skyrocket into stardom

sort of coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the demand for at-home entertainment for children surged,

a lot of grown ups also found themselves turning to things like cartoons

and nostalgic media

as a way of getting through the worst of the pandemic.

People can be particularly drawn to escapism during tough times.

And in the last few years,

a beautiful cartoon about a family of dogs

has become a beacon of solace for many of us.

So relatability, authenticity,

nostalgia and comfort.

There is one more key element

that draws adult viewers into the world of "Bluey,"

and that is ...

The show's profound ability to introduce new perspectives.

For a lot of us grown-ups,

we have a responsibility to teach and nurture the little ones in our lives.

But equally,

there is so much that we can learn from them.

Children approach the world with an innate sense of wonder.

They always seem to find enjoyment

and novelty in the mundane.

And if it isn’t there, they will create it.

To Bluey and Bingo, that isn't just a swing, it's a cocoon.

"Let's play butterflies."

That piece of cardboard looks like a volcano.

"I know, let's pretend we're dinosaurs."

Anything can be a game.

Anything can be new and exciting and fun.

A lot of us adults, with our serious lives

and our developed frontal lobes,

could do with a reminder of that.

Kids teach us to do a silly walk to spice up the housework,

throw a sticky gecko toy at the ceiling and wait for it to fall down.

Make friends with a stranger,

dance in public,

save a caterpillar's life.

They teach us to approach the world

with curiosity and hope and playfulness.

And above all,

they teach us not to take ourselves too seriously.

(Laughter)

"Bluey" has grown a devout audience

of children,

teenagers

and adults.

And that's thanks to its relatability and authenticity,

as well as the comfort

and perspective that it has to offer.

With its dimensional stories and characters

against a backdrop of vibrant Australian imagery,

"Bluey" really is more than just another cartoon for kids.

So next time you find yourself interacting with a child

or watching one of their TV shows or movies,

remember that there may be something much deeper at play.

And keep an eye out for all the weird

and wonderful things

that you can learn from little humans

and little blue dogs.

Thank you.

(Applause)