So Disney are about to launch their fancy new streaming service Disney+, and while Australia will be absorbing its usual diet of American entertainment the rest of the world will be getting a little taste of Australian goodness in the form of Bluey, the ABC’s record-smashingly popular animated kids series about a blue heeler puppy and her family.
And rightly so because – as any parent will tell you – the show is freaking amazing.
It won’t be on the service in Australia, mind, because here it’s on the ABC – where it is the most downloaded programme of all time – and you can just download the ABC Kids app and experience the same frustration that every parent in the country does.
And on that subject: ANDY YOU HAVE TOO MANY SHOWS JUST BE ABOUT DINOSAURS OR BABY ANIMALS PICK A SIDE DUDE.
Anyway: Bluey is easily one of the Australianest shows ever to screen. Despite being animated it’s very obviously set in a recognisable Brisbane, it’s full of Australian idioms, and it’s both laugh-out-loud hilarious and often genuinely moving since it captures Australian childhood so damn well.
The best bit is that the show will screen unaltered – which in this instance means “without American overdubs” – which means that those gloriously ‘Strayan voices will remain.
And if you were into Australian indie rock of the 90s you’ll be aware of (and obsessed with) the fact said voices include Dave McCormack, aka The Bloke What Sings In Custard, as Bluey’s dad Bandit.
And if you’re not across Custard, then turn this the hell up before hitting play:
And if you’re a parent wanting to make friends with other parents at parks, then just start playing pirates with your kid and the conversations will start themselves.
And it adds to more ammunition against those unpleasant sorts who sniffily ask why should Australia have a taxpayer funded broadcaster: it turns out that Australian children’s television is the nation’s new export industry!
Mark my words, we’ll ride back to prosperity on the Wiggles’ back!