When you ask many neurodivergent young adults what their favourite TV show is, you might be surprised to discover that it is Bluey. You might also be surprised to find out that Bluey is the ABC’s most successful series ever.
Words by Tayla Ham - Originally written August 21st 2024
When Queensland’s Ludo Studio’s debuted a seven-minute children’s cartoon about an Aussie blue heeler pup and her family, it’s unlikely that they expected to win an International Kids Emmy Award for Best Preschool Program, the Logie for Most Outstanding Children’s Program three times, and a Peabody Award (just to name a few).
While Bluey is strongly a children’s cartoon due to its colourful animation and strong focus on play and creativity, the creators have also fiercely captured a potentially unintended audience of neurodivergent adults and, even more surprisingly, childfree adults.
“I kept seeing snippets on TikTok, and it was also recommended by a friend because of how wholesome it is,” says Bennett Staropoli, a childfree young adult with autism and ADHD, “Bluey is a comfort show for me. It always makes me feel better when I’m feeling sad. I can watch it on repeat.”
“Honestly, I have not heard anyone say that they do not like it,” says Shara Jenkins, a Creative Therapist (Dip.HICAT) with a focus on neurodivergence, who works with people of all ages to build skills in managing daily life and improving self awareness.
Jenkins says that for adults unlike much of the children’s content for Australian’s, Bluey is has a nostalgic feeling, it is familiar and comforting.
Jenkins describes a significant amount of sensory content within Bluey such as, “the colours used are slightly muted and quite calming. As you would expect, the theme song is generally the loudest part of the show, but even that does not use harsh tones or keys. It is written in E Major - which is often described as a key that denotes pleasure, joy and laughter.”
In episodes of Bluey such as Curry Quest, Army, Daddy Dropoff and The Sign - Jenkins points out that even “with a range of differences including relationships, cultures, socioeconomic status, and disabilities, everyone appears to be accepted and included.”
“There are so many things in life that neurodivergent struggle to understand,” says Jenkins. Bluey episodes explain so many of these things, in a simple, effective and compassionate way without talking down to the audience. “It helps you to look at things with fresh eyes and better understanding.”
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