It’s not like you need more proof that Bluey is the cream of the crop of children’s television, but if you do, this latest episode will surely consolidate its status.
The favorite animated series of all children and adults, Bluey, has just aired a very special episode.
The already iconic family series premiered a new character named Dougie, another little puppy who loves the yard. What makes Dougie different is that the character is deaf and depicted using Auslan to communicate with his mother.
Dougie and her mother (voiced by Miranda Tapsell) are in the episode called “Turtleboy,” which focuses on a turtle toy found in the yard, first by Bingo and Bandit and then by Dougie and her mother.
Like Bingo, Dougie plays with Turtleboy and wants to take him home, but Dougie’s mother, like Bandit, tells him that the owner of Turtleboy could look for him again.
The similarities between Dougie and Bingo show that while Dougie is deaf, he is just like Bingo in all other ways.
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The episode aired on ABC Kids on Thursday morning, while a special version of the episode with an Auslan performer on the corner of the screen was available on ABC iview.
Ludo, the production studio behind it Blueworked with Deaf Connect to write and animate the episode, and ABC worked with Deaf Connect on Auslan’s translated version of the episode.
Blue Producer Sam Moor told news.com.au: “We worked extensively with Deaf Connect, who introduced us to interpreters and children in the deaf community to help us understand their language.
“The designers and animators worked with deaf Auslan users to help get the right hand shapes and signs to make the episode as accurate as possible. Since the characters only have four fingers, this made it a bit complicated for some of the signs to be completely accurate. “
The ABC has also released a one-minute accompanying video teaching Blue they say a few words to Auslan.
From Blue Released in 2018, the series has garnered praise from fans around the world for its gameplay, imagination and family-focused characters and stories. The series often earns particular praise for his portrayal of Bandit as a committed and current father Blue and Bingo.
Stories are often based on the real-life experiences of creator Joe Brumm and the production team.
Featured fans include Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne, Billy Joel, Natalie Portman and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the latter of whom has a guest role in the series as a horse named Major Tom.
Bluey is on ABC iview