The Australian kids cartoon Bluey has achieved record-breaking viewership worldwide, becoming the most-watched show of the year in the United States, according to recent data from Nielsen Media Research. Daley Pearson, Bluey’s executive producer and director, expressed his excitement over this achievement. The adventures of Bluey, an Aussie cattle dog, have accumulated a staggering 35 billion minutes of watch time in 2024 alone. The U.S. Embassy in Australia also celebrated the show’s success and congratulated Team Bluey for their contribution to spreading Aussie accents and phrases like “dunny” across America.
In 2023, Bluey was already making waves as the second-most-streamed TV show in the United States based on Nielsen ratings. Treasurer Jim Chalmers commented on this remarkable success and described it as a matter of national pride for Australia. He highlighted that amidst being known for low-grade soap operas and relying on commodity exports like iron ore and coal for economic resilience, the global triumph of an animated series like Bluey is truly something to be proud of.
Bluey’s popularity even overshadowed significant sporting events in Australia. In 2023, during June’s World Test Championship victory by Australia’s men’s cricket team, an episode titled “Cricket” from Bluey attracted more viewers than the peak audience for the cricket game itself.
The rise of Bluey globally has surprised many within the animation industry due to its dominance over major comic book franchises and CGI productions. The series has received numerous awards both domestically and internationally. It won Best Children’s Program at the 2024 Logie Awards while Joff Bush, its main composer, secured two categories at the 2024 Queensland Music Awards.
Bluey has also made its mark on mainstream record sales with its album topping Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart upon release in January 2021 – a first for an Australian children’s album. Furthermore, it won Best Preschool Program at the International Emmy Kids Award in 2020 – Ludo Studio’s third Emmy win.
As we witness this unprecedented success story unfold before our eyes with each passing year since its inception in 2018, it is clear that Bluey continues to captivate audiences worldwide with its heartwarming storytelling and lovable characters.
