Bluey fans around the world are hit with a mix of emotions this week after news from the show's official blog shared that they were both getting a feature film and that the show's creator, Joe Brumm would be stepping down from the show to focus on the film. While that's certainly a logical action on Brumm's part, it might come with some show-changing consequences.
It's no secret that Bluey and the rest of her canine companions have taken over our screens since they first debuted in 2018, but there's a reason the show works as well as it does. It's because Bluey creator Joe Brumm puts so much heart and soul into bringing each new adventure to life. So what happens when he goes away?
For Real Life?
This week, Brumm wrote a letter to the fanbase and posted it on Bluey's official blog. In the post, he writes how the extended episode, "The Sign," was essentially his parting gift before shifting his focus to work on the film.
Before we all break out the Kleenex boxes to dry our tears, let's look at this logically first. Brumm has been the figurehead behind the show since it first began, and he has helped craft over 150 episodes and plenty of minisodes on ABC and Disney+. That takes time, talent, and energy, so it makes complete sense that he would want to shift all of that to solely working on the film.
Take a look at the following statement Brumm makes in the post.
"Bluey has completely changed my life. It’s been an immensely satisfying thing to be a part of, more than I can really put into words. To walk away from it while it’s at such a height will seem crazy to some but, for now, I am finding it difficult to reach back genuinely into that four to six year old world and write authentically."
And then he later adds,
"To be clear, this is not an announcement about the end of the show, but it is an acknowledgment that my focus will be on the film."
Here are two things fans should take away from this news: The show is not ending, and Joe Brumm is still involved. That should quell any fears about Bluey's future on our screens. However, that doesn't mean a little anxiety isn't warranted.
While Brumm isn't leaving Bluey completely, a show/project's quality definitely changes whenever its lead creator steps away. This can be most prominently seen in shows like Spongebob Squarepants, as pointed out by ScreenRant. Even with that in mind, Brumm addresses that he has left Bluey in some very capable hands.
The creator writes,
"My Bluey crew and all the creative people in my life completely understand my decision. Working with that wonderful group of people has been the absolute highlight of my animation career and I hope Bluey on their CV is a badge of pride for them."
Yes, Bluey is changing, and not in a small way. However, that doesn't mean it's the end of an era. This is a big adventure for our beloved blue heeler, and all the right pieces appear to be falling into place. All we can do now is wait and see what happens.
Bluey The Movie is slated to come out in 2027 from Disney and the BBC, and we can't wait to get our tickets.