There’s nothing cuter than watching dogs run around in your backyard or on TV. That’s probably why Bluey and Friends exploded everywhere in just a few years.
The animated show about a family of anthropomorphic dogs debuted in 2018 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Kids network.
But when the show came to Disney+ in January 2020, it found a surge in viewership and fans overseas. With more fans came more questions like- is Bluey a guy or a gal?
Bluey is a girl. Many viewers assumed the cartoon dog was a boy due to its blue-cream-colored coat. But that’s not true. Its coat is blue colored because it is a Blue Heeler breed dog. Also, Bingo, Bluey’s sibling, is a girl. Her red coat is because she’s a Red Heeler.
Is Bluey a Boy or a Girl?
Many viewers want to know whether Bluey, an anthropomorphic cartoon dog, is a boy or a girl. This is because some initially assumed the dog was a boy due to its blue coat color. However, others thought that it was a girl.
Also, the character doesn’t interact with traditional gender roles, like playing with dolls for girls or cars/action figures for boys. Instead, opting to use its imagination to play like little kids often do. So, it became more difficult for viewers to figure out the gender.
Some thought her sister, Bingo, was a girl because of her light red/orange coat. After all, that’s closer to the color pink, which is traditionally associated with girls.
It also made sense to many viewers that one-half of the siblings was a boy while the other was a girl. But that assumption isn’t correct. So what is the truth?
Bluey is a girl. Her coat color is blue because Bluey and her father, Bandit, are Blue Heeler dogs. Her sister, Bingo, and mother, Chilli, have red and cream coats as they are of the Red Heeler breed.
However, not everyone is curious to know Bluey’s gender. Many parents were relieved that the dog didn’t have any markers that differentiated it as a boy or a girl, as it gave their kids a gender-neutral character to love.
The show’s executive producer, Daley Pearson, revealed why the show didn’t reference Bluey’s gender a lot. He said (via Distractify):
“I think Bluey is very true to life. So I think it’s only referenced or put into context as much as parents would… And so for that reason, it’s probably more true to life, like you don’t sort of remind your child what [gender] they are every minute. And I think that was very refreshing for audiences.”
Also, this ensured that both boys and girls could love the same character. It’s probably due to this reason that Bluey has become such a massive cultural phenomenon.
What Is Bluey about?
The synopsis of Bluey reads (via The Georgia Sun):
“Bluey loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways… bringing her family—including younger sister Bingo and parents Bandit and Chilli—as well as friends and community into her world of fun and discovery.”
The show follows its titular character, Bluey, a six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy who lives with mom, Chilli, dad, Bandit, and four-year-old little sister, Bingo, in Brisbane, Australia.
The show has only had three seasons till now. But more will probably come soon. Did you also assume that Bluey was a boy? Was it because of the blue coat?
Let us know your initial assumptions in the comments below.
Source: Distractify and The Georgia Sun
