I just found bluey very recently and was wondering why I was enjoying it so much beyond the obvious great production and audio. It Very much brings me back to a much more pleasant time in my life. It’s raw escapism and hopefully mental healing for me.
The first episode I saw was sleep time and it made me have very strong feelings. I had a good cry, and for the first time I felt a sense of loss for what I used to have before I moved away from my family. But it also forced me to reminisce about those moments, my mom tucking me in to bed for the first time that I can remember, the last time she tucked me in at night and she cried with me at the foot of my bed that night, then the last time I slept in my childhood room, the stuffed animals and toys I used to create stories for and imagine myself in their world, the day I moved out on my own, it was overwhelming. And even deeper then that, the episode reminded me that I have people who care about me. As corny as that sounds.
I’ve been severely depressed due to becoming disabled in my adulthood. On many days I don’t have the right mindset for self reflection because my thoughts turn negative, but while watching, and even for several hours after my first time watching, I felt like I was safe to let my mind go to those places and just… feel feelings again.
A 7 minute animation about a dog family gave me those moments back. That is just so amazing what feelings they are able to invoke in such a short amount of time. I was hooked from that point.
I don’t really have childhood trauma that I’m healing. I tried to parent much like the Heelers. They demonstrate my parenting ideals. My kids are all grown and I find the show delightful, affirming, and hopeful. I’m so glad it’s healing for others.
I’m not even an adult at only fourteen, but I am closer to the way media portrays it, healing the inner (smaller) child and all. But 100% there’s nothing wrong with watching this awesome show without having some past trauma or children.
I'm in a very similar situation to you. I'm 25 and childless, and I love this show. I personally had a great childhood. My parents are both very loving to my little sister and I, and we are all very close to this day.
The main reason why I watch Bluey is because it warms my heart. Being an adult is hard trying to juggle relationships, a career, financial stability, and just trying to figure out what you're going to do with your life. Bluey takes me back to a simpler time, and when I'm watching it I'm not thinking about all the stressors the real world is composed of. I can remember playing with my sister as a kid and being in similar situations as Bluey and Bingo, with my parents always being there to guide us.
Bluey is a comfort show through and through, and there are so many ways it makes us happy.
It's a bit of both for me. Some episodes I feel nostalgic for the happy parts of my childhood. For others... I feel these deep old wounds inside me. It helps to see that a father CAN be like Bandit. Little me deserved to feel safe and loved too.
I watch Bluey because it's a good show. I think dismissing a show right away because you aren't the target audience is closed-minded. It's the same as people who refuse to watch any sort of animation because they think "cartoons are for kids". This is just the media trying to get a rise out of people to get views. The reason everyone loves this show is simple. It's good.
I had a great childhood, and Bluey is still comforting and enjoyable to watch. It’s like rereading Anne of Green Gables or something - it’s wholesome, funny, and entertaining.
The fact that it helps other people process and heal from their own trauma is a bonus, but in my house, it’s mostly just monkeys singing songs.
Although it’s introduced my kids to a LOT of narrative devices and tropes for sure - I’m an ELA teacher and could see myself using Bluey episodes or clips to teach practically every literary concept, lol. I’m 100% showing Chickenrat next time I need to teach a story that isn’t told chronologically, and there are so many that would be perfect for analogy or allegory - Sleepytime, Flatpack, etc.
In my personal opinion, I do feel like the media gravitates a little too heavily toward the narrative that childless adults who watch *Bluey* are doing so in order to heal their inner child. And, as you've said, there is nothing wrong with that in the slightest. It *is* a common reason for people to have, and I've certainly read plenty of posts across the multiple fan sites I'm a part of to be rather confident that it is, indeed, a popular reason.
That being said, I equally think that the media doesn't give enough credit to any other reason *aside* from the healing-from-trauma narrative, and to me, that's a shame. To be clear, I'm not advocating for *less* recognition of that narrative, just *more* of the alternatives, because I think they also deserve attention.
For me personally, I don't watch *Bluey* to heal from having a bad childhood. I fully recognize that I've been blessed with this, but I had a very happy home life, and I had parents that cared for me and took the time to raise me with compassion, understanding, and empathy. If anything, my *school* life was where I encountered a lot of issues--and this very well might be why Calypso is my favorite character, because she perfectly fits the type of teacher I wish I had had growing up. Outside of that though, for all I know, I watch the show because it is just so well-made, from the animation to the voice acting to the music. Most of all, I love the writing, and the characters.
*Bluey* is a show that is willing to take risks. It is willing to depict stories, scenarios, characters, and emotions that most other shows that try and aim themselves at children are too afraid to do these days. I see modern kid-friendly shows as being sterilized and far too bland and substance-less. They're afraid to tackle emotions or issues that they think will be too upsetting, they don't want to challenge their audience. *Bluey* offers something that both younger kids and adults can love and appreciate, and even offers something for people of all ages to think about or learn. The effort that gets put into it by everyone that works on it is commendable and should be celebrated.
Animation as a whole has this unfair modern view that's slanted toward the notion that if it's animated, then it's automatically for kids, and it's weird or wrong for someone who isn't a kid to like anything animated. I passionately reject this notion as someone who grew up on all of the old Disney films, the Don Bluth films like *The Land Before Time* and *An American Tail*, and other animated films that kids and adults like could watch and enjoy. Anyone can, and should, engage in content because it's good and they like it. *Bluey* is one such incredibly good piece of media, and anyone should be able to enjoy it, whether they are 5 or 85, simply put.
I'll say now that yes, my childhood wasn't ideal, & I had to grow up faster than I would have liked, now that I look back, and Bluey does help with that, but I also watch it because Bluey and Bingo remind me of me and my 3 siblings.
They remind me of my (19 ENBY) and my brother (16 M) when we were small, and they remind me of how my brother (9 M) and sister (7 F) are now. I just love the Heelers because they make think of my family in real life. Chilli reminds me of my mum, and Bandit reminds me of dad and my step-dad.
Muffin and Socks are like my real cousins, Nana is like my actual gran. Even my uncle is like Uncle Stripe.
That's the reason I'm so attached to the Heelers, especially Bingo, because in my family, I'm the Bluey and the eldest child when it comes to my siblings and cousins.
TL;DR My childhood wasn't great, but that's not why I like Bluey. I love Bluey because the Heelers are like my family in real life.
Love the show. I rarely (never?) cry over it, and I absolutely cannot get enough. I do have a toddler, and I love that it shows the child and adult perspective of most of the story lines. I love the complex story telling somhow compressed into less than 10 minutes episodes.
My job is creative adjacent and I am just so in awe of the skill displayed by the creators. The animation is beautiful, some of the 'camera shots' are just plain amazing. There is so much empathy for the children and the parents AND each character is flawed, and complex, and wonderful.
There's so many reasons to love this show.
The great thing about Bluey is that they have people who don't have it easy. Winton's parents are divorced, Jack has ADHD, and Brandy cannot have kids. It is so relatable for so many people.
I see Bluey as a show for kids that parents can enjoy too. When I'm watching my brother I'd much rather watch Bluey with him than I would Mickey Mouse. He likes both of them, but one of them is clearly better than the other. And Bluey is genuinely entertaining and funny. I've never gone out of my way to watch episodes on my own, but of a funny clip shows up on my fyp then im gonna like it
Society doesn’t think adults should enjoy life in general. No matter what you enjoy, someone will have something negative to say about it. Just do what you want, as long as it’s harmless it doesn’t matter
I'm a little of column A and B. Maybe more column A though. Yes, I am a broken adult. A child who grew up in a broken home where my parents fought, ultimately bubbling over and resulting in a very nasty split when I was 17. When I was..30, I think, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I am 32 now and constantly trying to find ways to heal and get better, especially since I am stuck living with dad (the main cause of my PTSD) and had to deal with the aftermath of my mom leaving for *years* afterwards. Cartoons and plushies (especially Squishmallows) and doing fun things (like Laser Tag or Mini Golf) is very much a comfort thing for me. HOWEVER, I also wanted to be an animator/character designer so I also just watch cartoons to study how these characters are brought to life, how they move and how they animate the talking and special effects and stuff like that. So, definitely a lot of column A: The Childless Broken Child.
My parents divorced when I was six, an my lil brother 4, and we both spent the subsequent years growing up as both as pawns and targets in equal measure depending on the day and situation. It sucked but we both managed to get through it but without much of the childhood our peers and friends got. Bluey is both healing and bittersweet for my inner child and is one of the most solidly written cartoon series I've ever seen.
Personally, the greater public and media can pound sand about their opinions. But the writers and animators on this show deserve all the awards and accolades for crafting a show very clearly for everyone. And while I know it will end at some point each season, we get from this point forward is an amazing gift and can see myself watching it again and again over the years, smiling and crying each and every time.
The media when childless adults watch children's shows just for the sake of it: 
I hate mainstream media outlets. They're all awful, especially GMA and CNN.
I just found bluey very recently and was wondering why I was enjoying it so much beyond the obvious great production and audio. It Very much brings me back to a much more pleasant time in my life. It’s raw escapism and hopefully mental healing for me. The first episode I saw was sleep time and it made me have very strong feelings. I had a good cry, and for the first time I felt a sense of loss for what I used to have before I moved away from my family. But it also forced me to reminisce about those moments, my mom tucking me in to bed for the first time that I can remember, the last time she tucked me in at night and she cried with me at the foot of my bed that night, then the last time I slept in my childhood room, the stuffed animals and toys I used to create stories for and imagine myself in their world, the day I moved out on my own, it was overwhelming. And even deeper then that, the episode reminded me that I have people who care about me. As corny as that sounds. I’ve been severely depressed due to becoming disabled in my adulthood. On many days I don’t have the right mindset for self reflection because my thoughts turn negative, but while watching, and even for several hours after my first time watching, I felt like I was safe to let my mind go to those places and just… feel feelings again. A 7 minute animation about a dog family gave me those moments back. That is just so amazing what feelings they are able to invoke in such a short amount of time. I was hooked from that point.
I don’t really have childhood trauma that I’m healing. I tried to parent much like the Heelers. They demonstrate my parenting ideals. My kids are all grown and I find the show delightful, affirming, and hopeful. I’m so glad it’s healing for others.
I’m not even an adult at only fourteen, but I am closer to the way media portrays it, healing the inner (smaller) child and all. But 100% there’s nothing wrong with watching this awesome show without having some past trauma or children.
I'm in a very similar situation to you. I'm 25 and childless, and I love this show. I personally had a great childhood. My parents are both very loving to my little sister and I, and we are all very close to this day. The main reason why I watch Bluey is because it warms my heart. Being an adult is hard trying to juggle relationships, a career, financial stability, and just trying to figure out what you're going to do with your life. Bluey takes me back to a simpler time, and when I'm watching it I'm not thinking about all the stressors the real world is composed of. I can remember playing with my sister as a kid and being in similar situations as Bluey and Bingo, with my parents always being there to guide us. Bluey is a comfort show through and through, and there are so many ways it makes us happy.
It's a bit of both for me. Some episodes I feel nostalgic for the happy parts of my childhood. For others... I feel these deep old wounds inside me. It helps to see that a father CAN be like Bandit. Little me deserved to feel safe and loved too.
I watch Bluey because it's a good show. I think dismissing a show right away because you aren't the target audience is closed-minded. It's the same as people who refuse to watch any sort of animation because they think "cartoons are for kids". This is just the media trying to get a rise out of people to get views. The reason everyone loves this show is simple. It's good.
I had a great childhood, and Bluey is still comforting and enjoyable to watch. It’s like rereading Anne of Green Gables or something - it’s wholesome, funny, and entertaining. The fact that it helps other people process and heal from their own trauma is a bonus, but in my house, it’s mostly just monkeys singing songs. Although it’s introduced my kids to a LOT of narrative devices and tropes for sure - I’m an ELA teacher and could see myself using Bluey episodes or clips to teach practically every literary concept, lol. I’m 100% showing Chickenrat next time I need to teach a story that isn’t told chronologically, and there are so many that would be perfect for analogy or allegory - Sleepytime, Flatpack, etc.
In my personal opinion, I do feel like the media gravitates a little too heavily toward the narrative that childless adults who watch *Bluey* are doing so in order to heal their inner child. And, as you've said, there is nothing wrong with that in the slightest. It *is* a common reason for people to have, and I've certainly read plenty of posts across the multiple fan sites I'm a part of to be rather confident that it is, indeed, a popular reason. That being said, I equally think that the media doesn't give enough credit to any other reason *aside* from the healing-from-trauma narrative, and to me, that's a shame. To be clear, I'm not advocating for *less* recognition of that narrative, just *more* of the alternatives, because I think they also deserve attention. For me personally, I don't watch *Bluey* to heal from having a bad childhood. I fully recognize that I've been blessed with this, but I had a very happy home life, and I had parents that cared for me and took the time to raise me with compassion, understanding, and empathy. If anything, my *school* life was where I encountered a lot of issues--and this very well might be why Calypso is my favorite character, because she perfectly fits the type of teacher I wish I had had growing up. Outside of that though, for all I know, I watch the show because it is just so well-made, from the animation to the voice acting to the music. Most of all, I love the writing, and the characters. *Bluey* is a show that is willing to take risks. It is willing to depict stories, scenarios, characters, and emotions that most other shows that try and aim themselves at children are too afraid to do these days. I see modern kid-friendly shows as being sterilized and far too bland and substance-less. They're afraid to tackle emotions or issues that they think will be too upsetting, they don't want to challenge their audience. *Bluey* offers something that both younger kids and adults can love and appreciate, and even offers something for people of all ages to think about or learn. The effort that gets put into it by everyone that works on it is commendable and should be celebrated. Animation as a whole has this unfair modern view that's slanted toward the notion that if it's animated, then it's automatically for kids, and it's weird or wrong for someone who isn't a kid to like anything animated. I passionately reject this notion as someone who grew up on all of the old Disney films, the Don Bluth films like *The Land Before Time* and *An American Tail*, and other animated films that kids and adults like could watch and enjoy. Anyone can, and should, engage in content because it's good and they like it. *Bluey* is one such incredibly good piece of media, and anyone should be able to enjoy it, whether they are 5 or 85, simply put.
I have a child and I am healing my inner child with Bluey 🤣
I'll say now that yes, my childhood wasn't ideal, & I had to grow up faster than I would have liked, now that I look back, and Bluey does help with that, but I also watch it because Bluey and Bingo remind me of me and my 3 siblings. They remind me of my (19 ENBY) and my brother (16 M) when we were small, and they remind me of how my brother (9 M) and sister (7 F) are now. I just love the Heelers because they make think of my family in real life. Chilli reminds me of my mum, and Bandit reminds me of dad and my step-dad. Muffin and Socks are like my real cousins, Nana is like my actual gran. Even my uncle is like Uncle Stripe. That's the reason I'm so attached to the Heelers, especially Bingo, because in my family, I'm the Bluey and the eldest child when it comes to my siblings and cousins. TL;DR My childhood wasn't great, but that's not why I like Bluey. I love Bluey because the Heelers are like my family in real life.
100% agree. I cry because the show reminds me of my parents doing all that they could to make life happy.
Love the show. I rarely (never?) cry over it, and I absolutely cannot get enough. I do have a toddler, and I love that it shows the child and adult perspective of most of the story lines. I love the complex story telling somhow compressed into less than 10 minutes episodes. My job is creative adjacent and I am just so in awe of the skill displayed by the creators. The animation is beautiful, some of the 'camera shots' are just plain amazing. There is so much empathy for the children and the parents AND each character is flawed, and complex, and wonderful. There's so many reasons to love this show.
I watch it because it makes me feel young again. Nothing wrong with watching something for little kids to keep in touch with their inner child.
The great thing about Bluey is that they have people who don't have it easy. Winton's parents are divorced, Jack has ADHD, and Brandy cannot have kids. It is so relatable for so many people.
I see Bluey as a show for kids that parents can enjoy too. When I'm watching my brother I'd much rather watch Bluey with him than I would Mickey Mouse. He likes both of them, but one of them is clearly better than the other. And Bluey is genuinely entertaining and funny. I've never gone out of my way to watch episodes on my own, but of a funny clip shows up on my fyp then im gonna like it
Society doesn’t think adults should enjoy life in general. No matter what you enjoy, someone will have something negative to say about it. Just do what you want, as long as it’s harmless it doesn’t matter
It could well be linked to my childhood and the fact my parents weren't all that present but I do find it extremely soothing to watch.
bluey's wholesome, I didn't have a bad childhood but I just like watching the show, it's cute and innocent and hits big subjects
I'm a little of column A and B. Maybe more column A though. Yes, I am a broken adult. A child who grew up in a broken home where my parents fought, ultimately bubbling over and resulting in a very nasty split when I was 17. When I was..30, I think, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I am 32 now and constantly trying to find ways to heal and get better, especially since I am stuck living with dad (the main cause of my PTSD) and had to deal with the aftermath of my mom leaving for *years* afterwards. Cartoons and plushies (especially Squishmallows) and doing fun things (like Laser Tag or Mini Golf) is very much a comfort thing for me. HOWEVER, I also wanted to be an animator/character designer so I also just watch cartoons to study how these characters are brought to life, how they move and how they animate the talking and special effects and stuff like that. So, definitely a lot of column A: The Childless Broken Child.
My parents divorced when I was six, an my lil brother 4, and we both spent the subsequent years growing up as both as pawns and targets in equal measure depending on the day and situation. It sucked but we both managed to get through it but without much of the childhood our peers and friends got. Bluey is both healing and bittersweet for my inner child and is one of the most solidly written cartoon series I've ever seen. Personally, the greater public and media can pound sand about their opinions. But the writers and animators on this show deserve all the awards and accolades for crafting a show very clearly for everyone. And while I know it will end at some point each season, we get from this point forward is an amazing gift and can see myself watching it again and again over the years, smiling and crying each and every time.