Following Peppa Pig’s capable reign as the most bearable option for overwhelmed parents looking for respite from the gaudy assault that is preschooler TV, a family of Australian dogs has set a new standard for what kids’ shows can offer grownups. That family are the Heelers, stars of the tremendously popular children’s animated sitcom Bluey – at one point Australia’s most watched television programme, and more popular than Succession in the US.
Sharp, funny, beautiful and poignant, Bluey is focused on the misadventures inherent in life aged six and under; but also, it frankly reflects the parenting experience. For half its audience, its most touching moments are those where canine mum and dad, Chilli and Bandit, juggle the stress and pride of watching their offspring learn a life lesson, or joke with one another when their parenting isn’t quite on point.
Considering the success of Ludo Studio’s creation, a video game adaptation was inevitable. Getting that right would mean trying to make something primarily for youngsters, that was also a game about parenting. The task fell to Spanish studio Artax, working with UK publisher Outright, previously known for games based on the merchandising-industrial complex that is Paw Patrol.
