Thread by @johnny0neal

Four years ago, I had the chance to visit Ludo Studio in Brisbane and meet the team behind Bluey.

People around the world love Bluey, and rightly so. Bluey is the Best Of Its Kind.

But I think it's also the "Best Of Its Kind" in *any* entertainment medium.

Here's why...

1/🧵

When I met the Bluey team, my job was to develop a toy line based on the show. In 2019, Bluey was already a phenomenon in Australia. I worked for an Australian company, Moose Toys, who pitched Ludo and the BBC to get global rights.

So I got to meet the folks behind Bluey. 2/🧵

First, I should clarify that in the entertainment industry, Bluey is classified as a "preschool show."

That's part of why it's the Best Of Its Kind. Most preschool shows are not good.

But how crazy is that? How wrong is it that most shows for young minds are mediocre? 3/🧵

When I met these folks, the people behind Bluey: they articulated their goal very clearly. They didn't just want to make a great kids' show. They wanted to make a great *show*.

They weren't comparing themselves to Peppa Pig or Paw Patrol. Their role model was the Simpsons.

4/🧵

Every episode of Bluey is good. Many of them are masterpieces. More than one has brought tears to my eyes.

The backgrounds are gorgeous and detailed. The music is quirky and smart and excellent. Because Ludo treats Bluey as a character and a work of art, not as a brand.

5/🧵

The Ludo team understood merchandise could help fund the show, and knew kids wanted toys. But they implored us to keep everything imagination-based.

They eventually let Moose do some electronic stuff, but we started with plush and figurines -- classic "pretend play" toys.

6/🧵

Bluey is more than the best preschool show ever. It's one of the best cartoons ever. It's one of the best sitcoms ever.

And it all comes down to the creators making a choice.

7/🧵

I've been behind the scenes of a few cartoon shows. And on every single one, I've hear people express cynicism or condescension toward children.

I once worked on an especially bad series called Redakai and will never forget the director saying, "It's just a kids show."

8/🧵

Except on Bluey!

I think Ludo co-founder @Daley_Pearson was the coolest person I ever met in the entertainment industry. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was so clearly dedicated to making something unequivocally wonderful for kids.

9/🧵

@Daley_Pearson It is not an easy dance, to make art in a world that's monomaniacally focused on making money. But Daley and the team at Ludo made it look easy.

10/🧵

@Daley_Pearson Back to my original assertion, if you consider Bluey a "preschool show," it is the Best Of Its Kind by *such* a great margin that it eclipses other Best Of Their Kind works like Calvin & Hobbes (comic strip) or Avatar the Last Airbender (American animated series).

11/🧵

@Daley_Pearson Anyway, that's it. That's the thread. Just a little homage to something that I find inspiringly awesome as a parent and as a creative professional. 🧵/🧵

Bonus Challenge: Can you think of a better Best Of Its Kind than Bluey? If so, I'd love to hear it.