The Voices of Bluey w/ Uncle Stripe

Summary

Podcast Summary: Twenty Thousand Hertz – "The Voices of… BLUEY!!!"

Introduction In the October 23, 2024 episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz, host Dallas Taylor delves into the fascinating world behind the beloved Australian animated series Bluey. Building upon the previous episode that explored the show's organic sound design, Taylor takes listeners deeper into the voice acting and familial contributions that breathe life into the characters of Bluey. The episode features insights from Dan Brum, the sound designer and mixer for Bluey, offering a comprehensive look at how voice work and authentic storytelling contribute to the show's widespread acclaim.

Voice Acting in Bluey Dan Brum opens the discussion by addressing a common curiosity about the voice recording process in Bluey. Contrary to popular belief, the actors do not record their lines together in a single session. Instead, each actor records individually, often in different locations. Brum explains:

• "But it turns out in every single case, every actor is recorded individually in different booths, different cities sometimes." (00:54)

This method allows actors the flexibility to deliver their lines with greater freedom and authenticity. Despite the physical separation, the final dialogue feels natural and impactful, enhancing the show's realistic family dynamics.

Dave McCormack: From Music to Voice Acting A significant portion of the episode highlights Dave McCormack, the voice of Bandit Heeler, Bluey's father. McCormack, known for being the lead singer of the Brisbane pop-punk band Custard, transitioned into voice acting with Bluey. Brum shares a personal anecdote:

• "And as soon as you heard his voice, it's perfect." (04:04)

McCormack's authentic voice adds depth to Bandit, making his character relatable and endearing. His seamless shift from music to voice acting underscores the show's commitment to genuine performances.

Melanie Zanetti: Finding the Perfect Voice for Chilli Melanie Zanetti, the voice behind Chilli Heeler, Bluey's mother, also plays a pivotal role in the show's success. Brum recounts how Zanetti was brought on board:

• "And so she just threw down a demo. I sent it to Joe, and he really liked it." (05:50)

Zanetti's heartfelt performance brings warmth and resilience to Chilli, resonating deeply with both children and adults alike.

Family Contributions: Voices from the Crew One of the unique aspects of Bluey is the involvement of the creators' family members in voicing various characters. This adds a layer of authenticity and personal connection to the show. For instance:

• The Busker, a musician dog, is voiced by Joff Bush, the show's composer.
• Bluey and Bingo's grandmother, Chris Heeler, is voiced by Chris Brummer, Joe and Dan Brum's mother.
• Uncle Stripe, Bandit's brother, is voiced by Dan Brum himself.

Brum shares a heartfelt moment about voicing Uncle Stripe:

• "And it's this real laughter." (08:58)

This familial involvement not only enriches the characters but also fosters a genuine and cohesive creative environment.

Uncle Stripe: A Personal Touch Dan Brum's portrayal of Uncle Stripe exemplifies the show's personal touch. Inspired by his own nickname "Stripe," Brum naturally embodied the character, bringing both humor and energy:

• "He sort of yells a lot. Stripe. And you just scream like from the belly." (11:07)

Uncle Stripe's vibrant personality is a testament to the show's ability to infuse real-life characteristics into animated personas, enhancing their relatability and charm.

Authentic Storytelling and Sound Design Bluey excels in crafting stories that mirror real-life parenting experiences. Brum emphasizes the importance of authenticity in both writing and sound design:

• "Often the three of us brothers will get together and you just kind of laugh about various things that your kids have said." (19:59)

An example of this authenticity is evident in the episode "Wagon Ride," where the sound design captures the serene yet lively atmosphere of an early morning walk with the kids. Brum meticulously recorded sounds like squash balls bouncing and shoes squeaking to create a vivid auditory experience:

• "It's so much fun because you can't fake a game of squash. It's such a specific sound." (18:08)

Impact on Families and Parenting One of the most profound insights shared by Brum is how Bluey influences real-life parenting. The show's relatable stories and inventive games inspire parents to engage more deeply with their children. Brum reflects:

• "That's what you hear everywhere, is that it's just encouraged dads and mums to play with their kids." (25:07)

This connection between the show and its audience fosters a sense of community and shared experiences among families, reinforcing the show's positive impact.

Relatable Moments and Cultural Nuances Taylor shares a personal story about how Bluey helped him understand his daughters' unique phrases, highlighting the show's cultural authenticity. The episode where the kids play "pass the parcel" clarified a childhood confusion for Taylor:

• "We realized that they were saying pass the parcel but with an Australian accent." (24:18)

Such moments underscore how Bluey not only entertains but also bridges cultural gaps, making it universally relatable.

Conclusion: The Power of Authenticity and Family In wrapping up the episode, Dan Brum expresses his gratitude and fulfillment in contributing to a show that brings joy and relatability to millions of families worldwide:

• "I'm very fortunate and very lucky to be able to play a role in a show like this, but it's a really nice feeling to know that something you work on is just creating so much happiness and so much joy around the world." (28:20)

Bluey stands out as a testament to the power of authentic storytelling, genuine voice acting, and the invaluable contributions of family. Through its heartfelt narratives and realistic soundscapes, the show not only entertains but also fosters stronger family bonds and shared moments of joy.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "But it turns out in every single case, every actor is recorded individually in different booths, different cities sometimes." – Dan Brum (00:54)
• "As soon as you heard his voice, it's perfect." – Dan Brum (04:04)
• "He sort of yells a lot. Stripe. And you just scream like from the belly." – Dan Brum (11:07)
• "Often the three of us brothers will get together and you just kind of laugh about various things that your kids have said." – Dan Brum (19:59)
• "That's what you hear everywhere, is that it's just encouraged dads and mums to play with their kids." – Dan Brum (25:07)
• "I'm very fortunate and very lucky to be able to play a role in a show like this, but it's a really nice feeling to know that something you work on is just creating so much happiness and so much joy around the world." – Dan Brum (28:20)

Final Thoughts This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz offers a deep dive into the intricate processes and heartfelt stories behind Bluey. From the meticulous sound design to the authentic voice acting and familial involvement, the podcast highlights the elements that make Bluey a standout show beloved by families around the globe. Whether you’re a fan of the series or new to its charm, this episode provides valuable insights into the craftsmanship that brings Bluey’s world to life.

Transcript

[Dallas Taylor]

You're listening to 20,000 hertz. I'm Dallas Taylor. In our last episode, we explored the sound of Bluey with the show's sound designer and mixer, Dan Brum, to craft the show's organic sound. Dan uses all kinds of techniques, from recording birds, creeks and playgrounds all over Brisbane to applying a low pass filter to the sound effects to give them a more warm, rounded tone. Now, my three daughters are all huge Bluey fans, and my eight year old had a question about how they record the actors.

[Child 1]

It's about all the people who do, like, talking and stuff. How do they do that? Cause, like, we can't just press on a video that's already done and there's already sound on it, right? Cause they have to draw it first.

[Dallas Taylor]

Or they might do the sound first and then draw it.

[Child 1]

They do.

[Dallas Taylor]

Isn't that cool?

[Child 1]

Yeah.

[Dallas Taylor]

In Bluey, like in most cartoons, the actors record their lines before it gets animated. This gives the actors much more freedom in their delivery. And after they record, the editors can use all those takes to build the most natural and impactful dialogue. Edit. Bluey might be a cartoon about a family of dogs, but the dynamic between these actors always feels believable and human. Here's a clip of the family playing a board game called Pop Up Croc. It looks a bit like Jenga, but with a spring loaded piece that pops out when you mess up.

[Child 2]

How good's Pop Up Croc again?

[Child 3]

No. Upstairs for bedtime?

[Dan Brum]

No.

[Dallas Taylor]

Watching these scenes, it feels like these actors must be recording together so they can bounce off of each other's energy.

[Dan Brum]

But it turns out in every single case, every actor is recorded individually in different booths, different cities sometimes. G'day. I'm Dan Brum. I'm the sound designer for Bluey.

[Dallas Taylor]

While the actors record, they're guided by the director, which is one of two people. The first is Joe Brum, the series creator and Dan's older brother.

[Dan Brum]

He's a really good line reader. He reads the other line. You do your own takes of it and he'll kind of rein you in.

[Dallas Taylor]

The second is Richard Jeffrey, the series.

[Dan Brum]

Director for two and three.

[Dallas Taylor]

This arrangement means that the cast members rarely interact in person.

[Dan Brum]

Feels like we have the show so warm and natural, but you just. You don't interact.

[Dallas Taylor]

In 2023, Jimmy Fallon interviewed the actors who voiced the parents on Bluey. That's Dave McCormack, who plays Bandit, and Melanie Zanetti, who plays Bandit's wife, Chilli. Keep in mind, this is five years after Bluey started. Here's Jimmy Fallon, you were telling me.

[Child 2]

Backstage you just met each other a few days ago.

[Child 3]

Few days ago for the first time.

[Dallas Taylor]

I'm sorry, how so?

[Child 3]

We record separately. Yeah. We live in different cities and I travel a lot for work, so this was the first time.

[Dallas Taylor]

Even Dan, who's been with the show from the beginning, still hasn't met some of the actors face to face.

[Dan Brum]

I've never actually met Dave McCormack. He records all these parts down in Sydney.

[Dallas Taylor]

Again, Dave McCormack plays the dad Bandit. But it turns out Dan and his brother Joe have been fans of Dave since long before Bluey started Dave.

[Dan Brum]

I mean, he's from this band that we loved as kids, Custard, local Brisbane sort of pop punk band who had a bit of fame around the world.

[Dallas Taylor]

Dave McCormack is Custard's lead singer.

[Child 2]

Now, listen, girls like that.

[Dallas Taylor]

Here's one of their classics.

[Child 2]

Girls like that don't go for guys like us I still wanna see and.

[Dan Brum]

Me and my brothers grew up, I think might have been the first concert I ever went to. I jumped the fence into this festival and they were playing, you know, I loved them.

[Dallas Taylor]

Before Bluey, Dave had never done any voice acting. As he told Jimmy Fallon, I was.

[Child 2]

Walking out of a lift. Someone I knew was walking into the lift, and they said, I know someone who's making a show about a cartoon dog family. Maybe he'd want to be the dad voice. And I was like, I can't act. I can't do that. And he said, can you read? I said, well, I can read a bit.

[Dan Brum]

And as soon as you heard his voice, it's perfect.

[Child 2]

Oh, good morning, everybody. Say, good morning, everyone. What up, party people.

[Dallas Taylor]

As you can hear, Dave's speaking voice is virtually the same as his Bandit voice. And that sometimes throws kids off.

[Child 2]

Parents say, come and meet my kid. Like, they love the show. I'm like, oh, don't they normally burst into tears because they think I've, like, eaten Bandit? And his voice is coming up.

[Dan Brum]

They don't understand it.

[Child 2]

Yeah.

[Dallas Taylor]

As for Melanie Zanetti, Dan actually met her years ago.

[Dan Brum]

How she came into the show is when we did the pilot episode, Jo had a different voice actor play the mum. And I think the ABC weren't quite into it. I can't quite remember, but I had Melanie come to my studio just to record some innocuous corporate video because we were with the same agency.

[Child 3]

Apply now for 2017 and partner up with CQ University.

[Dan Brum]

I'd only really just met her recently, but she had such a beautiful voice. And I knew that she could act. And so we did the voiceover. And I said, oh, look, we're just working on this cartoon.

[Child 3]

And he said, my brother's creating this animation. You've got a great voice. Do you want to work some voiceovers down?

[Dan Brum]

And I showed her a bit of it, and her eyes just lit up and she's like, yes, this show is beautiful.

[Child 3]

I'd already seen the pilot and I had fallen in love, like, the most cute. Like, my heart hurts. This is so cute show.

[Dan Brum]

And so she just threw down a demo. I sent it to Joe, and he really liked it.

[Child 3]

And then they did their due diligence and auditioned for like three months and then came back and said, no, you were right.

[Dan Brum]

And then the rest is history.

[Child 3]

Yoo hoo. Hi, I'm your wife.

[Child 2]

My wife?

[Child 1]

Yes.

[Child 3]

And if you want me to stay your wife, you'll learn about dishwashers.

[Dallas Taylor]

Bluey's explosion in popularity has made Dave and Melanie into celebrities. But from the beginning, the identities of the child actors have been kept a secret. That includes Bluey, Bingo, their cousins, and all of their friends. And that's very purposeful.

[Dan Brum]

There's just no reason to have a kid's name revealed. Probably most of the kids aren't actors. They're just kids of cast, crew friends kind of thing. They're doing this adult thing, which is making an animated series, but just let them be kids and have their own lives. And I think it's a really, really wonderful decision the production company made.

[Dallas Taylor]

Yeah, I don't even reveal the names of my children on my podcast, which is much smaller. And that's entirely the same reason.

[Dan Brum]

Yeah, there's absolutely no reason anyone needs to know. It's just enjoy the show for what it is and just let them be kids.

[Dallas Taylor]

In virtually every cartoon out there, the child characters are actually voiced by adults. This is true in everything from Rugrats.

[Child 1]

This playground is for good kids who.

[Dallas Taylor]

Get along and play nice to Powerpuff Girls.

[Child 1]

Well, professor, thanks. Yeah, th.

[Dallas Taylor]

Hey, this is a quarter to Bob's Burgers.

[Child 1]

These years mean a lot to you.

[Dallas Taylor]

Logan, so how about you keep em but for Bluey? Joe Brum always knew that he wanted these characters voiced by real kids.

[Dan Brum]

I think this is what's unique about Bluey, is that the way my brother writes for kids. He writes the kids lines, the way the kids actually speak.

[Child 1]

There's a leaf bug in the way. Aw, she's so cute. You have to be more careful, Leaficus. You're lucky we didn't squash you.

[Dallas Taylor]

When Jo and Richard record these kids, they already have a good idea of how they want the lines to sound.

[Dan Brum]

They will say the line and the kid will copy them as best they can. And we've been very lucky. You get kids that have these great musical ears that can pick up on all the nuances of the director's reed and kind of match it musically.

[Child 1]

The toilet's got a ribbon. Maybe it won a prize. Yeah, the best toilet in the world.

[Dan Brum]

But often they kind of go off script a little and sort of hit a weird key or a weird intonation or something like that.

[Child 1]

Isn't anyone going to mention the salads?

[Dan Brum]

And it ends up funnier than the director could have planned himself. And that line invariably is the one that ends up getting used.

[Child 1]

I love sausages.

[Dallas Taylor]

That sincere, childish delivery really shines through in Bingo and Bluey's squeaky giggles. They're so good. They're the best laughs in all of animated ever.

[Dan Brum]

Yeah, I think they are. You kept raising them, Ruth. You know they're sincere. You don't just ask a kid to laugh. You tickle them or you do some silly face and it's this real laughter.

[Child 2]

Bingo. Calm it down a bit, mate.

[Dan Brum]

And I think that's why they end up sounding so genuine and so funny.

[Child 1]

Ooh, banana.

[Dallas Taylor]

What's your favorite sound on Bluey?

[Child 1]

It's Bingo's voice.

[Dallas Taylor]

That's my youngest daughter. What is it about Bingo's voice that you like so much?

[Child 1]

Um, because she talks kind of like me.

[Dallas Taylor]

Daddy. Yes, mate.

[Child 1]

Just leaves the door open this much, so the leaf can come in.

[Dallas Taylor]

One of the most heartwarming things about this show is how many of these voices come from Bluey's crew and their families. For example, there's the Busker, a musician dog whose signature line is who likes to dance. He's voiced by the show's composer, Joff Bush.

[Child 2]

Thanks, matey. That deserves another song.

[Dallas Taylor]

Then there's Bluey and Bingo's grandmother, Chris Healer. Hi, girl. She's voiced by and named after Joe and Dan's mother, Chris Brummer.

[Dan Brum]

Oh, yes, Bingo.

[Dallas Taylor]

I floss every night. Joe also named the grandfather Bob Heeler, after their dad, Bob Brum. On the show, Real Life Bob actually doesn't voice Grandpa Bob, but he did do the voice for one of the gray nomads in the episode Road Trip.

[Child 2]

Would you like a big peanut sticker?

[Dan Brum]

I've got a spare one.

[Child 1]

Oh, yes, please.

[Dallas Taylor]

And as it turns out, there's one more close relative who has a key role on the show.

[Dan Brum]

A bit of a backstory is that I have this bizarre, graying stripe down the middle of my head. And so my older brother calls me Stripe, and amongst all the cousins, I'm Uncle Stripe. And then I saw a script which was Horsey Ride come across my desk and there was a character in it called Uncle Stripe. I thought, great, I think that character might be written for me.

[Dallas Taylor]

There was no heads up. Dan's brother Joe just knew that he would get the message.

[Dan Brum]

I think I first found out just from the script there and thought, ah, okay, I'm gonna give this a red hot crack as an audition in Bluey.

[Dallas Taylor]

Uncle Stripe is Bandit's brother. He's got stubble on his face and a light blue stripe around his abdomen.

[Dan Brum]

And obviously I was auditioned and had to be able to do the role.

[Dallas Taylor]

Fortunately, along with being a sound designer, Dan also had years of experience as a voiceover artist.

[Dan Brum]

When living and working around here, it's all about taking pride in what you do, about being part of a community.

[Dallas Taylor]

For Dan, the role of Uncle Stripe felt especially natural.

[Dan Brum]

Hey, kids, how you going? Hey, brother. He's just me. Like, people ask you to do the Stripe voice, it's like, well, it's just me. What are you talking about? Nothing happens when you press my nose.

[Dallas Taylor]

But that doesn't mean that Stripe is always low key.

[Dan Brum]

He sort of yells a lot. Stripe. And you just scream like from the belly. And you just really give it your all. And the animators love that because they've got this just full range wild line that they can kind of animate however they'd like to, and it ends up just funnier on screen.

[Child 2]

Let's get on it.

[Dallas Taylor]

Not only does Joe like to cast his friends and family on the show, he also draws from his real life experiences with these people to write these stories. In fact, some of the funniest and most poignant moments on the show came from real life.

[Dan Brum]

I think that's why it's so funny, because it was a real line that a kid did say.

[Dallas Taylor]

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[Dan Brum]

Am I repeating myself? Would you stand me on my head?

[Dallas Taylor]

If you recognize that sound, tell us at the web address mystery.20.org anyone who guesses it right will be entered to win one of our super soft 20,000Hz T shirts. And if you want a super soft shirt right now, just go to20k.org when 20,000Hz first started selling super soft T shirts, I didn't know the first thing about making an online storefront or tracking orders and merchandise. That's when I discovered Shopify. Shopify gives you everything you need to take your business to the next level. It includes a stylish website builder and a powerful backend where you can track inventory and run reports. It also has a ton of integrations, including sites like Instagram and Amazon. One of my favorite Shopify features is called Shop Pay. Basically, when a customer enters their address and payment info on any Shopify website, Shopify can save that info for future purchases, so when they shop on your website, it's much faster and less of a hassle to check out. That added convenience can boost conversions up to 50%. In other words, it means less abandoned carts and more sales. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout as companies like Heinz, Mattel and Allbirds. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com 20k all lowercase go to shopify.com 20k to upgrade your selling today. That's shopify.com 20 as someone who runs two businesses, one being 20,000 Hz and the other being defacto sound, I'm very aware that it's the people that make these organizations successful, but finding those people can be a huge headache. That's where Indeed comes in. Indeed is the platform that makes hiring a breeze. Instead of sending you on an endless search for the right people, Indeed matches you with quality candidates fast. That's thanks to their smart matching engine, which uses over 140 million data points to find the ideal candidate for any role. Plus it learns from your preferences, so the more you use it, the better it gets. Indeed also allows you to screen candidates, schedule interviews and make job offers all in one place. Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. 20,000Hz listeners can get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.comHERTZ just go to Indeed.comHERTZ right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire you need Indeed. In many ways, Bluey is a family affair. The series was created by Joe Brum. His brother Dan sound designs and mixes the show and also voices Uncle Stripe. Their parents, Bob and Chris have both voiced characters and the kids in the show are voiced by the children of cast, crew and friends. When writing the show, Joe draws on all of these connections to make Bluey feel relatable. Like the episode Squash where Bandit and Stripe face off in a squash game.

[Child 2]

Big brothers always beat little brothers. That's just the way it goes.

[Dan Brum]

I've got two brothers, Joe and my older brother Adam, and we played a lot of squash sort of in our 20s and 30s.

[Dallas Taylor]

Squash is a high speed game played in a small enclosed court.

[Dan Brum]

Squash with your brothers is different to squash with friends because it's combat squash. You just, you're swinging, you're running, it's wild and it's dangerous.

[Child 2]

Take that. Ow.

[Dan Brum]

From a sound design point of view, it was so much fun because you can't fake a game of squash. It's such a specific sound. So I went down to a squash court and I recorded myself hitting squash balls, bouncing against walls, hitting the glass, you know, and the cheats of like the squeak of the shoe. Now a dog's foot wouldn't make that sound. But if you're watching a rally of squash and you don't have that high pitched reverberant squeak of a Shoe. It's just not going to sound and feel like a game of squash.

[Dallas Taylor]

Dan actually has a co writing credit on this episode. It was his idea to make Bluey and Bingo control Bandit and Stripe like video game characters.

[Child 2]

Okay, one more point and we win. Bluey, make it happen.

[Child 1]

Okay.

[Dan Brum]

Just do your best, Bingo.

[Child 1]

I'm trying, but my controller isn't working properly.

[Dallas Taylor]

No matter how hard he tries, Stripe just can't seem to beat Bandit.

[Dan Brum]

Why do you keep losing?

[Child 2]

Because big brothers always beat little brothers.

[Dan Brum]

The genesis of that story of big brothers always beat little brothers is kind of true because Joe just would always win no matter how hard you tried. He just had that edge.

[Dallas Taylor]

But this episode differs from real life a bit. Uncle Stripe ends up winning after some inspiring words from Bingo.

[Dan Brum]

You'll probably have a better chance of winning with your dad.

[Child 1]

No, I want us to win.

[Dan Brum]

Oh, really? Why is that?

[Child 1]

Because big sisters don't always beat little sisters. There, I fixed you.

[Dan Brum]

Yeah, Bingo.

[Dallas Taylor]

You did. Even some of the dialogue in Bluey comes from real life. Like when Bingo trips on a can of baked beans.

[Dan Brum]

Often the three of us brothers will get together and you just kind of laugh about various things that your kids have said. And that was my little. She would have been two and a half at the time. She was eating a bowl of baked beans and she dropped the bowl of baked beans and then she literally slipped on them and like she went, ah, I slipped on my beans. And so I would have told that to my brother. And next minute I see that it's ended up in Granny's and it's this immortalized line, I slip on my beans. I think that's why it's so funny, because it was a real line that a kid did say.

[Dallas Taylor]

While Joe brings his real life experiences into the writing of Bluey, Dan often does the same thing with the sound.

[Dan Brum]

I was actually watching back on the episode Wagon Ride from season one, and I really liked it because again, the sound design is about capturing the feeling of what the story is trying to convey. And that episode is set in an early morning. The kids have woken up Ben and he's got to take him for a walk.

[Child 2]

Ah, chilly asleep. All right, let's do this.

[Dallas Taylor]

As parents know, this kind of thing happens a lot.

[Dan Brum]

There's early mornings, and then there's early mornings of when your kid wakes up. My oldest daughter, she would wake up at 4 o'clock every morning and I would have to take her out of the house and take her for a big walk so that my wife and our Baby could keep sleeping. And the sound out in the world at four in the morning is very different from six o'clock in the morning. It's different from five o'clock in the morning. That first hour, it's just whole different birds.

[Child 1]

Okay, let's go.

[Child 2]

Seat belts, dad.

[Child 1]

There are no seatbelts.

[Child 2]

Oh, yeah. Off we go.

[Dan Brum]

Yeah. And then as you go for the walk, by the time you finish the walk, more and more birds have woken up.

[Child 2]

Come on. Bingo. Let's roll.

[Child 1]

Coming, Jasmine. I've got some birthday phones.

[Dan Brum]

And I think I did a pretty good job in that episode. It just. It feels beautiful and lush and lovely.

[Child 2]

You ladies are certainly up early.

[Child 1]

Oh, yes. It's got to be done.

[Dallas Taylor]

Throughout the episode. Bandit pulls the kids around in a red wagon.

[Child 1]

You won't get us today, Ridge troll.

[Child 2]

Yeah, Ridge troll. Eat some other kids.

[Dan Brum]

The show is obviously very much based on my brother's experience raising his kids. And so that's what he used to do. He used to take his kids in the wagon. So the first thing I did as a sound designer is I borrowed that wagon off him and I recorded myself pushing and pulling that around my street in the area. But I needed the weight of having two kids in it. So I put my two kids in it and I wheeled them around. And that got that lovely, really nice weighted metal cart sound. And you can hear between the takes, I've used my kids laughing and squealing because they're having so much fun. Their dad was pushing them around in this trolley at five in the morning. And so now they're frozen in time at 2 and 4 and they're 8 and 10. Now it's this beautiful little time capsule which only I know about.

[Child 1]

I have a question. Daddy. Daddy J keeps laughing.

[Dan Brum]

Yeah, it's all right.

[Dallas Taylor]

Bluey is inspired by the family lives of the people who make it. And in turn, these stories give families like mine our own special moments. At one point, my daughter started saying this phrase that my wife and I just couldn't figure out for the longest time. I had two different daughters who said the same thing. They were just like, I want to play passel, passel, passel, passel. And I was like, passel, passel. It took us forever. It took us like six weeks to figure out, like, what are you talking? Passel, passel, passel, passel, passle, passel. But then my wife and I saw the episode of Bluey where the kids play this game that's apparently common in Australia. It's like musical chairs, but instead of Changing seats. You pass around a present. The game, in my very American accent, is called pass the parcel.

[Child 2]

Okay, ready for pass the parcel?

[Child 1]

Yeah, Pass the parcel. Where they pass presents.

[Dallas Taylor]

We realized that they were saying pass the parcel but with an Australian accent. And it was so cute.

[Dan Brum]

That's amazing. You ready for pass the parcel, kids?

[Dallas Taylor]

Yeah.

[Child 1]

I love pass the parcel. The reason why I say pass the parcel is because it's kind of hard for me to speak.

[Dallas Taylor]

Pass the parcel isn't the only game we've gotten from Bluey. I play Keepy Uppy at least once a week.

[Dan Brum]

Yeah. Nice.

[Dallas Taylor]

I love it. This aspect of the show isn't by accident. The creators are very conscious of how these stories impact parents.

[Dan Brum]

Some parents find it hard to play with their kids to have the imagination to come up with these games. But what Bluey has given those parents is a bunch of games that they can just play. And so the kids are then getting much more fun times with their parents. And that's what you hear everywhere, is that it's just encouraged dads and mums to play with their kids. And there's no better outcome from a TV show, right, than bringing families together and playing these games. The unfortunate thing is that those games aren't just a seven minute game. It's a game that the kid wants to play for five hours in a row when the cricket's on.

[Child 2]

All right, girls, who wants to sit on the couch and watch cricket?

[Child 1]

Not me. No way. Let's play horsey ride. Yeah.

[Dan Brum]

Well, we gave it a shot.

[Dallas Taylor]

That's parenting for you more than any specific game. For me, the biggest takeaway from Bluey is just relatable stories about being a parent. Like in one episode where Chilli's cooking dinner, she has Bingo in one ear telling jokes that don't make sense while Bluey is in the other ear practicing her recorder.

[Child 3]

Potato.

[Child 1]

Who potato drives the car to the potato shop and buys a potato.

[Child 3]

That's a good one. Bingo.

[Child 1]

Lily.

[Dan Brum]

Sorry.

[Dallas Taylor]

When Bandit gets home, Chilli tells him that she needs a break.

[Child 3]

Right. Dinner's in the slow cooker. And the pat. Afternoon tea. I need 20 minutes when no one comes near me.

[Dallas Taylor]

What?

[Child 2]

Oh. Yep. Okay. Come on, kids. Daddy daughter time.

[Dallas Taylor]

But the girls don't understand and they think they've done something wrong.

[Child 1]

I'm sorry for whatever I did to upset you.

[Child 3]

You didn't do anything to upset me, sweetheart.

[Child 1]

Then why don't you want to see us?

[Child 3]

I do want to see you, but it can be hard work looking after kids. Sometimes mums just need 20 minutes.

[Child 1]

I don't understand.

[Child 3]

You will one day, sweetheart.

[Dan Brum]

Parenting is. It's such a hard journey and it's so lovely and it's so emotional, but it's tiring and it's frustrating and it's every single emotion you can experience. And then suddenly, with Bluey, these stories are so sincere. It's so believable and so relatable in that all of us parents who are playing these games behind closed doors that no one sees, suddenly it's like you see yourself up on screen and you realise we're all going through it together. And for me, that's the power of this show. And that's just this gift to the world that my brother has given.

[Dallas Taylor]

How does Bluey the show, make you feel about your family?

[Dan Brum]

Um.

[Child 1]

Makes us feel more ordinary, for sure.

[Dallas Taylor]

In the Taylor household, Bluey is the one show that me, my wife and our three girls can all enjoy together. We can laugh, we can cry, we can learn a goofy new game to play, and most importantly, we can learn to understand each other just a little bit better.

[Dan Brum]

And, I mean, that's what this show is. Ever since it came out in 2018, I'd tell people that I work on it and their eyes would just light up and they just want to tell you how much this show means to them and their family. I'm very fortunate and very lucky to be able to play a role in a show like this, but it's a really nice feeling to know that something you work on is just creating so much happiness and so much joy around the world.

[Child 1]

20,000 Hz is produced out of the sound design studios of Defacto Sound. Hear [e-mail] this episode was written and.

[Dallas Taylor]

Produced by Nicholas Harter and Casey Emmerling, with help from Grace East. It was sound design and mixed by Jesus Zartiaga and Jade Dickey.

[Child 1]

A huge thanks to sound designer Dan Brahm.

[Dallas Taylor]

I'm Dallas Taylor. Thanks for listening. All right, I'm about to hit stop. Anybody else want to say anything to the microphone before I hit stop?

[Child 1]

We love Louie. Yay.

[Dallas Taylor]

Hey, listeners. These days, there's so much content that's meant to get people riled up. Whether it's on the news, on podcasts or on places like YouTube and TikTok. Creators know anything that makes people upset is more clickable and more shareable. But one of my goals with this show is to fight back against that constant stream of negativity. Our episodes are designed to be little nuggets of joy and sincerity, but stories like this aren't the ones that people naturally think to share. That's where you come in. If you'd like to bring a little more joy into this world, then share our episodes with the people you know would love them. Send them to friends and family members and talk about them online. Remember, 20,000 hertz is family friendly and it's made to be enjoyed by anyone who loves good storytelling, not just people who are super into sound. So please help us spread the joy. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.