Bluey voice actors Melanie Zanetti, who voices Chilli, and Dave McCormack, who voices Bandit, discuss new special “The Sign” and why the series resonates with so many people.
There is something truly special about the Disney series Bluey. It has resonated with viewers all over the world, and we aren’t just talking about young children, who are the target audience. Parents, adults, and even teenagers have fallen in love with the Heeler family, and for good reason.
Bluey captures hearts with its honesty and relatability. It teaches that we are not perfect and that everyone has their flaws. On top of the messaging and brilliantly written stories, the animation is beautiful and the music will tug at your heart strings. Each and every episode is special in its own way.
We sat down with Bluey actors, Melanie Zanetti, who voices Mum / Chilli, and Dave McCormack, who voices Dad / Bandit to talk about the new special, “The Sign”. We also chatted about why they think Bluey has meant so much to so many people and if they expected that when they first signed on.
Melanie and Dave also reveal how they reacted to the script for the Bluey special, which is out now. It turns out they recorded it in two parts and were left with a massive cliffhanger while they waited for the second half.
Voices of Bluey’s Chilli & Bandit On “The Sign” & Why Bluey Resonates With So Many
Tessa Smith: What do you think it is about Bluey that resonates with so many people, of all ages, from all around the world?
Melanie Zanetti: Yeah, I think the creator, Joe, has this remarkable way of tapping into the main line of the truth of families, in all its hilarity, and ridiculousness, and heart, and the vulnerable tricky parts of it. And I think because he got so specific in that, it’s that paradox that it becomes universal.
Dave McCormack: Yeah, he really got into the details of it, didn’t he? And everyone seems to connect with that.
Dave is actually a composer as well, although not for the Bluey series. So he adds:
Dave McCormack: The music is so unique. I’m just in awe of the music for the show. Because they’ve established their own sound palette universe, but it never repeats itself. It’s always a new take on it. It’s always organic. And it always fits in great with the storytelling. You can hear five seconds of the score and you know it’s Bluey. If you see a picture of a house or a bush, you know that that is from Bluey, just from the style and the aesthetic of it. They’ve really, really stamped their own brand on the blue universe. It’s incredible. And the writing is, well, the whole thing all fits into this one big world where it couldn’t be anything else.
Tessa Smith: When you guys first signed on, did you think it was going to be as massive and as big as it is?
Melanie Zanetti: I don’t think anyone could have suspected it would become quite the juggernaut that it is. But I knew it was special. I saw the the pilot or almost, like the first four frames a second before even the pilot was made. And I was like, this is magical. My heart hurts. This is so beautiful. So I was straight in. I was a believer from the start.
Dave McCormack: I loved it when I first saw it, but I didn’t think that it would even catch on. I didn’t think I was gonna be on TV. I thought it was amazing. And it was kooky. The first episode was The Weekend, which was the pilot one, and it’s got all these funny bits about Dad just wants to sit on the couch and watch cricket or read the newspaper. And it’s all these little stories that’s happening in this house. We didn’t know the characters that well then. When it was on national TV here I thought wow, that’s amazing. And then to know that it’s gone on to other countries and other territories and people love it, and everyone talks about it and they buy all the merchandise and it’s a real thing, it’s amazing.
Tessa Smith: Do you both feel as if you have learned anything from Bluey?
Dave McCormack: I’ve learned heaps because Bandit is a great dad and Chilli is a great mom, I’ve learned so much from them. Because when we’re doing the episode, you’re in that world and I’ve got young kids who when the show started, were about the same age as Bingo and Bluey. So it was quite relatable. I’d always try and be a better parent. You get inspired when you do the episode and then I go home from and for twenty to thrity minutes, I try and be Bandit Heeler in real life, like mega engaged and everything, but then it would wear off and would I just get back to normal flawed human behavior.
Melanie Zanetti: I just think there is so much beautiful messaging in the show about how we treat each other, but also that we’re all flawed and imperfect humans / canines and we’re all just trying to be present and do our best. With some imagination and joy and humor thrown in there. I think it’s quite a beautiful blueprint as a way to live.
Tessa Smith: Let’s talk about The Sign. What are you most excited for people to see in the first Bluey extended-length special?
Melanie Zanetti: What we can say is that is a roller coaster of emotions and I’m really excited for the audience to go on this journey. It’s a big one. We were mentioning before that. Dave and I, got The Sign in two lots, so we recorded it in two halves so we had a total cliffhanger as to what was going to happen. So when you see our reactions, particularly during that first half, we don’t know where we go so that was all very real.
Dave McCormack: I had no idea how it was gonna end. We were doing the first half and in my mind, I’m thinking it’s gonna happen? Or is it going to be that? Or is it going to be this? I tell you what, it’s a tour de force for Chillli in this episode. There’s a lot going on for Chilli Heeler. She’s incredible.
Melanie Zanetti: She has a big arc in this one.
Tessa Smith: What was your reaction to reading how The Sign ends? What were you feeling?
Melanie Zanetti: What was the feeling? I was wiping tears of my chin when I finally saw the full episode and how it ended. It was Wow. Really special. That’s all I’m gonna say.
Dave McCormack: I find it amazing because, when people see it, they’ll know what we’re talking about. In the shots that have no dialogue, the ending has no dialogue. There’s beautiful music playing. But it sums up the whole emotion of existence and being alive and family and potentially things changing, and then returning to the way they were. It’s pretty amazing that a show can do that with no dialogue, it’s animation, and beautiful song.
Tessa Smith: If there was one thing that you hope audiences take away from Bluey, what would it be?
Dave McCormack: You don’t know where things are going. Like this last episode. Like The Sign. You don’t know exactly where life is taking youso you can only do what you can do the time. You can’t plan for everything. So go with it. It’ll be okay in the end.
Melanie Zanetti: Yeah. And just to add on to that. Well, to quote Chilli, the world is a magical place. And we never know what’s going to happen. But it’s about staying present, and staying open and imaginative and creative. And kind.
“The Sign” is the global hit series’ first extended-length special, premiering April 14 at 12AM PDT on Disney+, 7:00AM EDT/PDT on Disney Junior, and 7:30AM EDT/PDT on Disney Channel.
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About Bluey
Created and written by Joe Brumm, Bluey follows the adventures of a lovable and inexhaustible Blue Heeler puppy who lives with her Dad, Mum, and little sister, Bingo. It showcases the joyful simplicity that can be found in families, by bringing to life how children learn and grow through play. Jointly commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family, Bluey is produced by the multiple Emmy® Award-winning Ludo Studio for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC Studios Kids & Family.
The series airs and streams to U.S. and global audiences (outside of Australia, New Zealand and China) across Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ through a global broadcasting deal between BBC Studios Kids & Family and Disney Branded Television.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.