Bluey, as in the Blue cartoon dog from the much celebrated children's animated series, "Bluey"? Are you referring to the show or the character? Please clarify. In any case, I will respond to both prompts.
According to the Bluey Wiki, Bluey is "an Australian preschool animated television series that premiered on ABC Kids on 1 October 2018" and is categorized as "Comedy-drama" as its genre (1). I think that this tidbit in particular tiddles my bits because the descriptor "drama" is used for what is oft overlooked as just another animated children's show. I could spend hours discussing the artistic merits and value that Bluey brings to the animation medium, but I digress. Suffice to say, this show has truly changed my life in ways unlike any non-anime ever could. In fact, I do believe that this animated modern classic can be described as not not anime, or anime, because it is not Western animation, as Australia is at the same longitude as Japan, making it actually far Eastern animation. I do postulate whether the longitude of the studio headquarters of an animated show impacts its quality, because this very much seems to be the case in modern times.
To draw a comparison to the discourse of this message board, Bluey is perhaps most similar to the anime "Death Note". Of course, we all know the classic fable of Light Yagami and L battling their wits to bits throughout the course of the epic "Death Note" series. According to the Death Note wiki, "It began as a manga series, and since then, there have been several adaptations, notably the anime series from 2006-2007, the live-action Japanese film series beginning in 2006, a television drama in 2015, a musical first performed in 2015, and a live-action American film developed by Netflix in 2017" (2). Please note the repetition of the word "drama". As such, Death Note can absolutely be considered a "drama", much like Bluey. Drama relies on character-based storytelling that involves more serious elements than comedic, and I feel that both Bluey and Death Note tickle these boxes pink (3). For one, the tension between characters like Light and L, or Light and Near, is the focal point of the show, and the plot relies on how these characters think about interacting with one another. Similarly, Bluey and Bingo oft bicker and snicker with one another, always arguing over how to play a game, what rules to follow, or who's turn it is on the swings.
Perhaps a more fitting example is the battle of minds between Bluey and her father, Bandit Heeler. When playing games with his two daughters, Bandit finds himself in a war of wits due to the nature of "playing pretend". Bandit wants to the games to cause as little harm to himself - emotionally, physically, and logically - as possible, and so he constantly alters the rules in his favor. This is extremely similar to how L is able initially catch and arrest Light, but then how Light is able to escape by changing the rules of their cat-and-mouse game. This results in L's tragic demise, in which is is killed at the hand of a Shinigami friend. In the Bluey episode "Daddy Dropoff", Daddy (Bandit) is tasked with dropping off Bluey and Bingo at school, but they make him play too many games (4). This results in him failing his goal of getting them to school on time. Bandit has a weakness for his girls, and when he lets his guard down his plans are foiled. The same can be said for Light and L. L is too forgiving, and is hinted to be madly in love with Light. I think they probably had sex once or twice.
Love,
Prof. Joe Borez
Animejoeborez University
6 Avery Ct. Brisbane, Queensland
Works Cited
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