BBC Studios has announced stars including Kylie and Dannii Minogue will bring Bluey storybooks to life in new YouTube series, as well as a new licensing deal across South East Asia.
BBC Studios Social
, together with BBC Studios Kids & Family and Ludo Studio has announced that Bluey Book Reads has launched on the official Bluey YouTube channel, bringing to life many of the beloved Bluey storybooks with a celebrity-stacked calendar of reads.
Bluey Book Reads is commissioned by BBC Studios Social; the team, which is part of BBC Studios’ Brands and Licensing division, was awarded the Lovie’s inaugural European Publisher Of The Year Award in 2023 and runs Bluey’s social channels, including the official Bluey YouTube channel portfolio which has 5.7b lifetime views.
Bluey Book Reads is BBC Studios Social’s first piece of standalone content for Bluey. The brand-new, digital, original 10 x 5 series launched with Mini Bluey, read by pop royalty Kylie and Dannii Minogue.
Jasmine Dawson, SVP of Digital at BBC Studios, said: “It is a true privilege to work with the joyous brand that is Bluey. She has captured hearts of all ages across the globe and in extending her story, we have put that audience at the heart of everything. I am extremely proud of this original commission and it is a true ‘for real life’ moment.”
Bluey Book Reads combines off-screen narration from global talent with visuals from Bluey storybooks and live action shots. In addition to Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Bindi Irwin, Tom Daley, Romesh Ranganathan, Suranne Jones, Jenna Fischer, Eva Mendes, Jordan Fisher, Camille Cottin and Rob Delaney will lend their unique charm to Bluey’s much-loved stories.
Bluey Book Reads’ release schedule:
12th February 2024 – Kylie and Dannii Minogue read Mini Bluey
26th February 2024 – Bindi Irwin reads The Creek
11th March 2024 – Tom Daley reads Barky Boats
22nd March 2024 – Romesh Ranganathan reads Easter
5th April 2024 – Suranne Jones reads Grannies
19th April 2024 – Jenna Fischer reads Charades
3rd May 2024 – Eva Mendes reads Mum School
17th May 2024 – Jordan Fisher reads Swim School
1th June 2024 – Camille Cottin reads The Beach
14th June 2024 – Rob Delaney reads Daddy Putdown
To watch Kylie and Dannii Minogue read Mini Bluey, click here.
BBC Studios Asia has also agreed on a new licensing deal with Medialink Animation International Limited, a subsidiary of Medialink Group Limited, to grow Bluey merchandise across South East Asia.
The deal covers a wide range of Bluey products across key categories. It marks the first time that Bluey products, including apparel, accessories, homeware and local food products, will be launched in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, with expanded product lines in Singapore and Malaysia after their successful core toy launches in 2023.
Sophia Spinelli, VP Brands & Marketing, BBC Studios Asia, said: “It’s fantastic to give fans in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia the opportunity to enjoy Bluey and her wonderful Blue Heeler family beyond the screen. Our Consumer Products and Licensing team has ambitious plans for Bluey and it’s really exciting to see them come to life as we continue to grow and expand the business across the region.”
Noletta Chiu, managing director of Medialink Animation International, added: “We are incredibly thankful for this opportunity. With our long standing experience in the pre-school space with award-winning character IPs, we are confident that we can supercharge the Bluey consumer products licensing portfolio to reach new heights in 2024 and beyond.”
