You’ve seen them everywhere. Those adorable, blocky, pastel-colored dogs that look like they stepped right out of Brisbane and into a game of Keepy Uppy. Whether you’re a parent whose toddler has watched "Sleepytime" forty-two times or a digital artist obsessed with Joe Brumm’s minimalist aesthetic, the urge to make your own Bluey character is real. It’s a thing. A big thing.
Honestly, the "Blueysonas" (as the internet calls them) are more than just fan art; they’re a way for people to see themselves in that gentle, watercolor world of the Heeler family. But here’s the catch. If you just slap some ears on a rectangle, it’s gonna look wonky. There is a specific logic to the Ludo Studio art style that most people miss on their first try.
Why Everyone is Obsessed with Blueysonas
It’s about simplicity. The show’s design is deceptively basic. Most characters are essentially rectangles with rounded corners, but the personality comes from the snout shape, the tail fluff, and those iconic "eyebrow" spots. When you decide to make your own Bluey character, you’re trying to capture that specific "for real life" energy.
People create these characters for RPGs, for their kids’ birthday invitations, or just to see what kind of dog they’d be. Maybe you're a Golden Retriever who works in IT, or a grumpy Pug who loves gardening. The world of Bluey is inclusive of basically every breed, provided they fit into that chunky, lovable silhouette.
The Secret Sauce of the Bluey Art Style
Before you grab a stylus or a crayon, you have to understand the geometry. Bluey characters aren't "organic" in the way Disney characters are. They are built on a grid. If you look closely at Bluey or Bingo, their bodies are nearly perfect rectangles.
- The Body: Start with a vertical rectangle. Round the corners slightly. If the character is "heavier," make the rectangle wider. If they’re a puppy, make it squishier.
- The Snout: This is where people mess up. The snout is a separate rectangle that sits on the lower half of the face. For most breeds, it’s a blunt, flat-ended shape.
- The Legs: Think of them as tiny pillars. No knees. No ankles. Just straight lines that curve at the bottom into paws.
- The Eyes: Big, white circles. The pupils are simple black dots. No eyelashes unless it’s a very specific design choice, though even then, Ludo Studio keeps it minimal.
Actually, the most important part is the color palette. Bluey uses desaturated, soft tones. Even the "bright" colors aren't neon. They feel like they’ve been washed in sunlight. If you use a "Pure Red" or "Neon Green" when you make your own Bluey character, it will look like an alien. Stick to earth tones, muted pastels, and creamy whites.
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Tools You Can Actually Use Right Now
You don't need a degree in animation. You just need a bit of patience. Depending on your skill level, there are three main ways to get this done.
1. The "Official" Bluey Website Creator
If you go to the official Bluey website, they occasionally have "Bluey-fication" tools. They are limited. You can’t change much. It’s mostly picking a few colors and hats. It’s fine for a five-year-old, but if you want something unique, it’s probably going to frustrate you. It's safe, it's cute, but it's not "yours."
2. Picrew and Community Generators
This is the "pro-sumer" choice. Artists like Chuby_Bot and others on platforms like Picrew have built incredibly detailed character builders. These allow you to toggle through dozens of ear shapes, tail types, and markings. It’s basically a video game character creator but for Heelers. It’s the fastest way to make your own Bluey character that actually looks like it belongs in the show.
3. Digital Illustration (Procreate, Photoshop, Canva)
If you want total control, you’ve gotta draw it. Use a reference image of Bandit or Chilli. Lower the opacity. Trace the basic boxy shapes. Then, swap out the ears for your chosen breed. If you’re making a Husky, give them pointy ears and a thick, bushy tail. If it’s a Long-haired Dachshund, stretch that rectangle horizontally.
What Most People Get Wrong About Dog Breeds
The show is surprisingly accurate about dog anatomy—in a cartoonish way. If you are making a specific breed, look at that breed's real-life traits.
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A Greyhound shouldn't be a thick rectangle. They should be a tall, thin rectangle with slightly longer legs. A Bulldog should be a wide, low-to-the-ground square with a broader snout.
And don't forget the "socks." Most Bluey characters have different colored fur on their hands and feet. It adds depth. Usually, the belly is also a lighter shade than the rest of the body. These tiny details are what make the character feel "official."
The Logic of Markings
Bluey characters are rarely one solid color. They have patches. These patches usually follow a "rule of three." You have your base color, a darker shade for the back/ears, and a lighter shade for the belly/snout.
Think about where a dog's markings naturally occur. Around the eyes? On the tip of the tail? Across the shoulders? When you make your own Bluey character, try to mimic these patterns. Don't just throw spots everywhere like a Dalmatian—unless, well, you're making a Dalmatian (shoutout to Chloe).
Naming Your Character
Names in the Blueyverse are usually simple. They are either human names that sound slightly "Aussie" or "old-fashioned" (like Arthur, Doreen, or Wendy) or they are descriptive (like Lucky, Rusty, or Snickers).
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If you're naming your character, avoid "Shadow Dark-Claw" or something edgy. It doesn't fit the vibe. Stick to things you'd yell at a dog park in Brisbane. "Bluey" itself is a classic Australian nickname for red-headed people, ironically. Use that kind of logic.
Dealing with the "Cringe" Factor
Look, some people think adults making fan characters for a preschool show is weird. Honestly? Who cares. The show deals with heavy themes like infertility, aging, and childhood anxiety. It has a massive adult following for a reason. If creating a little cartoon dog brings you a bit of joy or helps you bond with your kid, go for it. The community is generally incredibly welcoming and wholesome.
Actionable Steps to Start Drawing
If you're ready to actually sit down and do this, follow this workflow. It saves a lot of "undoing" later.
- Pick your breed first. Don't just "draw a dog." Decide if you're a Border Collie, a Kelpie, or a Maremma.
- Find a reference screenshot. Open a tab with a high-res image of a character with a similar head shape.
- Sketch the "The Big Three": The torso rectangle, the snout box, and the ear triangles.
- Simplify the fur. Don't draw individual hairs. Use "clumps" or jagged lines at the edges of the ears or tail to show texture.
- Choose a "Vibe." Is your character a tired parent? A chaotic toddler? Give them an accessory that tells a story. A coffee mug, a cricket bat, or maybe just a very specific hat.
- The "Squint Test." Squint your eyes at your drawing. If you can still tell it’s a "Bluey" style character without seeing the details, you’ve nailed the silhouette.
The beauty of this art style is that it’s accessible. You don't need to understand complex muscle anatomy or 3D perspective. It’s flat, it’s colorful, and it’s built on simple joy. Once you make your own Bluey character, you’ll start seeing the world in rectangles and pastel blues too.
Now, go grab a pen. Or a mouse. Or a tablet. Just make sure you get the snout right.
Next Steps for Your Creation:
- Finalize the Color Palette: Use a color picker tool on an official screenshot to find the exact shades of "Heeler Blue" or "Bingo Orange" to use as a base for your own variations.
- Check the Line Weight: Ensure your outlines are thick and consistent. The show uses a very specific line thickness that isn't quite black—it's usually a very dark version of the character's primary color.
- Export for Use: Save your character as a PNG with a transparent background so you can drop them into "Bluey" backgrounds (like the Heeler's iconic living room) for a finished look.