Ultra-short 'Bluey' minisodes will hit Disney+ this summer: Here's how to watch
Disney+ announced that a total of 20 new "Bluey" mini-episodes are on their way to the streaming service in July less than a month since an emotional season 3 came to an end.
Eric LagattaFears that "Bluey" had run its course on Disney+ appear to have been greatly exaggerated.
Recent back-to-back episodes taking parents and their little ones on emotional rollercoasters left fans of the popular Australian children's series suspecting the worst for their beloved show. As one fan wrote on social media site X, "for a show that isn't ending, the last two eps sure FELT like a series finale + epilogue."
But Disney+ confirmed Thursday that those worries were for naught: "Bluey" is set to make a return to the streaming service, as well as the channel Disney Jr. – and soon.
Ultra-short "Bluey" mini-episodes will hit Disney+ this summer. Here's what we know so far.
When will new 'Bluey' episodes premier on Disney+?
A total of 20 new "Bluey" mini-episodes are on their way to Disney+ beginning in July.
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The upcoming shorts will run from about one to three minutes – not even half the time of a regular 7-minute "Bluey" episode.
Written by series creator Joe Brumm, the truncated minisodes "highlight funny and sweet moments featuring Bluey and Bingo, leaning into playful interactions and games that further explore the characters and world,” Disney+ said in a news release.
The series is produced by the Brisbane, Australia-based Ludo Studio.
'Bluey' shorts follow emotional episodes 'The Sign,' 'Surprise!'
The news likely comes as a relief to parents and their little ones who may have found themselves sobbing through the last two "Bluey" episodes that concluded the series' third season.
It began April 14 with "The Sign," a supersized 28-minute long episode that drew a series-record 10.4 million viewers within its first week of streaming on Disney+. The special episode followed the Heeler family as they considered a move to a new city.
The family ultimately decided to stay put at their house in a poignant climax that even drew a humorous pro-moving response from Zillow. A week later, their 7-minute adventures resumed in a surprise episode – literally titled "Surprise!" – that ended with a flash-forward revealing an adult Bluey with her own child.
Because the episodes were major departures for a show that has become largely predictable over the course of more than 150 outings, fans worried about what, if anything, was next for "Bluey."
But are these minisodes just one more final (ahem) bone that the creators are throwing their fans before the Australian series officially says g'day? Or is it a brief segue between Season 3 and whatever ambitious step is next for "Bluey?"
Right now, Ludo Studio and Disney+ haven't revealed much in the way of answers.
How to watch 'Bluey'
Three seasons of the show are available to stream on Disney+.
Monthly subscription rates start at $9.99.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com