Bluey fans in tears over creator’s shock announcement: ‘I can’t wrap my head around doing more seasons’

The creator of Bluey has announced he will step away from the wildly popular Australian children’s animated series, leaving fans devastated.

Joe Brumm penned a gut-wrenching open letter to parents, confirming ‘The Sign’ will mark his TV finale for the show, as he now focuses on Bluey’s first-ever movie, set for release in cinemas worldwide in 2027.

‘I always said I wouldn’t keep making the show if I thought I couldn’t make any new season as good as the last,’ Brumm said.

‘This would have been the case for me with a potential season four, so I’ve decided to take a break from my involvement in the TV series. 

‘In the event I can’t wrap my head around doing more seasons myself, The Sign will mark my TV finale for Bluey and I wrote it as such.’

The Aussie animator and director explained how creating the highly successful, award-winning kids’ show featuring the fan favourite Blue Heeler puppy has ‘completely changed my life’. 

‘It’s been an immensely satisfying thing to be a part of, more than I can really put into words,’ he said. 

‘To walk away from it while it’s at such a height will seem crazy to some but, for now, I am finding it difficult to reach back genuinely into that four to six-year-old world and write authentically.’

However, Brumm quickly reassured fans that the show will go on without him.

‘To be clear, this is not an announcement about the end of the show, but it is an acknowledgment that my focus will be on the film,’ he said. 

The director said his Bluey crew, along with the creative people in his life, have supported his decision to step down from the TV series. 

‘Working with that wonderful group of people has been the absolute highlight of my animation career and I hope Bluey on their CV is a badge of pride for them,’ he said.

Elsewhere in the letter, Brumm highlighted the ‘good news’ about his upcoming plans.

‘After some time spent away from the series, working on another project, an old idea resurfaced and before I knew it, I’d written a Bluey feature script that I really love,’ he said.

‘Fast forward through a tonne of contracting and we’re about to embark on making an animated Bluey movie.’

He thanked parents and children around the world for welcoming the wildly popular show into their homes. 

‘The whole experience has been an impossible experience to describe,’ he said.

The unexpected announcement has shocked parents, with one mum telling FEMAIL: ‘WHAT! This is horrifying news. The show will not be the same without him.’

Thousands of mums and dads have flooded social media to express their heartbreak.

‘I was excited about the movie… now I’m sad,’ one said. 

‘I’m going to be sick,’ another confessed. 

‘I’m actually crying right now,’ one revealed. 

‘I read this to my daughter and she’s bawling her eyes out. We weren’t ready for this,’ another added.

The cartoon first hit screens in 2018 and has since gained popularity with both kids and parents, taking home numerous awards along the way.

Earlier this week, BBC Studios and The Walt Disney Company announced they are bringing Bluey’s first-ever animated feature film to the big screen, which will be written and directed by Brumm.

‘I really enjoyed the experience of working with a longer format on ‘The Sign’ in Series 3, so going even further with a feature film feels like a natural extension of that,’ Brumm said. 

‘I’ve always thought ‘Bluey’ deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together.’