By: Cathy Cai

If you have small children at home, you might just be waiting for the new season of Bluey, the Australian cartoon about a family of talking dogs named the Heelers. The series has won an International Emmy, attracted millions of viewers around the world, inspired podcasts, has an upcoming musical, and all kinds of merchandise.

But how did it become so popular? Why do parents and kids love it so much? The secret to Bluey’s success might be its blend of knowing parental humor, preschool silliness, and deep humanity. The situations in each roughly 10-minute episode of Bluey are simple: the excitement of keeping a balloon in the air, the fun of putting on a show or a tuckered-out child on a family walk.

If it is that easy and lots of families love it, then is it that hard to create a show with this much success? If so, then maybe the other kids’ shows will become more popular. In reality, it’s not that easy. There is a lot of precision to go through to make it funny and enjoyable. Show creators must strike a good comedic balance, catering to the humor of preschoolers and parents.