Sometimes the biggest moments at D23 aren’t the giant announcements. Sometimes it’s something completely unexpected. That was certainly the case during Bluey: From the Backyard to the Big Screen, session on the Backlot Stage at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 that looked back at Bluey’s earliest beginnings and ahead to the Bluey Movie 2027.
The panel brought together some of the people who helped turn a little blue heeler from Brisbane into one of the biggest family entertainment franchises in the world.
Nancy Cartwright — yes, the voice of Bart Simpson — moderated the conversation. How cool is that?
Joining her were Bluey creator Joe Brumm, director Richard Jeffery, producer Amber Naismith, David McCormack, the voice of Bandit, and Melanie Zanetti, the voice of Chilli.
Together, they went all the way back to the beginning of Bluey before turning their attention to something much bigger: The Bluey Movie.
Before Bluey Became Bluey
One of my favorite parts of the entire session came early. Joe Brumm took us back to Bluey’s beginnings, including a look at the original Bluey pilot.
You can immediately see pieces of the Bluey we know today. However, you can also see just how much changed as the idea developed.
The animation is different. The characters are still evolving. Most importantly, you are watching the beginnings of something that nobody could have known would become a worldwide phenomenon. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one fascinated by it.
Want to See the Original Bluey Pilot?
I recorded the complete D23 presentation for the Sam’s Disney Diary YouTube channel. However, YouTube blocked the portion containing the original pilot footage.
Fortunately, the clip is still available, at least for now, on Instagram. So, before you watch the complete panel below, take a look at Bluey before Bluey became the show we know today.
View this post on Instagram
The Instagram clip is only a short piece of footage, but for Bluey fans, it is a fascinating glimpse at where it all began. In the full D23 session, Joe Brumm goes much deeper, sharing the inspiration behind Bluey, how the original idea started to take shape, and how those early concepts evolved into the series we know today.
From the Backyard to the Big Screen
After looking back, the conversation turned toward The Bluey Movie. And moving Bluey from seven-minute television episodes to a theatrical feature is a much bigger challenge than simply making a longer episode.
The movie arrives in theaters August 6, 2027.
Joe Brumm will write and direct the film, while Richard Jeffery serves as co-director. Amber Naismith will produce, and David McCormack and Melanie Zanetti return as Bandit and Chilli.
However, one of the biggest changes will be something fans notice immediately. Bluey is moving into a CG-animated world for the big screen.
Bluey in 3D
That change opened up one of the most interesting conversations of the panel. The television series has a wonderfully simple visual style. It works perfectly for Bluey’s short episodes and imaginative storytelling. A movie theater is different.
Suddenly, Brisbane has to feel bigger. The Heeler home needs more depth. Grass, sunlight, rooms, streets, and the world surrounding Bluey all need enough detail to hold up on a giant screen. At the same time, nobody wants Bluey to stop looking or feeling like Bluey.
That balance seems to be one of the biggest challenges facing the filmmakers. And there is another problem the television show never really needed to solve. The Heeler house doesn’t always follow a perfectly consistent floor plan. That works in a seven-minute animated episode. A room can be where the story needs it to be.
However, once you build that house as a three-dimensional environment, things actually have to connect. Those are the kinds of little behind-the-scenes details that made this panel so much fun.
Watch Bluey: From the Backyard to the Big Screen
Now it’s time for the complete conversation. Watch Bluey: From the Backyard to the Big Screen, recorded on the Backlot Stage at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026.
You’ll hear directly from Joe Brumm, Richard Jeffery, Amber Naismith, David McCormack, Melanie Zanetti, and moderator Nancy Cartwright as they look back at Bluey’s beginnings and ahead to the 2027 movie.
Remember, the original Bluey pilot shown during the presentation had to be removed from the YouTube version. You can watch that footage in the Instagram clip above.
From an early pilot in Brisbane to more than 500,000 views on a single Instagram clip — and now a feature film headed to theaters — Bluey has come a long way.
And we’re just getting started. Stay with Sam’s Disney Diary for more complete panels, presentations, interviews, and coverage from D23 2026.
