Ludo Studio

{{Infobox company

| name = Ludo Studio Pty. Ltd.

| logo = Ludo Studio Logo.png

| industry = Live action
Animation

| type = Private

| hq_location = Fortitude Valley, Queensland

| founders = Daley Pearson
Charlie Aspinwall

| founded = {{start date and age|2012}}

| website = {{URL|https://ludostudio.com.au/}}

}}

Ludo Studio Pty. Ltd. is an Australian live-action and animation production company based in Fortitude Valley, Queensland. Founded by Daley Pearson and Charlie Aspinwall in 2012, it is known for producing the television series Bluey (2018), Thou Shalt Not Steal (2024), The Strange Chores (2019), Robbie Hood (2019) and #7DaysLater (2013), and also producing the web series Doodles (2015) and Content (2019).

History

Daley Pearson and Charlie Aspinwall founded Ludo Studio in 2012.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://ludostudio.com.au/about |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Ludo Studio}}{{Cite web |title=Ludo Studio |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/ludo-studio-pty-ltd/about/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Linkedin}} The company is based in Fortitude Valley, Queensland.{{Cite web |title=LUDO STUDIO PTY LTD |url=https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.ludo_studio_pty_ltd.e055674e4ff1dce95b19fd826e6b2783.html |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Dun & Bradstreet}}

The studio has been at the forefront of development for experimental Australian multimedia series. In 2013, the studio released #7DaysLater, a multi-platform comedy series, where each episode was created in 7 days from the audience's online pitches.{{Cite news |title=On 7th day, show created |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1439667317 |last=Cartwright |first=Darren |date=2013-10-07 |work=The Gold Coast Bulletin| id={{ProQuest|1439667317}} }}{{Cite news |title=Daley Pearson, from his heart, showing the soul of Bluey |last=Tiley |first=David |date=2021-09-30 |url=https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/opinions-analysis/__trashed-4-1474990/ |work=Screen Hub}} The series was the first interactive comedy series commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series won an International Emmy Award for Best Digital Program: Fiction.{{Cite web |title=ABC wins International Emmy award for #7DaysLater |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/abc-wins-international-emmy-award-for-7dayslater-20140408-369tu.html |last=Idato |first=Michael |date=2014-04-08 |website=Sydney Morning Herald}} The studio also won a Best Kids' Digital Program International Emmy in 2017 for their web series Doodles.{{Cite news |title=Hoodlum partner in crime Australian production company Hoodlum is partnering with the US-based, Disney-owned...[Derived Headline] |last=Idato |first=Michael |date=2017-04-17 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1888438918 |work=The Canberra Times|id={{ProQuest|1888438918}} }} The series featured animations of drawings submitted by the audience. In 2019, Ludo Studio partnered with ABC to create Content, Australia’s first-ever vertical video series.{{Cite web |title=Content: ABC's world-first series made for mobile – from the creators of Bluey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/28/content-australias-first-vertical-tv-show-smartphone-makers-bluey |last=Luke |first=Buckmaster |date=2019-08-28 |website=The Guardian}}

In 2016, Joe Brumm approached the studio with a one-minute pilot episode for his Children's television series Bluey.{{Cite web |last=Dow |first=Steve |date=11 April 2020 |title=Bluey creator Joe Brumm's dog days |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/television/2020/04/11/bluey-creator-joe-brumms-dog-days/15865272009678 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410161300/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/television/2020/04/11/bluey-creator-joe-brumms-dog-days/15865272009678 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |access-date=11 April 2020 |website=The Saturday Paper |publisher=Schwartz Publishing}} Pearson and Aspinwall took Brumm's pitch to the MIPCOM television conference, where they began looking for investors. The ABC offered the studio $20,000 for a revised seven-minute pilot, in preparation for the Asian Animation Summit in late 2017. The ABC partnered with the BBC to commissioned the series for an initial, 52-episode run.{{Cite web |title=Brisbane-based animators bringing Bluey to a screen near you in 2019: Remember the name "Bluey" |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-31/brisbane-made-bluey-animated-tv-show-coming-abc-bbc-2019/9271872 |last=Vujkovic |first=Melanie |date=2017-12-31 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} The series was produced entirely by the studio in South Brisbane. After the series launched in 2018, it quickly found global critical{{Cite news |title=International Emmy Kids Award for 'Bluey' |url=https://if.com.au/international-emmy-kids-award-for-bluey/ |last=Groves |first=Don |date=2020-04-01 |work=if.com.au}} and commercial success as it expanded to air in 60 different countries.{{Cite web |title=Sixty countries, 110 licences, 1000 products: How Bluey conquered the world |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/how-bluey-went-from-a-kids-tv-show-to-a-global-merchandising-machine-20220610-p5asxg.html |last=Quinn |first=Karl |date=2022-06-14 |website=Sydney Morning Herald}}

In 2024, Bluey was awarded a special recognition award from the Australian High Commissioner in London, in acknowledgement of its significant cultural impact in the UK and around the world.{{Cite news |title=It's 'Bluey House' now, as London awards show for its cultural success |last=Gock |first=Kamina |date=2024-04-22 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-22/bluey-awarded-in-london-for-worldwide-cultural-success/103751814 |work=ABC}} Australia House was transformed into "Bluey House" for the occasion, with the building redecorated and official signage temporarily replaced.

Following their Bluey partnership, ABC commissioned an original animated supernatural comedy, The Strange Chores, created by Pearson and Aspinwall.{{Cite web |title=The Strange Chores hits ABC ME for Halloween! |url=https://screenqueensland.com.au/sq-news/the-strange-chores-hits-abc-me-for-halloween/ |date=2019-10-30 |website=Screen Queensland}} The pair had previously attempted to pitch the series in 2013.{{Cite news |title=Strange times for Daley Pearson |last=Groves |first=Don |date=2013-12-19 |url=https://if.com.au/strange-times-for-daley-pearson/ |work=if.com.au}} The series began to air on ABC ME for Halloween in 2019.

Australian filmmaker Dylan River has partnered with Ludo Studio to bring two of his projects to the screen.{{Cite news |title=Stan announces new Ludo Studio series Thou Shalt Not Steal for South Australia |url=https://www.safilm.com.au/latest-news/stan-series-thou-shalt-not-steal-announced-for-south-australia/ |date=2023-08-30 |work=South Australia Film Corporation}} In 2019, the studio produced Robbie Hood, River's reimagining of the Robin Hood narrative in contemporary Alice Springs.{{Cite web |title='Robbie Hood' brings Sherwood Forest to Central Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/robbie-hood-brings-sherwood-forest-to-central-australia/3ulsccdbr |last=Johnson |first=Travis |date=2019-07-05 |website=SBS}} The series follows Robbie, a 13-year-old Indigenous Australian as he traverses his neighbourhood and evades the local police. In 2024, Stan released River and Ludo Studio's series Thou Shalt Not Steal, following a pair of teenagers as they are chased across the desert by a sex worker and fraudulent preacher.{{Cite web |title=Dylan River's Toronto Series 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' Explores Australia's Dark History With Humor: 'If You're Preaching to the Converted, How Are You Educating?' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dylan-river-toronto-thou-shalt-not-steal-australia-dark-history-1236143083/ |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2024-09-13 |website=Variety}}

At the 2019 Screen Producers Australia Awards, Ludo Studio won Media Super Production Business of the Year.{{Cite news |title=Ludo Studio tops the SPA Awards |last=Keast |first=Jackie |date=2019-11-05 |url=https://if.com.au/ludo-studio-tops-the-spa-awards/ |work=if.com.au}} The award recognises a business that has produced an "outstanding body of work" and made a significant contribution to the progression of the Australian screen industry over the previous 12 months.{{Cite web |title=Northern Pictures wins Media Super Production Business of the Year at the 20th Annual Screen Producers Australia Awards |url=https://www.northernpictures.com.au/news/0rspxqayl0y4xq866oexamk0b8oay4 |date=2022-03-31 |website=Northern Pictures}} The studio also took home Animated Series Production of the Year for Bluey, Online Series Production of the Year for Robbie Hood and the Screen Business Export Award for Bluey.

Ludo Studio was voted one of the Time 100 Most Influential Companies in 2024.{{Cite news |title=Bluey creators Ludo Studio named in TIME'S 100 most influential companies of 2024 |last=Clelland |first=Georgia |date=2024-05-31 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/3062793421 |access-date=2024-10-21 |work=The Courier Mail|id={{ProQuest|3062793421}} }}

The studio partnered with ACMI in 2024 to create a $10,000 animation residency for an emerging Australian animator or animation team.{{Cite news |title=ACMI in partnership with Ludo Studio announces $10,000 animation residency at ACMI X |date=2024-04-17 |url=https://www.acmi.net.au/about/media/media-releases/acmix-ludostudio/ |work=ACMI}} The program was only open to people with up to two professional credits, with the intent of developing their projects for the local & international market.

Screen Australia awarded the studio story development funding in 2024 for a new animated series, Willy.{{Cite news |title=Screen Australia Backs New Series 'Willy' from 'Bluey' Creators Ludo Studio |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=2024-02-28 |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/02/screen-australia-backs-new-series-willy-from-bluey-creators-ludo-studio/ |work=Animation Magazine}} Set in 2003, the series follows the sexual awakening of a 15-year-old boy in a rural Australian town.

In 2024, Ludo Studio announced the production of a Bluey feature film in partnership with BBC Studios and The Walt Disney Company.{{Cite web |title=‘Bluey’ Hitting The Big Screen: Feature Film in the Works From Disney, BBC Studios |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bluey-movie-disney-bbc-2027-cg-animated-1236088411/ |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2024-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217230002/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bluey-movie-disney-bbc-2027-cg-animated-1236088411/ |archive-date=2024-12-17 |website=Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web |title=BBC Studios, Disney to release ‘Bluey’ feature film in 2027 |url=https://if.com.au/bbc-studios-disney-announce-bluey-feature-film-with-2027-release/ |last=Slatter |first=Sean |date=2024-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217231530/https://if.com.au/bbc-studios-disney-announce-bluey-feature-film-with-2027-release/ |archive-date=17 December 2024 |website=if.com.au}} The project is the studio's first feature film.

Filmography

=Films=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col" \| Release date ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
{{Date table sorting\|2027}} (upcoming) ! scope="row" \| Bluey: The Movie \| co-production with BBC Studios & The Walt Disney Company

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col" | Release date

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

{{Date table sorting|2027}} (upcoming)

! scope="row" | Bluey: The Movie

| co-production with BBC Studios & The Walt Disney Company

=Television and web series=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Network ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
2013 ! scope="row" \| #7DaysLater \| ABC \| \| {{Cite web \|title=#7 DAYS LATER \|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/-7-days-later-2013/32399 \|website=Screen Australia}}
2015–2017 ! scope="row" \| Doodles \| Online & ABC ME \| \| {{Cite web \|title=Doodles \|url=https://ludostudio.com.au/projects/doodles \|website=Ludo Studio}}{{Cite web \|title=Media Release: Ludo Studio's Doodles Series 3 now playing on ABC ME \|url=https://screenqueensland.com.au/sq-news/media-centre/ludo-studios-doodles-series-3-now-playing-on-abc-me/ \|date=2016-09-27 \|website=Screen Queensland}}
2018–present ! scope="row" \| Bluey \| ABC \| \| {{Cite news \|title=Bluey: Producer confirms series return amid cancellation rumours \|last=Rufo \|first=Yasmin \|date=2024-04-13 \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68795941 \|work=BBC}}
2019 ! scope="row" \| Robbie Hood \| SBS \| with Since1788 Productions \| {{Cite web \|title=Robbie Hood (2019)\|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/robbie-hood-2019/36695 \|website=Screen Australia}}
2019 ! scope="row" \| Content \| ABC \| \| {{Cite web \|title=Content (2019) \|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/content-2019/36694}}
2019–2024 ! scope="row" \| The Strange Chores \| ABC \| with Media World Pictures \| {{Cite web \|title=The Strange Chores 2019 - 2024 \|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-strange-chores-series/38663 \|website=Screen Australia}}
2024 ! scope="row" \| Thou Shalt Not Steal \| Stan \| with Since1788 Productions \| {{Cite web \|title=Thou Shalt Not Steal (2024) \|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/thou-shalt-not-steal-2024/38791/ \|website=Screen Australia}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Network

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2013

! scope="row" | #7DaysLater

| ABC

| {{Cite web |title=#7 DAYS LATER |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/-7-days-later-2013/32399 |website=Screen Australia}}

2015–2017

! scope="row" | Doodles

| Online & ABC ME

| {{Cite web |title=Doodles |url=https://ludostudio.com.au/projects/doodles |website=Ludo Studio}}{{Cite web |title=Media Release: Ludo Studio's Doodles Series 3 now playing on ABC ME |url=https://screenqueensland.com.au/sq-news/media-centre/ludo-studios-doodles-series-3-now-playing-on-abc-me/ |date=2016-09-27 |website=Screen Queensland}}

2018–present

! scope="row" | Bluey

| ABC

| {{Cite news |title=Bluey: Producer confirms series return amid cancellation rumours |last=Rufo |first=Yasmin |date=2024-04-13 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68795941 |work=BBC}}

2019

! scope="row" | Robbie Hood

| SBS

| with Since1788 Productions

| {{Cite web |title=Robbie Hood (2019)|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/robbie-hood-2019/36695 |website=Screen Australia}}

2019

! scope="row" | Content

| ABC

| {{Cite web |title=Content (2019) |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/content-2019/36694}}

2019–2024

! scope="row" | The Strange Chores

| ABC

| with Media World Pictures

| {{Cite web |title=The Strange Chores 2019 - 2024 |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-strange-chores-series/38663 |website=Screen Australia}}

2024

! scope="row" | Thou Shalt Not Steal

| Stan

| with Since1788 Productions

| {{Cite web |title=Thou Shalt Not Steal (2024) |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/thou-shalt-not-steal-2024/38791/ |website=Screen Australia}}

References

External links

{{Official website|www.ludostudio.com.au}}

Category:Mass media companies established in 2012

Category:Television production companies of Australia

Category:Entertainment companies established in 2012

Category:Australian companies established in 2012

Category:Film production companies of Australia

Category:Australian animation studios

Category:Companies based in Brisbane