Bluey started in Brisbane. Paddington started in a London picture book. Between them they’ve conquered theme parks, broken streaming and box office records, moved grown adults to tears, and built fan communities around the world.
So, what does that tell us about where franchises actually come from now? This conversation explores why emotional specificity travels further than generic, what Bluey and Paddington can teach the next generation of franchise builders, and where the properties audiences will fall in love with next are already taking shape.