Bandit Heeler

Bandit Heeler
“ Oh, biscuits! „ ― Bandit's second catchphrase
Vital statistics
Names	Bandit Heeler, Telemachus, Big Blue Guy, Gallahop, Diddums, Ooh-Ooh Zoo, Shooby-Doowah, Ooga-Booga, Bugalugs,Bert Handsome Romeo McFlourish, Bevan, Big Fella, Deep Blue, Big Blue Meanie, Banddiddums, Bandishwasher, Bandina, Hugo, Banditus, The Big B, Bandito
Gender	Male
Race	Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
Occupation	Archeologist
Origin	Bluey Pilot (2016), Bluey S1E1: The Magic Xylophone
Alignment	Good
Age	46
Created By	Joe Brumm,
Height	96.3 cm (3ft 2in)
Weight	Unknown

Bandit Custard Heeler is a central character in the animated series Bluey, created by Joe Brumm. He works as an archeologist and is known for actively engaging in imaginative play with his daughters, Bluey and Bingo, often taking on various roles in their games. While he sometimes appears reluctant, he always fully commits to the games and uses these moments to teach his daughters important life lessons. This playful involvement occasionally strains his relationship with them, particularly in public settings.

Bandit has been widely praised by both parents and critics, being recognized as a positive and engaging father figure.

Concept and Creation

Bandit was inspired by creator Joe Brumm's own experiences. Brumm modeled Bandit after a Blue Heeler dog owned by a friend of his father, and, like Bandit, Brumm is also the middle child in his family. Bandit's occupation as an archeologist was influenced by Brumm's brother, Adam, who worked as an archeologist and was involved in discovering the fossilized remains of Homo floresiensis, which he dubbed "The Hobbit" at a Queensland university.

Bandit is part of the show's depiction of a nuclear family, with him and his wife, Chilli, both serving as working parents—Chilli being employed as an airport security guard. Bandit's middle name, Custard, is a nod to the band of the same name, of which his voice actor, David McCormack, is a member.

Appearance

Bandit is a Blue Heeler with a mix of blue, light blue, tan, and black fur. His distinct features include light blue fur on his feet, hands, outer belly, and muzzle, while his legs, arms, and torso are blue. He has a tan belly, muzzle, and inner ears, along with black fur on his head, outer ears, and the stem of his tail. Bandit also sports black nose and beard whiskers. In "Tickle Crabs" and "Granny Mobile," it's noted that he's slightly overweight, though he still exercises, as shown in "Exercise" and "Musical Statues."

His earlier designs in 2016 and 2017 show him with lighter blue fur, black spots, and subtle differences in fur patterns, while his appearance at different ages reflects his journey from a young adult to a more seasoned, shaggy-haired father with gray hairs as seen in "Surprise!"

Personality

Bandit is a playful and dedicated father who loves engaging in games with his daughters, Bluey and Bingo. While he may initially grumble when asked to play, he quickly becomes fully immersed in the games, even if it means putting aside other responsibilities or sacrificing his dignity. He often uses these play sessions to teach his daughters valuable life lessons, though the success of these lessons can vary. Bandit has a playful spirit and maintains a strong connection to his inner child, enjoying the fun and chaos that comes with being a parent.

In addition to his playful nature, Bandit can occasionally be boastful, as shown in various episodes. Despite this, his love for his family and his commitment to parenting remain his most prominent traits.

Biography

Bandit was born on 25 October 1978, the younger brother of Radley Heeler and the older brother of Stripe Heeler, all of whom are sons of Bob and Chris Heeler., When Bandit was five years old, he wrote an original story filled with grammatical errors that his mother, Chris, would later read to her granddaughters. In the letter, Bandit mentioned receiving a green skateboard for his fifth birthday, which he rode after school, and that he had a pet bird named Conan. He also expressed his dislike for his mother's cooking, particularly her lasagna.

At the age of six, after a classmate named Bucky Dunstan made a rude comment about one of his car drawings, Bandit gave up drawing, despite having enjoyed it previously.

When Bandit was ten, his older brother Rad jinxed him in response to Bandit's habit of bullying their younger brother, Stripe. Bandit couldn't speak until someone said his name, which led him to realize how he had been treating Stripe. He ultimately helped Stripe without demanding that Stripe speak his name, and was unexpectedly freed from the jinx when a girl read his name off a hat he had dropped.

Bandit and his brothers frequently visited a creek during their childhood. They once buried their favorite toy there after their dad threatened to take it away due to their fighting over it. They drew a map to the toy on the back of a photograph and divided the map between them, planning to retrieve the toy later. However, they forgot about it after receiving new toys for Christmas.

As adults, Bandit and Chilli first met at a party in London, where Chilli distinctly remembers Bandit with a finger up his nose. Bandit, however, believes that Chilli was the girl who freed him from the jinx during his childhood, though Chilli has no memory of the event and denies it.

The two began dating and eventually went on a backpacking trip to Italy, where Bandit proposed to Chilli, and she accepted. They were married, with guests including Frisky and Rad—who, according to Bandit, "probably" fell into a swimming pool during the celebration.

Sometime after their marriage, Chilli became pregnant and gave birth to their first daughter, Bluey. Bandit would later joke about having "wrecked his back" while changing Bluey's nappies. Their second daughter, Bingo, was born around two years later.

Before the marriage of his older brother Rad, Bandit received a job offer that required moving to another city. He saw this as an opportunity to provide his daughters with a better life and discussed the possibility with Chilli. Together, they decided to put their house up for sale, although they chose to let it serve as the venue for Rad's wedding.

At the wedding, Rad and Frisky surprised everyone by announcing that they had decided to stay in Brisbane, which made Bandit question his own decision. Chilli continued to support him as they prepared for the move, even though Bandit began having second thoughts. Just as they were about to leave, Bandit received a call from their realtor, Bucky Dunstan, informing him that the potential buyers had backed out. Relieved, Bandit removed the “Sold” banner from the For Sale sign, then ripped the sign out entirely, signaling his desire to stay. Chilli and their daughters joyfully embraced him, and the family returned to their home, unpacking their belongings.

In the future, Bandit becomes a grandfather and still lives in the Heeler house with Chilli. He reunites with his fully grown daughter, Bluey.

Cultural Impact

Bandit has been widely praised as a positive and relatable father figure, particularly for his patience, his involvement in housework, and his willingness to engage with his children in playful and meaningful ways. Jennifer McClellan of USA Today described Bandit as "sarcastic, sympathetic, and silly," while Philippa Chandler of The Guardian noted his "laconic, playful" demeanor and superior emotional intelligence compared to other animated dads, such as Peppa Pig's father. Doug Hendrie of The Sydney Morning Herald suggested that Bandit was intentionally crafted to be a role model for Australian fathers.

However, Bandit's character has not been without criticism. Amanda Hess of The New York Times viewed him as an idealized version of fatherhood, designed to appeal to both children and adults. Meanwhile, Kate Cantrell and David Burton, writing for The Conversation, pointed out moments where Bandit could be seen as occasionally bullying his children or embracing a larrikin-like persona. Despite these critiques, Bandit is frequently regarded as one of the greatest cartoon fathers of all time.

Trivia

• Bandit is voiced by Dave McCormack, the frontman of the '90s Australian Indie rock band Custard. This role marks McCormack's debut in animated television.
• Joe Brumm, creator of Bluey, had a Blue Heeler growing up named Bandit, and another named Bluey.
• Bandit's occupation as an archaeologist was inspired by Joe Brumm's older brother, Adam, who contributed to the discovery of Homo Floresiensis (nicknamed the "Hobbit").
• Bandit was the first character to speak in the series, in the episode The Magic Xylophone.
• He used to play touch football but has been too busy to return to it due to parenting and work. He also enjoys watching and playing cricket.
• Bandit occasionally makes "dad-jokes" to his daughters, a characteristic seen more prominently in earlier seasons.
• He has a doctorate in archaeology and shows a love for mythology, frequently making references to mythological figures.
• His driver's license reveals his middle name is Custard, his birthdate is October 25, 1978, and he is left-handed.
• Bandit can get cranky when hungry and will swear when irritated, though the latter is off-screen.
• In multiple international dubs, his name is changed: "Bandżi" in Polish, "Billy" in Swedish, and "Buster" in Dutch.
• He can speak French, as revealed in Backpackers and Pavlova.
• His drivers license also reveals that his date of birth is October 25, 1978.