JUST A BLIP-PI
Who is Blippi and why did the actor change?
Plus why he chose the colours blue and orange
IF you have a child aged four or younger, you might have heard of YouTube star Blippi.
However, in 2021, fans noticed that the actor who usually played the children's entertainer had been replaced.
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Who is Blippi?
Blippi is a channel on YouTube that Stevin John started in 2014 to provide edutainment to kids from ages two through seven.
After a two-year stint in the Air Force, the Las Vegas-based star dabbled in video production and also spent time as a marketing consultant.
Then, in 2013, inspiration struck in the form of his two-year-old nephew.
After spending some time checking out his nephew's YouTube favorites, Stevin decided to dive into the educational video market head first.
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Stevin came up with the concept of Blippi, who wears an orange and blue beanie hat, orange suspenders, a blue shirt, and an orange bow tie.
The show features a childlike character with a curious and energetic persona, much like his audience.
Even the colors were no coincidence.
Speaking to Mashable, Stevin said: "Blue is trustworthy and because I'm a male and I was in my 20s at the time — females are more trustworthy in kid's shows — I felt it was really important.
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"Orange is fun and creative. Green was another good one, but I understood that in the future I was probably going to shoot green screens with a large company, and I didn't want to be the burden to have them paint it blue. I ruled it out."
Since the show started, the channel has amassed more than 16million subscribers and over 10billion views.
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The 36-year-old added: “I just loved seeing the process of how something is made from the beginning to the end.
“I love trying to get [kids] excited that they’re actually learning something.”
“If I can give children positive emotions on getting excited to learn about stuff, then from there I’ve done my job.”
Why did the Blippi actor change?
In 2021 fans noticed that Stevin wasn't playing Blippi, with another actor taking over the role.
Although you have to look carefully to tell the difference, the lovable character is currently being portrayed by actor Clayton Grimm.
Clayton is already familiar to fans, as he plays Blippi when the YouTube show goes on tour around the world.
This has seen him earn the nickname “Blippi from the live show".
The reason Stevin stepped away from the role was that he was having a child of his own with his fiancée, Alyssa Ingham.
He made the announcement on Instagram in October 2021, with a photo of him kissing his fiancée, who was holding a strip of ultrasound photos.
The soon-to-be dad wrote next to the snaps: “Parenthood coming 2022.”
The happy pair welcomed their son, Lochlan David John, on March 9, 2022.
What is Blippi about?
Blippi tries to explain everything he sees to kids the way they understand it by describing the object and its purpose.
Some episodes include building sandcastles and learning sports, others feature tours around museums, playgrounds, and even farmhouses.
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The show includes musical elements and sees him sing and create new dances for children and parents to enjoy.
Aside from the regular show, Blippi together with Moonbug launched Blippi Wonders, an animated series where he is off into different adventures.
There is also Blippi the Musical, where he brings his antics and adventures to the stage.
Who is the cast of Blippi?
In 2020, the concept of Blippi the Musical was born.
However, the first North American tour was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
That said, Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour is touring in 2024.
In the show, characters dance, sing, and learn along with Blippi as he travels to new cities, with special guest Meekah.
But as the website states, there is no Stevin or Clayton.
Instead, the character Blippi is played by professional stage performers selected specifically for the stage show.
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The show was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2023 and is showing at the Harold Pinter Theater in London from July 3 to September 7, 2024.
In the US, Blippi is coming to Allentown, Philadelphia, and Syracuse, New York, at the end of August and the beginning of September.