Alton Towers builds Bluey from 11,494 bean cans to announce new ride

Alton Towers Resort has revealed a giant portrait of Bluey made from more than 11,000 tins of beans to announce when the world’s first Bluey rollercoaster will open.

The artwork was created by PR, influencer and social media agency Smoking Gun. It measures 20 by 15 metres, took 18 hours to make and was laid out on the park’s lawn near CBeebies Land ahead of Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies! opening on 28 March.

The installation used 11,494 tins and shows Bluey in her granny disguise, headscarf included.

Bean cans appear in the popular “Grannies” episode of the multi-Emmy-winning animated series, in which Bluey and Bingo disguise themselves as Janet and Rita, two mischievous grannies prone to slipping on beans.

The stunt starts the countdown to the ride’s opening and is the latest in Smoking Gun’s work for the park’s attractions, which has included campaigns for the return of the Nemesis ride and the launch of The Curse At Alton Manor.

Howard Ebison, vice president of Alton Towers Resort, said: “Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies! is all about celebrating energy, play and those everyday moments families love about the show.

“The ‘Grannies’ episode is a firm favourite with our guests, so creating a giant Bluey made from more than 11,000 bean cans felt like the perfect way to mark the countdown to opening day.

“It’s playful, unexpected and unmistakably Bluey – and we can’t wait to welcome families from March 28 to experience the world’s first Bluey coaster right here at Alton Towers Resort.”

Rick Guttridge, founder and CEO of Smoking Gun, said: “It’s rare two worlds that encompass such brand love and fandom collide, so for Bluey and Alton Towers Resort we knew we had to go big. The response from the media and anticipation from the public is electric.

“We relish building powerful narratives for clients that we can bring to life in commercially impactful and creative ways. And with Bluey at Alton Towers Resort, the story is only just beginning.”

The ride is aimed at pre-schoolers and young families, taking them on a journey through the Heeler family’s backyard.

Alongside the coaster and existing Bluey attractions, which include a meet-and-greet with Mum (Chilli), Dad (Bandit), Bluey and Bingo and live shows in Big Fun Showtime, the resort plans to add more Bluey-themed rooms at the CBeebies Land Hotel.

Bluey is CBeebies’ top show in the UK, with more than one billion streams on BBC iPlayer since it arrived there.