Zillow to parents after 'Bluey' episode 'The Sign': Moving 'might just be a good thing'

Millions of "Bluey" fans were moved to tears when the Heeler family decided against selling their home in a recent supersized episode of the popular children's show.

The episode's resounding message: Homes are more than four walls and a floor; they're a place where memories are made.

But Zillow doesn't think moving away has to be all bad for parents and their little ones. In fact, "it might just be a good thing," a narrator says in a new advertisement from the real-estate marketing company that coyly references the "Bluey" episode "The Sign."

The episode, which at 28 minutes was about four times as long as a regular 7-minute outing, aired April 14 on Disney+. Days later, Zillow senior vice president Ravi Kandikonda said the company began working on the ad with Ryan Reynolds' production company Maximum Effort to "reassure families that moving doesn’t have to be so sad and it can, in fact, be wonderful.”

Zillow references emotional 'Bluey' episode in new ad

Zillow's new ad prominently features four adult Australian Cattle dogs who bear a suspiciously-close resemblance to the Blue Heelers of the cartoon who live in Brisbane.

The advertisement even goes so far as to include narration from Australian voice actor Dan Brumm, who voices Uncle Stripe on "Bluey."

"Despite how a certain children's show made us all feel recently," Brumm says in the ad, moving can be "a chance to make new memories, a fresh start, a whole new chapter."

Watch the Zillow ad here:

“Like parents everywhere, we got emotional watching the recent 'Bluey' season finale that followed the Heeler family as they navigated the difficult decision to sell their home," Kandikonda said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We understand all those feelings."

However, Zillow research has found that while 51% of parents cry at least once while selling their home, a whopping 81% of them say their most recent move was worth it.

Disney+ did not immediately respond Friday to USA TODAY's request for comment on the Zillow ad.

What happens in 'The Sign' episode of 'Bluey'

"The Sign," in which the Heeler family are considering a move to a new city, was the first special episode of "Bluey," which has now aired for three seasons on Disney+.

The episode title refers to the “For Sale” sign in front of the Heeler home that caused many adult fans to wonder whether the family was on the cusp of a significant move for patriarch Bandit's new job. But as the family is packed up in the car and ready to go, Bandit – realizing that his family's best life took place at that house – rips the sign from the yard before the credits roll.

The episode drew 10.4 million viewers within its first week of streaming on the platform, Disney said, making it the most-viewed episode of the series and on Disney Junior.

Surprise 'Bluey' episode drops a week after 'The Sign'

Though "The Sign" was billed as the season 3 finale of "Bluey," it was followed a week later by an episode literally titled "Surprise." Picking up where the previous left off, that episode ended with a time jump to the future in which an adult Bluey shows up for a visit at her parents' house along with her own child.

Both episodes have left fans wondering what's next for the beloved series. But so far, neither Disney+ nor the Brisbane, Australia-based Ludo Studio, which produces the series, have commented to USA TODAY.

"We have more in store and we are thinking what would be next," "Bluey" producer Sam Moore told BBC after "The Sign" premiered. "I'm sure we have many more surprises in store for you."

How to watch 'Bluey'

Three seasons of the show are available to stream on Disney+. Monthly subscription rates start at $9.99.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com