5 days ago
Exclusive: Blippi's Clayton Grimm Chats With Sassy Mama About Food, Fans & Filming In SG
In our exclusive interview, Clayton Grimm a.k.a. Blippi talks about what it's like to step into the role of the iconic YouTube character, plus all his favourite places and food in Singapore.
If you've got a preschooler at home, chances are you know of Blippi–a character who is curious, energetic, and always ready to dive into the world around him. But have you ever wondered about the person behind the bright orange glasses and suspenders? For those who don't know, Blippi–most recognisable for his striking blue-and-orange getup–first launched into fame on YouTube. The character was created and originally portrayed by Stevin John in 2014. Today, you'll find Blippi streaming on both YouTube and Netflix, primarily portrayed by Clayton Grimm, who also performs as Blippi on live tours.
We had a chat with Clayton, who recently spent two weeks in Singapore filming 20 new episodes featuring our sunny island! The episodes are a collaboration between Mediacorp and Moonbug Entertainment and are set for a July 2025 release. In this exclusive interview, he opens up about how he landed the gig as the iconic Blippi, what it's like to be recognised by tiny fans in public, and why feeding an elephant is way better than just reading about one. He also spills the deets on what he thinks about Singapore, his favourite Singapore attractions and local eats, and how playing Blippi has reshaped the way he sees learning and curiosity.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi there! I'm Clayton Grimm, an actor, writer, director, and musician based in sunny Los Angeles, California. I have the awesome job of playing Blippi, with his iconic orange glasses, who unlocks the wonders of the world for preschoolers, which helps to instil confidence and curiosity at a young age
I'm originally from Orlando, Florida, and later moved to New York City to study acting and French at NYU Tisch. In 2021, I made the leap to L.A., and recently got married, yay! When I'm not filming or exploring the world through Blippi's eyes, you'll find me diving into my many hobbies, including creating fun videos on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. I love learning new languages, travelling, painting, playing music, writing, video games, board games, golf, pickleball, and discovering the latest and greatest restaurants.
How did you get the gig as Blippi?
It all started in 2019 when I auditioned for Blippi The Musical while I was living in NYC. At the time, I was performing in theatre and teaching chess and music to elementary schoolers. After several callbacks, I got a call from Stevin John (the creator of Blippi), and I was thrilled to join the adventure!
Once the tour was paused during COVID, Moonbug Entertainment began looking for a second Blippi to keep up with the demand for educational content. I sent in a tape of myself improvising a Blippi-style fruit salad video (my wife helped film it!), and shortly after, I was flown to L.A. for an in-person audition. When restrictions were lifted, we began filming—my first official episodes even premiered on my birthday: May 10, 2021!
What has been the most challenging part of stepping into a character with such a massive following?
Honestly, I'm lucky that everything happened step by step; it wasn't like jumping into the deep end on day one. I didn't go straight to performing at the Dubai Expo in front of tens of thousands of fans! The biggest challenge has probably been the pace and variety of what we do. Between filming videos, travelling, and working on new projects, things move fast. But that's what makes it fun! Every day is an adventure. I love taking on new challenges, it keeps me growing and learning.
Do parents or kids ever recognise you in public? If so, what are some of the most memorable encounters with fans and parents?
They do! If I'm fully dressed as Blippi, it can literally stop traffic. Out of costume, I usually go unnoticed unless I'm somewhere like a theme park or filming on location.
While we were filming in Singapore, I was recognised almost every day, especially when I was with our film crew. One standout moment was visiting Marina Bay Sands, where we took tons of photos with families who spotted me out of costume. It's always so heartwarming to meet Blippi fans from all around the world!
Of all the places you've covered for Blippi, what has been your favourite place to film and feature?
Singapore has truly been one of my favourite filming experiences so far! Living here for over two weeks gave us a chance to go beyond sightseeing and really explore. The everyday adventures here are amazing, from the vibrant culture to warm people and unforgettable food.
One standout day was filming at Kim Choo Kueh Chang, where we dove into Peranakan culture and learned about kueh. It was a beautiful moment of cultural exploration—and very tasty, too!
What is your most memorable collaboration, and why?
Our recent collaboration with Disney was absolutely unforgettable, especially since I grew up in Orlando! Getting to film in the parks and see kids light up when they saw Mickey Mouse and Blippi was surreal.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience… and I may have eaten enough Mickey-shaped ice cream bars to last me until next year!
What's something playing Blippi has taught you about learning and curiosity?
Blippi is all about igniting curiosity in children, equipping them with the practical knowledge they need to confidently explore the world.
There's a huge difference between reading about an elephant and actually feeding one. That kind of multisensory play, where you see it, hear it, touch it, and even smell it, really makes information stick. Blippi reminds us that curiosity is the key to discovering how the world works.
What's a typical day off look like for you—completely Blippi-free?
My day off is usually pretty chill, because I get plenty of excitement on set! I'm not great at sleeping in, so I start the day early with coffee and CrossFit.
Then I might spend time painting, playing video games, studying Japanese, or diving into music. I love staying home and getting lost in a hobby; it's like my own little world of exploration.
We're stoked that you came to Singapore and will soon release a series featuring our sunny island. What top three places stood out to you, and why?
There were so many incredible spots, but my top three would be: Maxwell and Fortune Centre hawker centres, Sentosa Island and the Singapore Zoo. The food at the hawker centres was delicious, and there were great vegetarian options for my wife. Filming at the beach was like stepping into a tropical playground, and seeing elephants, lemurs, fennec foxes, and pelicans up close at the Singapore Zoo was magical. I didn't expect wild monkeys to follow us around—that was a fun surprise!
What is your favourite food that you've tried in Singapore?
How can I choose just one?! For breakfast, kaya toast with a soft-boiled egg is perfect. For lunch, I love bak kut teh. And for dinner? Give me chilli crab or grilled grouper any day. Food is such a big part of exploring a new place, it's like a flavour-packed form of cultural discovery!
Thanks so much for chatting with us, Clayton! We look forward to many more adventures with Blippi and are excited to see Singapore through Blippi's eyes once the new episodes air in July 2025!
