Arthur is an animated children's television series developed by Marc Brown and Kathy Waugh and produced by WGBH Boston for PBS. Based on Brown's Arthur book series, the series is set in the fictional city of Elwood City and follows the everyday lives of Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark,[1] his family, his friends, and their interactions with one another.

Production was first announced in 1995 by WGBH and Montreal-based animation studio CINAR,[2] and the series premiered on October 7, 1996, on PTV, later renamed PBS Kids.[3] During its 25-season run, Arthur aired 253 half-hour episodes. In June 2018, the series was renewed for four additional seasons, extending its run through season 25.[4][5] On July 27, 2021, it was announced that the 25th season would be the series' last.[6][7][8] The series concluded on February 21, 2022.

Arthur received critical acclaim for its portrayal of issues affecting children and families, including asthma, dyslexia, cancer, diabetes, and autism. It also promotes reading and emphasizes the importance of family and friendship through its diverse cast of characters with varying personalities, beliefs, and interests.[9] It was the longest-running children's animated series in the United States until it was surpassed by SpongeBob SquarePants in 2025,[10] and is the fifth-longest-running American animated television series, behind The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, and SpongeBob SquarePants.[11]

Setting

Arthur Read, the series' titular character, is an anthropomorphic brown aardvark who lives in the fictional Elwood City, which is located in North America. He is a third-grade student at Lakewood Elementary School. Arthur's family includes two home-working parents, his father David (a chef) and his mother Jane (an accountant), his two younger sisters, Dora Winifred (D.W.), who is in preschool, and Kate, who is still an infant, and his dog, Pal. Arthur also has several friends who come from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and he also occasionally meets with members of his extended family.

Elwood City is portrayed as a largely suburban area which bears a strong resemblance to the Boston area; the TV series is partially produced by WGBH. There are also firm references to Brown's hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. Most notably, the local shopping mall in the TV show is called "Mill Creek Mall", a reference to Millcreek Mall. Brown himself stated that the series is influenced by his upbringing as a child in Erie, and specifically noted that Mr. Ratburn is based on a middle-school algebra teacher he had at Westlake Middle School.[12]

Guest stars

Many celebrity guest stars have appeared on the show, each providing the voice for their anthropomorphic animal counterpart. Lance Armstrong and Joan Rivers are the only guest stars to make more than one appearance on the series.[22]

Cast and characters

Characters

Arthur's immediate family is the focus of the series, with most episodes involving Arthur, his younger sister D.W., their parents David and Jane, Baby Kate, and their dog, Pal. Arthur's closest friends include Buster, Francine, Muffy, Binky, Brain, and Sue Ellen, along with others including Fern, Prunella, Jenna, and George as frequent supporting characters.

The adults in Arthur play important roles: Mr. and Mrs. Read display a significant amount of stress from parenting, Arthur's friends' parents are shown struggling in middle-class jobs, and Mr. Ratburn endures the demands and expectations of teaching elementary school. Even in difficult, adult situations, these grown ups maintain a cheerful attitude. Arthur, D.W., and Kate also visit their paternal grandmother, Thora Read, and maternal grandfather, Grandpa Dave.

NOTE: This is the first time I do this with my friends, but sometimes, asking me would worth of time.