Arthur (TV series)

Arthur is a fun show about an aardvark.

He lives in a place called Elwood City.

Arthur is a student in third grade. He has a sister named D.W. and a dog named Pal.

He has many friends with different interests. They all learn and grow together.

The show helps kids love reading. It also shows how to be a good friend.

Many people loved watching Arthur for a long time. It was a very special show.

Arthur is a famous animated show for children.

It is based on books by Marc Brown. The stories take place in a place called Elwood City.

The main character is Arthur Read. He is an aardvark who is in third grade. Arthur lives with his family. His parents are David and Jane. He has two sisters named D.W. and Kate. He also has a dog named Pal. Arthur has many friends like Buster and Francine. They all have different lives and beliefs.

The show helps kids learn about the world. It shows things that real families face. This includes things like asthma or autism. It also teaches kids to love reading.

Arthur was a very long-running show. It ran for 25 seasons in the United States. It had 253 episodes in total. The show ended in early 2022. Many people loved the music, too. The theme song is called "Believe in Yourself." It has a happy reggae beat.

The show used many different voice actors over the years.

Arthur is a famous animated series for children.

It follows the daily life of Arthur Read, a brown aardvark. Arthur is a third-grade student at Lakewood Elementary School. He lives in a fictional place called Elwood City. This city looks a lot like the Boston area. The show is special because it shows real life. It covers topics like asthma, diabetes, and autism. These stories help families feel understood. The show also encourages kids to enjoy reading. It celebrates different personalities and beliefs among friends.

Making the show involves many talented people.

It started with books by Marc Brown. In 1993, WGBH approached Brown to make a show. He was worried about losing control of his characters. However, producer Carol Greenwald promised to focus on reading. The show is a team effort between many groups. WGBH in Boston and CINAR in Montreal worked together. Most of the animation and voices happened in Canada. Later, some animation work moved to South Korea and Hong Kong. The show even used new computer tools like Adobe Flash.

History shows how much the series grew over time. Production began in 1995 and the first episode aired on October 7, 1996. It ran for 25 seasons in the United States. This made it the longest-running children's animated series for a long time. It stayed on the air until February 21, 2022. During its run, the show produced 253 half-hour episodes. It was eventually passed by SpongeBob SquarePants in 2025. Before that, it was only behind shows like The Simpsons. The series stayed popular for many years.

There are many interesting facts about the characters. Arthur has a large and loving family. His father David is a chef and his mother Jane is an accountant. He has two sisters named D.W. and baby Kate. He also has a dog named Pal. Arthur's friends include Buster, Francine, Muffy, and Brain. These characters come from many different backgrounds. To keep voices sounding young, the show uses different actors. This helps as the characters grow and their voices change. Many famous people have even visited as guest stars.

Music is a big part of the Arthur experience. The theme song is called "Believe in Yourself."

It has a happy reggae beat. Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers performed it. There was also a funny song called "Crazy Bus." This song was written by head writer Joe Fallon. The show also had special video segments for kids. These were called "A Word from Us Kids" or "Postcards from You." They showed real children from around the world. These small details made the show feel very real.

Arthur is a celebrated animated television series designed for children.

It is based on the popular book series created by author Marc Brown. The show follows the daily life of Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic brown aardvark. Arthur is a third-grade student attending Lakewood Elementary School. He lives with his family in the fictional, suburban city of Elwood City. This setting is located in North America and resembles the Boston area. The series is significant because it explores relatable themes for families. It addresses topics such as asthma, diabetes, autism, dyslexia, and cancer. By depicting diverse personalities and beliefs, the show encourages reading and healthy social relationships.

The production of the series involves a complex, international collaboration. In January 1993, WGBH, a PBS affiliate, approached Marc Brown about an adaptation. Brown initially felt reluctant because he wanted to maintain creative control. However, executive producer Carol Greenwald assured him the show would encourage reading. Once he agreed, Brown joined as an executive producer to assist creatively. The initial scripts were based on approximately 20 stories from Brown's book catalog. Later, writers developed new episodes centered on topics children would find relatable. The show is a joint effort between WGBH in Boston and CINAR in Montreal. While much of the animation and voice acting occurred in Canada, other tasks were outsourced.

Animation and technical production changed several times throughout the long run. For the first eleven seasons, AKOM Production Company handled animation in South Korea or Hong Kong. From seasons 12 to 15, Animation Services (HK) Ltd managed the work. In 2012, the series upgraded to 16:9 1080i High Definition (HD) format. This was a major technical shift from the previous standard definition ratio. Around season 16, 9 Story Entertainment took over co-producing duties. The animation process also moved in-house using Adobe Flash software. Later, Oasis Animation in Montreal took over production for season 20 in 2016.

Arthur holds a remarkable place in television history. It aired its first episode on October 7, 1996, on PTV, which later became PBS Kids. Over its 25-season run, the series produced 253 half-hour episodes. For a long time, it was the longest-running children's animated series in the United States. It was eventually surpassed by SpongeBob SquarePants in 2025. Currently, it ranks as the fifth longest-running animated series in the country. It sits behind only The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, and SpongeBob SquarePants. The series officially concluded its run on February 21, 2022.

The characters in Elwood City represent a wide variety of backgrounds. Arthur's family includes his father David, a chef, and his mother Jane, an accountant. He has two sisters, D.W., who is in preschool, and an infant named Kate. His dog, Pal, is also a central part of the household. Arthur's friend group includes Buster, Francine, Muffy, Binky, Brain, and Sue Ellen. These characters come from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. This diversity helps viewers see many different types of people and lives. The show also features adult characters like Mr. Ratburn, a teacher. These adults often face real-world stresses while maintaining a cheerful attitude.

Voice acting is handled with unique care to maintain realism. Most adult characters are voiced by the same actors for many years. However, young characters like Arthur and D.W. require multiple different voice actors. This is done to prevent the voices from sounding unnatural due to puberty. For example, Arthur was voiced by Michael Yarmush during the first five seasons. As the character aged, other actors like Cameron Ansell and William Healy took over. This process ensures the characters sound like children throughout their growth. Even the series finale, "All Grown Up," featured the original voice actor, Michael Yarmush, playing an adult version of Arthur.

Music and special segments add layers to the viewing experience. The reggae-style theme song, "Believe in Yourself," was written by Judy Henderson and Jerry de Villiers Jr. It was performed by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Another notable song was "Crazy Bus," written by head writer Joe Fallon. This song served as an alternate anthem until it was retired after season 4. The show also included educational interstitials for viewers in the United States. These segments, called "A Word from Us Kids," featured real children from the Boston area. They were later replaced by "Postcards from You," which featured live-action videos from young viewers.