Arthur (TV series)

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.