Arthur (TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arthur
Created by	Marc Brown
Developed by	Kathy Waugh
Directed by	Greg Bailey
Theme music composer	Judy Henderson & Jerry de Villiers Jr.
Opening theme	"Believe in Yourself" by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers
Country of origin	United States Canada
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	23
No. of episodes	246 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Marc Brown (Season 10–present) Micheline Charest (Seasons 1–4) Carol Greenwald Peter Moss (Seasons 5–6) Lesley Taylor Toper Taylor Pierre Valette
Producer(s)	Ronald Weinberg (Seasons 1–4) Cassandra Schafhausen Lesley Taylor Greg Bailey Diane Dallaire Tolon Brown
Running time	24–26 minutes
Production company(s)	Cinar (seasons 1–8) Cookie Jar Entertainment (seasons 9–15) 9 Story Media Group (seasons 16–19) Oasis Animation (season 20–present)
Distributor	9 Story International Distribution
Release
Original network	PBS
Picture format	SDTV (480i) (seasons 1–11) HDTV (1080i) (seasons 12–present)
Audio format	Dolby Surround
Original release	October 7, 1996 (1996-10-07) – October 16, 2019 (2019-10-16)
Chronology
Related shows	Postcards from Buster

Arthur is a popular animated TV show from Canada and the United States. It airs on PBS Kids in the U.S. The show is based on the Arthur book series by Marc Brown.

The series has over 250 episodes and specials. It first aired in September 1996 and continued until January 2020. Arthur focuses on the daily life of an aardvark named Arthur and his friends. It explores common problems and adventures that kids face while growing up.

The show has won four Emmy Awards for its great storytelling.

Characters in Arthur

The show Arthur features many interesting characters. Most of them are animals that act like humans. Here are some of the main characters you'll meet:

Arthur and His Family

• Arthur Timothy Read: Arthur is the main character. He is an 8-year-old aardvark in third grade. He loves reading, watching TV, playing sports, and spending time with his friends. Arthur is usually a good friend who sees the best in others.
• Dora Winifred "D.W." Read: D.W. is Arthur's younger sister. She goes to preschool. D.W. enjoys watching kids' TV shows and has an imaginary friend named Nadine. She can be a bit bossy, but she really cares about Arthur.
• Kate Read: Kate is Arthur and D.W.'s baby sister. She sometimes "talks" to the family dog, Pal, and other baby animals.
• David L. Read: He is Arthur, D.W., and Kate's dad. Mr. Read runs a catering business from their home.
• Jane Read: She is Arthur and D.W.'s mom. Mrs. Read works from home as a tax accountant.
• "Grandma" Thora Read: Arthur and D.W.'s grandma. She is very caring but sometimes not the best cook!
• "Grandpa" Dave: Arthur and D.W.'s grandpa from their mom's side. He used to live on a farm.

Arthur's Friends

• Alan "The Brain" Powers: Brain is one of Arthur's smartest friends. He is great at school and sports. He also helps at his parents' ice cream shop. Brain and his family celebrate Kwanzaa.
• Buster Baxter: Buster is Arthur's best friend. He loves watching TV, eating, reading science fiction books, and playing video games. Buster lives with his mom, Bitzi, and sometimes travels with his dad, who is a pilot. Buster even had his own spin-off show called Postcards from Buster.
• Binky Barnes: Binky used to be a bit of a bully. But he secretly has a sensitive side. He enjoys playing the clarinet and doing ballet. He leads a group called the "Tough Customers," who become nicer over time.
• Francine Alice Frensky: Francine is a tomboy who loves sports, playing the drums, and singing. She is often very honest and speaks her mind. Francine is best friends with Muffy Crosswire.
• George Lundgren: George is one of Arthur's classmates. He is known for being a ventriloquist with his dummy, Wally. George has dyslexia, which means he sometimes has trouble with reading.
• Mary Alice "Muffy" Crosswire: Muffy is Francine's best friend, even though they are very different. She is the richest girl in school and can be a bit spoiled.
• Prunella Deegan: Prunella is a grade older than Arthur. She is interested in yoga, fortune telling, and spooky things. She is a big fan of "Henry Skreever," a book series like Harry Potter.
• Sue Ellen Armstrong: Sue Ellen is new to Arthur's school. Her dad is a diplomat, so her family has lived all over the world. She loves learning about different cultures and knows martial arts.

Other Important Characters

• Mr. Nigel Charles Ratburn: Mr. Ratburn is Arthur and his friends' teacher. He loves giving homework and is very knowledgeable. He also enjoys magic tricks and puppetry.
• Mrs. Leah MacGrady: Mrs. MacGrady is the friendly lunch lady at Lakewood Elementary School. She often shares wise advice.
• Ms. Cecilia Tingley: She is the current principal of Lakewood Elementary. She is known for being strict and making sure rules are followed.

Images for kids

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  (Clockwise from upper left): Brain, Binky, Sue Ellen, Francine, Muffy, Buster, Prunella, George, Arthur, Baby Kate. From the episode, "That's a Baby Show!"

See also

In Spanish: Arthur (serie animada) para niños