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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Series

Arthur (TV series)

Arthur is an animated children's television series developed by Marc Brown and Kathy Waugh and produced by WGBH Boston for PBS.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Arthur is an animated children's television series based on Marc Brown's book series, following Arthur Read and his friends in Elwood City. It aired on PBS from 1996 to 2022, spanning 25 seasons.

What it is

Arthur is an animated series developed by Marc Brown and Kathy Waugh, produced by WGBH Boston. It centres on Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark, and his family and friends in the fictional city of Elwood City. The show is known for addressing childhood and family issues like asthma, dyslexia, and autism.

Key details

The series premiered on October 7, 1996, and concluded on February 21, 2022, after 25 seasons and 253 half-hour episodes. It was long regarded as the longest-running children's animated series in the United States until surpassed by SpongeBob SquarePants in 2025. Arthur was a Canadian-American co-production, with Montreal-based CINAR involved early on.

Why it matters

Arthur received critical acclaim for its educational content and realistic portrayal of challenges faced by children and families. It became a cultural touchstone, influencing generations of viewers and setting a standard for children's programming.

In short

  • Animated series based on Marc Brown's books, running 1996–2022.
  • 25 seasons, 253 episodes, set in Elwood City.
  • Praised for addressing real-life issues like asthma and autism.
  • Canadian-American co-production with early involvement from CINAR.
Canadian angle

Arthur was a Canadian-American co-production in its early production history, with Montreal-based CINAR involved in the show's development and later Canadian production companies participating in its run.[1][9]

Quick questions

What is Arthur?
Arthur is an animated children's TV series about Arthur Read and his friends, based on Marc Brown's book series.
When did Arthur air?
It premiered on October 7, 1996, and ended on February 21, 2022.
How many seasons did Arthur have?
It had 25 seasons and 253 half-hour episodes.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_(TV_series)
    Supports: Series premise, developers, production, premiere and end dates, season and episode count, critical reception, and legacy
  2. Arthur Wiki - Fandom — https://arthur.fandom.com/wiki/Arthur_(TV_series)
    Supports: Canadian-American description, premiere and final broadcast dates, and awards/production context
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arthur_episodes
    Supports: Episode totals, season breakdown, and production company changes over the series run