# Arthur (1996)

> An anthropomorphic aardvark named Arthur Read navigates school, friendships and family life in a gentle animated children's series.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/2041

## Facts

- Seasons: 25
- Episodes: 493
- Episode runtime: 13 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, family, comedy
- Created by: Marc Brown
- Network: PBS
- Cast: Cameron Ansell, Jodie Resther, Daniel Brochu, Justin Bradley, Melissa Altro, Dallas Jokic, Tracy Braunstein, Simon Peacock
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169414/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: subtle
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: gentle, cozy, sincere, wholesome, whimsical

## What critics say

Audiences broadly regard the series as a warm, gentle, positive children's show, though its later seasons drew a notably weaker rating.

## Synopsis

Arthur (1996-2022) is a Canadian-American children's animated series created by Marc Brown for PBS, running twenty-five seasons and nearly five hundred episodes. Eight-year-old aardvark Arthur Read (voiced by Cameron Ansell, with later voices by Justin Bradley and Dallas Jokic) lives with his family in a friendly neighborhood of animal characters, and his friends Buster Baxter (Daniel Brochu), Francine Frensky (Jodie Resther) and Muffy Crosswire (Melissa Altro) fill his school days. Each thirteen-minute episode is built from small, concrete dilemmas: a missed playdate, a jealous sibling, a lost pet, a misunderstanding in the classroom. Stories move at an unhurried pace and resolve with clear moral lessons about kindness, honesty and patience. The tone is cozy, sincere and wholesome, with gentle humor and a bright, storybook look. Based on the children's book series, the show is an educational family staple in the tradition of preschool animation. Fans of Bluey, The Magic School Bus and Dora the Explorer will find similar warmth and learning woven into everyday life.

## Shows like Arthur

- [Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/7778)
- [Recess (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/1458)
- [Thomas & Friends (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/2185)
- [Wild Kratts (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/32290)
- [The Berenstain Bears (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/9584)
- [Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (2012)](https://ember.film/tv/36732)
- [The Raccoons (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/4566)
- [Hey Duggee (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/64585)
- [Little Bear (1995)](https://ember.film/tv/9127)
- [Franklin (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/1374)

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