What is Arthur about?

The show revolves around the lives of 8-year-old Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark, his friends and family, and their daily interactions with each other.

Arthur

"What a wonderful kind of day!"

TV Show TV-Y 1996 13m/ep 7.0 /10 Ended

A PBS Original

Created by Marc Brown

Watch Now

Where to Watch "Arthur"

Rent or Buy

Not Currently Available On (8 platforms)

Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026

About Arthur

Arthur centers on eight-year-old Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark growing up in a typical neighborhood with his family and classmates. Episodes drop into everyday moments at home, school, and around town as Arthur and his friends deal with misunderstandings, small disappointments, and chances to learn new habits. The show keeps things grounded, using humor and kid-sized dilemmas to show how conversations and simple choices shape relationships and character. Stories wrap up within an episode, so you get a clear situation, a few setbacks, and a practical resolution that feels true to how children actually think and talk.

First aired in 1996, the series was created by Marc Brown and adapted from his picture books. The animated show features voice work from Bruce Dinsmore, Jodie Resther, Daniel Brochu, Melissa Altro, and Sonja Ball, among others, and aimed to balance entertainment with accessible lessons for young viewers.

Over its run the series earned multiple Daytime Emmy nominations and picked up several wins, with recognition aimed at writing, voice performances, and its contribution to children's television. Industry honors helped raise its profile and reinforced its status as quality family programming.

Arthur left a mark on popular culture, crossing into the wider internet era with moments like the widely shared "Arthur's fist" image. Teachers and parents have often used episodes to prompt classroom conversations about behavior, empathy, and problem solving. Its long presence on TV made the characters familiar reference points for generations of viewers.

Audience and critical responses skew positive, reflected in a 7.0/10 vote average from viewers. Reviewers tend to praise the show's realistic dialogue, gentle humor, and its willingness to handle awkward or sensitive topics in kid-friendly ways. Recurring themes include friendship, fairness, responsibility, and understanding different perspectives, all presented so families can watch and talk about them together.

Details

Release Date: October 07, 1996
Episode Length: 13m
Rating: TV-Y
User Ratings: 175 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 25
Episodes: 493
Network: PBS
Status: Ended
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Kids, Family
Country: United States
Studio: CINAR +4 more
External Links: View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Bruce Dinsmore

Mr. Read / Binky Barnes / Bailey (voice)

Jodie Resther

Francine Frensky (voice)

Daniel Brochu

Buster Baxter (voice)

Melissa Altro

Muffy Crosswire (voice)

Sonja Ball

Mrs. Read (voice)

Arthur Holden

Mr. Ratburn / Bionic Bunny (voice)

Tracy Braunstein

Baby Kate (voice)

Simon Peacock

Pal (voice)

Tamar Kozlov

Prunella (voice)

Mitchell David Rothpan

George (voice)

Created by: Marc Brown

Seasons (25 seasons, 493 episodes)

Season 1

60 episodes - 1996

Season 2

40 episodes - 1997

Season 3

30 episodes - 1998

Season 4

20 episodes - 1999

Season 5

20 episodes - 2000

Season 6

20 episodes - 2001

Season 7

18 episodes - 2002

Season 8

19 episodes - 2003

Season 9

20 episodes - 2004

Season 10

19 episodes - 2006

Season 11

19 episodes - 2007

Season 12

20 episodes - 2008

Season 13

19 episodes - 2009

S14

Season 14

20 episodes - 2010

S15

Season 15

19 episodes - 2011

S16

Season 16

19 episodes - 2012

S17

Season 17

20 episodes - 2013

S18

Season 18

19 episodes - 2014

S19

Season 19

19 episodes - 2016

S20

Season 20

14 episodes - 2016

S21

Season 21

13 episodes - 2017

S22

Season 22

8 episodes - 2019

S23

Season 23

5 episodes - 2019

S24

Season 24

5 episodes - 2021

S25

Season 25

8 episodes - 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Arthur is not currently available on streaming subscription services, but you can rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

Yes, you can buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

Arthur has 25 seasons with a total of 493 episodes.

With a rating of 7.0/10 from 175 viewers, Arthur is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

Arthur stars Bruce Dinsmore, Jodie Resther, Daniel Brochu, Melissa Altro, and Sonja Ball.

Arthur was created by Marc Brown.

Arthur was released on October 07, 1996.

Arthur is a Animation, Comedy, Kids, and Family series.

Yes, Arthur was created by Marc Brown and is based on his children's books about Arthur Read. The TV show adapts the books' stories and themes into animated episodes for young viewers.

Arthur ran for 25 seasons and has 493 episodes in total. The series concluded after that long run.

Arthur is rated TV-Y, so it's aimed at young children and family audiences and is appropriate for preschool and early elementary viewers. The episodes use simple language and scenarios to teach social and emotional lessons.

The show follows 8-year-old Arthur Read, his friends, and family through everyday school and home situations. Many episodes focus on friendship, problem-solving, empathy, and other practical social skills kids can apply in real life.