---
title: "Arthur"
year: 1996
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/arthur-1996"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 2153
imdb_id: "tt0169414"
status: "Ended"
seasons_count: 25
episodes_count: 493
runtime_minutes: 13
community_rating: 7.0
vote_count: 186
content_rating: "TV-Y"
---

# Arthur (1996) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/arthur-1996

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Arthur is a Canadian-American animated educational children television program that debuted on October 7, 1996. The series was developed by Marc Brown and Kathy Waugh and produced by WGBH Boston for PBS. Based on the Arthur Adventure book series created by Marc Brown in 1976, the show is set in the fictional city of Elwood City. The program revolves around the lives of eight-year-old Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark, his family, and his friends. Aimed at children between the ages of four and eight, the series chronicles the adventures of Arthur and his peers as they grow up, interact with one another, and learn how to be good neighbors. Throughout the episodes, the show explores various issues faced by real children. Production of the series involved Marc Brown and his son, Tolon Brown. The show remained on the air until 2022, featuring a voice cast that included Daniel Brochu, J.T. Turner, Bruce Dinsmore, and Jodie Resther. The program is also associated with Cookie Jar Entertainment.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "An eight-year-old aardvark navigates the daily adventures and challenges of growing up with friends and family."

### Why Watch
- relatable childhood themes
- engaging character dynamics

### Caveats & Content Note
- primarily targets younger audiences
- Tone & Suitability: The series is designed for children ages four to eight.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: educational, animated, family-friendly, wholesome

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | PBS Kids Amazon Channel | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | BBC iPlayer | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| **Canada (CA)** | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | iciTouTV, Pluto TV | Apple TV Store |
| **Australia (AU)** | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | None | Apple TV Store |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (60 Episodes)
## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 170
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 7 (4%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 163 (96%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Creative Credits

- **Created by**: Marc Brown
- **Networks / Studios**: PBS

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Patricia Rodríguez** as *Sue Ellen Armstrong (voice)*
- **Arthur Holden** as *Mr. Ratburn / Bionic Bunny (voice)*
- **Sonja Ball** as *Mrs. Read (voice)*
- **Bruce Dinsmore** as *Mr. Read / Binky Barnes / Bailey (voice)*
- **Mitchell David Rothpan** as *George (voice)*
- **Jodie Resther** as *Francine Frensky (voice)*
- **Daniel Brochu** as *Buster Baxter (voice)*
- **Melissa Altro** as *Muffy Crosswire (voice)*
- **Tracy Braunstein** as *Baby Kate (voice)*
- **Simon Peacock** as *Pal (voice)*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Who is the main character?
The main character is Arthur Read, an eight-year-old anthropomorphic aardvark.

### Q: Where does the show take place?
The series is set in the fictional city of Elwood City.

### Q: What is the show based on?
The television series is based on the Arthur book series by Marc Brown.

### Q: Is the show still producing new episodes?
The television series concluded in 2022, though periodic shorts, podcasts, and online games continue to be released.

### Q: Who is the target audience?
The series is aimed at children between the ages of four and eight.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Arthur (TV series) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_(TV_series))
- [Arthur | PBS KIDS](https://pbskids.org/arthur)
- [Arthur (TV Series 1996–2022) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169414)
- [Arthur - Season 1 : WGBH, Cookie Jar Entertainment, PBS Kids : Free ...](https://archive.org/details/Arthur_Season1)
- [Arthur (TV series) | Arthur Wiki | Fandom](https://arthur.fandom.com/wiki/Arthur_(TV_series))
- [Arthur | PBS KIDS - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa8HWWMcQEGSDVNamSBrND-kcMcLwWw8v)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*