Plot Synopsis

This series is based on Marc Brown's best-selling Arthur adventure books, showing how Arthur and his friends use effective, age-appropriate problem-solving skills. Whether facing down a bully, worrying about a new teacher or being the very last person on earth to lose his baby teeth, Arthur and his friends manage to solve their crises with imagination, kindness and a lot of humor. Arthur is human-like brown aardvark who is a third-grade student at Lakewood Elementary School in the fictional town of Elwood City, and at home he interacts with his sisters, D.W. and Kate, as well as his parents, David and Jane. Each 30-minute episode consists of two independent stories focusing on themes and events central to children's lives.

In Season 16, which premiered on Monday, October 15, 2012, Arthur welcomed a new friend: Ladonna Compson, who is a Louisiana native with a gift of gab and tall tales that are sometimes unbelievable.

ARTHUR returned for its eighteenth season on Monday, September 29, 2014 on PBS (check local listings). This season, imaginations run wild as Arthur and friends embark on all-new adventures -- from funny and original storylines about everyday life to tongue-in-cheek parodies of film noir, The Wizard of Oz, and The Tell-Tale Heart.

Season 19 of ARTHUR premiered on Monday, January 18, 2016 on PBS (check local listings for time), with all-new episodes and exciting scientific adventures. Whether exploring the inner workings of the brain or illustrating the many fun uses of math, these stories of self-discovery tackle a STEM curriculum with Arthur's trademark empathy and humor. The season premiere features two stories: "Brain's Brain," as Brain, D.W., and Bud venture where no kid has gone before -- into Brain's brain -- to help him remember where he hid the final egg in the Easter egg hunt; and "Brain Sees Stars Crazy," showing how Brain has planned for everything to see a meteor shower in person, because coincidences have prevented him from observing one in the past.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2017 (check local listings for time), PBS premiered Season 21 of ARTHUR. In the season opener, "Binky's A-Game; Brain and the Time Capsule," when Binky gets an "A" on a test, Muffy and Francine are convinced he cheated. Is it possible that Shelly "Binky" Barnes actually studied? Brain makes a time capsule and gets overwhelmed by people asking to have their special belongings included. Will he make room for his friends, or will he give them the boot?

Season 24 of ARTHUR debuted on Monday, March 8, 2021 on PBS (check local listings for time). In the 30-minute season opener, "The Great MacGrady (Part 1); The Great MacGrady (Part 2)," Arthur and friends support Mrs. MacGrady after she is diagnosed with cancer, and Elwood City wrestling champion Uncle Sam shows Francine and the community how to support cancer survivors.
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ARTHUR, the longest running children's animated series on television, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with four new episodes (and more) premiering in February 2022, culminating in a much-anticipated ending that gives a glimpse into what's in store for the future of these beloved characters. Based on the best-selling books by Marc Brown, the award-winning series, games and video shorts continue to engage audiences with heartfelt and humorous stories about family, friends, and the challenges of growing up. ARTHUR offers support and insights, tackling the difficult topics that kids, parents, and educators can face. Guest stars over the years include Congressman John Lewis, Yo-Yo Ma, Idina Menzel, Fred Rogers, Koko Taylor, and Alex Trebek to name just a few. ARTHUR will end after its 25th season concludes.

PBS KIDS and GBH Kids today announced that ARTHUR the iconic Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series based on the bestselling books by Marc Brown, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special marathon, including four new episodes, which culminate in a much-anticipated ending that gives a glimpse into what's in store for the future of these beloved characters. The marathon will feature more than 250 episodes and movie specials back-to-back on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and livestream, as well as on the PBS KIDS YouTube channel from February 16 at 9am EST to February 21 at 5pm ET. The four brand-new episodes will air on PBS stations (check local listings) and stream free on PBS KIDS on February 21, concluding the show's 25th and final television season.