Iconic kids show Arthur has been cancelled after a monumental 25 years and 25 series, with a total of 195 episodes.
That makes it the longest-running children’s animated TV series ever, but now it is ending.
Iconic PBS kids show, loved by children and adults across the world, Arthur, has been cancelled after a monumental 25-year run and will show its 25th and final season ever next year.
Carol Greenwald, the Executive Producer, confirmed that no new episodes would be made, but the show will continue to air indefinitely on PBS Kids.
The series has so far been translated and broadcasted in more than 83 languages and countries.
(Image: pbs)
Carol said to IGN in an email: “In the winter of 2022, the 25th and final season of Arthur will debut. Arthur will continue to be available on PBS KIDS for years to come.
“Producer GBH and PBS KIDS are continuing to work together on additional Arthur content, sharing the lessons of Arthur and his friends in new ways.”
The popular TV series was based on books by Marc Brown about Arthur Read the aardvark as he navigated life with his friends and family in the town of Elwood City.
The author of the books also directed the popular series.
(Image: mirror.co.uk)
Following Arthur’s school days and sibling struggles, the show first aired in October 1996 and was renewed for four seasons in 2018.
The show follows bespectacled aardvark Arthur Read who demonstrates to kids how to deal with childhood traumas and challenges such as homework, teachers and bullies.
It became known for its progressive storylines and simple approach to diverse or more complex situations than usually breached in children’s TV.
He also has to contend with his sisters, but loves playing with his friends: tomboy Francine, foodie and best pal Buster, super smart Brain, rich girl Muffy and geography expert Sue Ellen.
(Image: mirror.co.uk)
Each family are different animals from rabbits, to aardvarks but this is rarely discussed in the show.
The theme tune to the show, Believe in Yourself, was performed by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers in 1996 and has amassed its own fanbase.
Kathy Waugh, the Screenwriter, first revealed in the Finding DW podcast that Arthur wrapped years ago and is “no longer in production”.
“We had our wrap party two years ago,” she told host Jason Szwimer. “I think [PBS] made a mistake, and I think Arthur should come back and I know I’m not alone in thinking they made a mistake.
(Image: PBS)
“I don’t know if it was a ratings issue or if it felt like it needed to be retired. To me, it felt evergreen, like it was never going to end but it did end, we finished the last episode, season 25, two years ago.”
According to IMDB, Arthur was the longest-running kids animated show in the US, but it was also the second-longest running animated series in the country behind The Simpsons.
The Simpsons has been going since 1989 and is now on its 32nd series.
Arthur earned four Daytime Emmy awards for outstanding children’s animated program.
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