Arthur (cartoon)

Arthur (full name Arthur Timothy Read) is the eponymous main character of the popular PBS cartoon show based on the Marc Brown books.

A member of the aardvark species, Arthur is a third-grader with two younger sisters: precocious four-year-old D.W. (Dora Winifred) and baby Kate. Arthur's sibling rivalry with D.W. is often a theme of the show.

Arthur's best friend is Buster Baxter, a rabbit and a big fan of "Bionic Bunny," the characters' favorite superhero.

Other friends and acquaintances include:

• The Brain, (bear), the class genius and an only child. Brain is afraid of water and his greatest loves are math and science. The Brain's real name is Alan Powers.
• Francine Alice Frensky, (monkey) tom boy who loves sports and singing,
• Sue Ellen Armstrong, (cat) an artistic girl fond of travel,
• Muffy Crosswire, (orangutan) the wealthiest girl in school, extremely self-centered with a love of boy bands. Her real name is Mary Alice Crosswire.
• Binky Barnes, (bulldog) the class bully, also enjoys ballet.

Arthur's teacher is the slightly sadistic Mr. Nigel Ratburn, a rat.

Arthur also has a small pet dog named Pal.

The fact that the characters are different animals is almost never referred to. It is subtly implied that in Arthur's universe species is akin to race. When other countries are seen in the show they are usually inhabited by only one type of animal.

The Arthur series is unusual among children's cartoon shows in having a wide variety of distinct and memorable characters. Grandma Thora is based on Brown's own grandmother Thora, who encouraged him by saving his childhood drawings in a bottom drawer. The series often contains a few in-jokes for older viewers (such as parents or older siblings), with Art Garfunkel, Mister Rogers, and even Yo-Yo Ma, the noted cellist, appearing on the show.

Arthur is set in fictional Elwood City. A town that appears to be set somewhere in the northeastern United States, probably Massachusetts, although Rhode Island and Connecticut are also possibilities.

Each show begins with the catchy reggae theme song Walking Down The Street, performed by Ziggy Marley, and contains two self-contained episodes, separated by a live-action vignette of schoolchildren doing a project -- often related to a cartoon theme.

CINAR Animation produced 191 Arthur cartoons over the period from 1996 to 2001.

In October 2003, Postcards From Buster, an Arthur spin-off, began airing on PBS.

Episode list

Season 1

• 1. 1-1 1-01 02-Sep-1996 Arthur's Eyes / Francine's Bad Hair Day
• 2. 1-2 1-02 09-Sep-1996 Arthur and the Real Mr. Ratburn / Arthur's Spelling Trubble
• 3. 1-3 1-03 16-Sep-1996 D.W. All Wet / Buster's Dino Dilemma
• 4. 1-4 1-04 23-Sep-1996 D.W.'s Imaginary Friend / Arthur's Lost Library Book
• 5. 1-5 1-05 07-Oct-1996 Arthur's Pet Business / D.W. the Copycat
• 6. 1-6 1-06 14-Oct-1996 Locked in the Library / Arthur Accused!
• 7. 1-7 1-07 21-Oct-1996 Arthur Goes to Camp / Buster Makes the Grade
• 8. 1-8 1-08 28-Oct-1996 Arthur's New Puppy / Arthur Bounces Back
• 9. 1-9 1-09 04-Nov-1996 Arthur Babysits / Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe
• 10. 1-10 1-10 11-Nov-1996 Arthur's Birthday / Francine Frensky, Superstar
• 11. 1-11 1-11 18-Nov-1996 Arthur's Baby / D.W.'s Baby
• 12. 1-12 1-12 25-Nov-1996 Arthur Writes a Story / Arthur's Lost Dog
• 13. 1-13 1-13 02-Dec-1996 So Long, Spanky / Buster's New Friend
• 14. 1-14 1-14 09-Dec-1996 Arthur the Wrecker / Arthur and the True Francine
• 15. 1-15 1-15 16-Dec-1996 Arthur's Family Vacation / Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm
• 16. 1-16 1-16 06-Jan-1997 Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest / D.W. Flips
• 17. 1-17 1-17 13-Jan-1997 Meek for a Week / Arthur, World's Greatest Gleeper
• 18. 1-18 1-18 20-Jan-1997 Arthur's Chicken Pox / Sick as a Dog
• 19. 1-19 1-19 27-Jan-1997 D.W. Rides Again / Arthur Makes the Team
• 20. 1-20 1-20 03-Feb-1997 Arthur's Almost Boring Day / The Half-Baked Sale
• 21. 1-21 1-21 10-Feb-1997 Sue Ellen Moves In / The Perfect Brother
• 22. 1-22 1-22 17-Feb-1997 D.W.'s Snow Mystery / Team Trouble
• 23. 1-23 1-23 24-Feb-1997 Bully for Binky / Mis-fortune Teller
• 24. 1-24 1-24 03-Mar-1997 Arthur's Tooth / D.W. Gets Lost
• 25. 1-25 1-25 10-Mar-1997 D.W. Thinks Big / Arthur Cleans Up
• 26. 1-26 1-26 21-Apr-1997 My Dad, the Garbage Man / Poor Muffy
• 27. 1-27 1-27 28-Apr-1997 D.W.'s Blankie / Arthur's Substitute Teacher Trouble
• 28. 1-28 1-28 19-May-1997 I'm a Poet / The Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club!
• 29. 1-29 1-29 26-May-1997 My Club Rules! / Stolen Bike
• 30. 1-30 1-30 02-Jun-1997 Arthur's First Sleepover / Arthur's New Years Eve

Season 2

• 31. 2-1 2-01 22-Sep-1997 Arthur Meets Mr. Rogers / Draw!
• 32. 2-2 2-02 29-Sep-1997 Binky Barnes, Art Expert / Arthur's Lucky Pencil
• 33. 2-3 2-03 06-Oct-1997 D.W., the Picky Eater / Buster and the Daredevils
• 34. 2-4 2-04 13-Oct-1997 Arthur Makes a Movie / Go to Your Room, D.W.
• 35. 2-5 2-05 20-Oct-1997 Arthur's Underwear / Francine Frensky, Olympic Rider
• 36. 2-6 2-06 27-Oct-1997 Buster Baxter, Cat Saver / Play it Again, D.W.
• 37. 2-7 2-07 03-Nov-1997 Arthur's TV-Free Week / Night Fright
• 38. 2-8 2-08 10-Nov-1997 Arthur vs. the Piano / The Big Blow-Up
• 39. 2-9 2-09 08-Dec-1997 Lost! / The Short, Quick Summer
• 40. 2-10 2-10 15-Dec-1997 D.W. Goes to Washington / Arthur's Mystery Envelope
• 41. 2-11 2-11 19-Jan-1998 D.W.'s Deer Friend / Buster Hits the Books
• 42. 2-12 2-12 28-Jan-1998 Arthur's Faraway Friend / Arthur and the Square Dance
• 43. 2-13 2-13 07-Feb-1998 Water and the Brain / Arthur the Unfunny
• 44. 2-14 2-14 14-Feb-1998 Sue Ellen's Lost Diary / Arthur's Knee
• 45. 2-15 2-15 09-Mar-1998 Grandma Thora Appreciation Day / Fern's Slumber Party
• 46. 2-16 2-16 16-Mar-1998 Love Notes for Muffy / D.W. Blows the Whistle
• 47. 2-17 2-17 23-Mar-1998 Francine Redecorates / Arthur the Loser
• 48. 2-18 2-18 27-Apr-1998 Arthur vs. the Very Mean Crossing Guard / D.W.'s Very Bad Mood
• 49. 2-19 2-19 18-May-1998 D.W.'s Name Game / Finders Key-pers
• 50. 2-20 2-20 25-May-1998 How the Cookie Crumbles / Sue Ellen's Little Sister

Season 3

• 51. 3-1 3-01 21-Sep-1998 Buster's Back / The Ballad of Buster Baxter
• 52. 3-2 3-02 28-Sep-1998 D.W., All Fired Up / I'd Rather Read It Myself
• 53. 3-3 3-03 05-Oct-1998 Arthur Goes Crosswire / Sue Ellen and the Brainasaurus
• 54. 3-4 3-04 12-Oct-1998 Background Blues / And Now Let's Talk to Some Kids
• 55. 3-5 3-05 02-Nov-1998 The Chips Are Down / Revenge of the Chip
• 56. 3-6 3-06 09-Nov-1998 Binky Rules / Meet Binky
• 57. 3-7 3-07 16-Nov-1998 Arthur Rides the Bandwagon / Dad's Dessert Dilemma
• 58. 3-8 3-08 07-Dec-1998 Popular Girls / Buster's Growing Grudge
• 59. 3-9 3-09 04-Jan-1999 Arthur's Treasure Hunt / The Return of the King
• 60. 3-10 3-10 11-Jan-1999 Attack of the Turbo Tibbles / D.W. Tricks the Tooth Fairy
• 61. 3-11 3-11 08-Feb-1999 Double Tibble Trouble / Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival
• 62. 3-12 3-12 15-Mar-1999 What Scared Sue Ellen? / Clarissa is Cracked
• 63. 3-13 3-13 26-Apr-1999 Arthur's Dummy Disaster / Francine and the Feline
• 64. 3-14 3-14 24-May-1999 Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight / D.W.'s Perfect Wish
• 65. 3-15 3-15 31-May-1999 Arthur and D.W. Clean Up / The Long, Dull Winter

Season 4

• 66. 4-1 4-01 06-Sep-1999 D.W.'s Library Card / Arthur's Big Hit
• 67. 4-2 4-02 13-Sep-1999 Hide and Snake / Muffy's New Best Friend
• 68. 4-3 4-03 20-Sep-1999 Buster's Breathless / The Fright Stuff
• 69. 4-4 4-04 27-Sep-1999 The Contest / Prove It
• 70. 4-5 4-05 04-Oct-1999 The Blizzard / The Rat Who Came to Dinner
• 71. 4-6 4-06 11-Oct-1999 D.W. Tale Spins / Prunella Gets it Twice
• 72. 4-7 4-07 18-Oct-1999 Binky Barnes, Wingman! / To Beat or Not to Beat
• 73. 4-8 4-08 25-Oct-1999 1001 Dads / Prunella's Prediction
• 74. 4-9 4-09 01-Nov-1999 What is that Thing? / Buster's Best Behavior
• 75. 4-10 4-10 08-Nov-1999 My Music Rules / That's a Baby Show!

Season 5

• 76. 5-1 5-01 04-Sep-2000 Arthur and the Big Riddle / Double Dare
• 77. 5-2 5-02 11-Sep-2000 Kids are From Earth, Parents are From Pluto / Nerves of Steal
• 78. 5-3 5-03 18-Sep-2000 It's a No-Brainer / The Shore Thing
• 79. 5-4 5-04 25-Sep-2000 The World Record / The Cave
• 80. 5-5 5-05 02-Oct-2000 The Lousy Week / You Are Arthur...
• 81. 5-6 5-06 09-Oct-2000 The Election / Francine Goes to War
• 82. 5-7 5-07 16-Oct-2000 Sleep No More / Pet Peeved
• 83. 5-8 5-08 23-Oct-2000 The Last of Mary Moo Cow / Bitzi's Beau
• 84. 5-9 5-09 30-Oct-2000 Just Desserts / The Big Dig
• 85. 5-10 5-10 06-Nov-2000 Arthur's Family Feud / Muffy Gets Mature

Special

• S-1 5-11 23-Nov-2000 Arthur's Perfect Christmas

Season 6

• 86. 6-1 6-01 24-Sep-2001 Sue Ellen Gets Her Goose Cooked / Best of the Nest
• 87. 6-2 6-02 01-Oct-2001 Arthur Plays the Blues / Buster's Sweet Success
• 88. 6-3 6-03 08-Oct-2001 Prunella's Special Edition / The Secret Life of Dogs and Babies
• 89. 6-4 6-04 15-Oct-2001 Muffy's Soccer Shocker / Brother Can You Spare a Clarinet?
• 90. 6-5 6-05 22-Oct-2001 The Boy Who Cried Comet! / Arthur and Los Vecínos
• 91. 6-6 6-06 29-Oct-2001 Citizen Frensky / D.W.'s Backpack Mishap
• 92. 6-7 6-07 05-Nov-2001 The Boy with His Head in the Clouds / More!
• 93. 6-8 6-08 12-Nov-2001 Rhyme for Your Life / For Whom the Bell Tolls
• 94. 6-9 6-09 19-Nov-2001 The Good Sport / Crushed
• 95. 6-10 6-10 26-Nov-2001 Arthur Loses His Marbles / Friday the 13th

Special

• S-2 7-00 01-Sep-2002 Arthur, It's Only Rock and Roll

Season 7

• 96. 7-1 7-01 08-Oct-2002 Cast Away / The Great Sock Mystery
• 97. 7-2 7-02 09-Oct-2002 Francine's Split Decision / Muffy Goes Metropolitan
• 98. 7-3 7-03 10-Oct-2002 Ants in Arthur's Pants / Don't Ask Muffy
• 99. 7-4 7-04 11-Oct-2002 To Tibble the Truth / Waiting to Go
• 100. 7-5 7-05 14-Oct-2002 Elwood City Turns 100!
• 101. 7-6 7-09 28-Nov-2002 Prunella Sees the Light / Return of the Snowball
• 102. 7-7 7-07 26-Nov-2002 D.W.'s Time Trouble / Buster's Amish Mismatch
• 103. 7-8 7-08 27-Nov-2002 The World of Tomorrow / Is There a Doctor in the House?
• 104. 7-9 7-06 25-Nov-2002 Pick a Car, Any Car / Jenna's Bedtime Blues
• 105. 7-10 7-10 29-Nov-2002 April 9th

Season 8

• 106. 8-1 15-Sep-2003 Dear Adil / Bitzi's Break-Up
• 107. 8-2 16-Sep-2003 Fernfern and the Secret of Moose Mountain / Thanks a Lot, Binky
• 108. 8-3 17-Sep-2003 Arthur's Snow Biz / Bugged
• 109. 8-4 18-Sep-2003 Fernkenstein's Monster / D.W., Dancing Queen
• 110. 8-5 19-Sep-2003 Vomitrocious! / Sue Ellen Chickens Out
• 111. 8-6 22-Dec-2003 Postcards From Buster!
• 112. 8-7 23-Dec-2003 Desk Wars / Desperately Seeking Stanley
• 113. 8-8 24-Dec-2003 Muffy's Art Attack / Tales from the Crib
• 114. 8-9 25-Dec-2003 Flea to Be You and Me / Kiss and Tell
• 115. 8-10 26-Dec-2003 Big Horns George / *Bleep*

Season 9

• 116. 9-1 27-Dec-2004 Castle in the Sky / Tipping the Scales
• 117. 9-2 28-Dec-2004 Francine's Big Top Trouble / George Blows His Top
• 118. 9-3 29-Dec-2004 Arthur Weighs In / The Law of the Jungle Gym
• 119. 9-4 30-Dec-2004 Buster's Green Thumb / My Fair Tommy
• 120. 9-5 31-Dec-2004 Lights, Camera, Opera! / All Worked Up!
• 121. 9-6 04-Apr-2005 Arthur Makes Waves / It Came From Beyond
• 122. 9-7 123B / NA 05-Apr-2005 Three's a Crowd / "A" is for Angry
• 123. 9-8 06-Apr-2005 The "A" Team / Emily Swallows a Horse
• 124. 9-9 07-Apr-2005 D.W. Beats All / Buster the Myth Maker
• 125. 9-10 08-Apr-2005 Binky Goes Nuts / Breezy Listening Blues

Trivia

• Everyone wears the same outfit in almost every episode, although some outfits have changed over the years.

External links

• PBS Kids: Arthur