ARTHUR is an animated series airs daily on The Kids Channel. Aimed at viewers between the ages of four and eight, ARTHUR's goal is to help foster an interest in reading and writing, and to encourage positive social skills.
Based on the children's books by Marc Brown, ARTHUR premiered in 1996 as one of the first ongoing animated programs based on a book series. The show chronicles the adventures of Arthur (an eight-year-old aardvark) through engaging, emotional stories that explore issues faced by real kids. It is a comedy that tells these stories from a kid's point of view without moralizing or talking down. Situations on ARTHUR develop in realistic ways, and don't always turn out as we -- or Arthur and his friends -- might expect.
The series is supported by a substantial educational outreach campaign that develops relevant materials (including resources, lesson plans, and activities), and distributes them to librarians, teachers, community centers, and families.
The ARTHUR series has been honored with numerous awards over the years, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and three Daytime Emmy's for Outstanding Children's Animated Program.
In 2002, TV Guide ranked ARTHUR #26 on its list of the "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time."
