After a long 25 years, PBS Kids classic Arthur is coming to an end, giving fans a glimpse into the adult lives of the main characters.
Arthur premiered in October 1996 and was home to all kids worldwide, teaching viewers about different cultures. Though reruns will be available through PBS Kids, the final four brand new episodes aired Monday. The show is the longest-running animated kids’ show, winning four Daytime Emmys for outstanding children’s animated program.
Although it may be shocking to some, in a podcast over the past summer, screenwriter Kathy Waugh announced the show’s ending.
“Arthur is no longer in production. We had our wrap party two years ago. 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.” However, she pointed out that she thought the show would be ongoing.
“I don’t know if it was a rating 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.” Waugh’s creativity with the show comes from the popular books by Marc Brown.
Executive producer Carol Greenwald released a statement, “Arthur is the longest-running kids animated series in history and is known for teaching kindness, empathy and inclusion through many groundbreaking moments to generations of viewers.”
Here’s to a final goodbye to Arthur, a show that captivated many children’s lives.
See some fan reactions below:
https://twitter.com/lunarmermaid/status/1495890027582271500?s=20&t=ySUypDynG7aZpUsyDs5Rag
https://twitter.com/amurkymuc/status/1495880570177474574?s=20&t=ySUypDynG7aZpUsyDs5Rag
