PBS says goodbye to "Arthur" with the 25th season

America's longest-running children's animated series: the beloved, award-winning, meme generator Arthur - will end in the winter of 2022 after 26 years on PBS KIDS. The news emerged in an interview with original series developer Kathy Waugh about Jason Szwimer's voice actor. Find DW podcast, which began as a quest to track down all seven male actors who played Arthur's little sister.

"Arthur it is no longer in production. We had our closing party two years ago… I think [PBS] made a mistake, ”said Waugh, three-time Daytime Emmy winner whose credits also include Molly of Denali, Peep and the big world e Curious George. “I don't know if it was a rating problem or if I felt it had to be withdrawn. For me, it seemed like an evergreen, as if it would never end, but it's over ”.

Waugh developed the PBS series based on the Arthur Adventure series of books created by writer-illustrator Marc Brown. Produced by WGBH (now GBH Kids), Arthur focuses on the young titular horticulturist, his family and friends as they learn important lessons in empathy, kindness and inclusion through their daily adventures in Elwood City. Cookie Jar provided the animation for the first 15 seasons, followed by 9 Story Ent. (seasons 16-19), and more recently Oasis Animation.

Series executive producer Carol Greenwald confirmed in a statement to the media: “In the winter of 2022, Arthur's 25th and final season 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 further Arthur content, sharing the lessons of Arthur and his friends in new ways. "

It premiered on October 7, 1996, Arthur will reach the milestone of 250 episodes next season. The 2D series won four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Animation Program (and two additional honors), a Humanitas Prize and a Peabody Award, and made headlines by addressing social issues, including the marriage episode of the same sex of 2019 "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone, ”which was banned from broadcast by Alabama Public Television and earned the show a GLAAD Media Award nomination. Last year, amidst the COVID blockade and the growing focus on the BLM movement, the series delivered a special digital short film on resistance to racism.