Voices of Animation

October 7 2026

Eramelinda Boquer Interview (Rubella Deegan) https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-6-eramelinda-boquer-22DtbR0i.m4a

Arthur Holden Interview (Mr. Ratburn) https://media.podserve.fm/episodes/IUi6oulx/n66sgb3e/audio.m4a

Brigid Tierney Interview (Jenna Morgan) https://media.podserve.fm/episodes/IUi6oulx/fk7NTWm0/audio.m4a

Jessica Kardos Interview (Sue Ellen Armstrong) https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-9-jessica-kardos-1vUQw0.m4a

Kathleen Fee Interview (Miss Morgan, Grandma Tibble) https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-10-kathleen-fee-X0mNSaK.m4a

Christian Distefano Interview (DW Read) https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-11-christian-distefano-CGQs4iA.m4a

Pat Rodriguez (Sue Ellen Armstrong) and Danny Brochu (Buster Baxter Interview https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-12-pat-rodriguez-and-danny-brochu-Sy1k3DA0.m4a

Al Gravelle Interview (Mr. Morris) https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-13-al-gravelle-lFrpOHST.m4a

Andy Gryn (Talent Coordinator) Interview https://www.podserve.fm/e/episode-14-andy-gryn-MZk1Tps.m4a

PBS Kids animated shows dominated the 1990s and 2000s, but no show lasted longer or had more of a lasting legacy than Arthur. The show was based on the book series written and illustrated by Marc Brown, which debuted in 1976. Two decades later, Brown helped bring the show to TVs across the world alongside Executive Producer Carol Greenwald, together creating a show that would help shape children’s television.

The show was produced by WGBH/Boston and CINAR/Montreal, with the former responsible for PBS shows such as Zoom and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, while the latter created shows such as Caillou and Mona the Vampire. Arthur follows Arthur, an anthropomorphized aardvark, who alongside his friends, family and other citizens of Elwood City goes on various daily-life adventures. All of the characters are anthropomorphized animals, with Elwood City modeled after Erie, Pennsylvania, where Marc Brown grew up.

The show spanned 253 episodes and seven specials across 25 seasons from 1996 to 2022. Throughout its run, the show tackled major issues such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, natural disasters and PTSD, including an episode dealing with the aftermath of 9/11, in a way that didn’t talk down to children but didn’t frighten them either. Asthma, dyslexia and autism were also discussed, while the show featured tons of current cultural connections through parodies of South Park, Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, James Bond, Scooby-Doo and American Girl Dolls. While the show was essentially frozen in time, with the Lakewood students remaining eight years old, technology in the show continued to advance, including the addition of smartphones.

The show also had numerous guest stars, including Fred Rogers, Art Garfunkel, the Backstreet Boys, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Redman, Matt Damon, Neil Gaiman, Jane Lynch, Joan Rivers, Larry King and Alex Trebek. The first three performed on the show, with The Backstreet Boys performing in the special “It’s Only Rock N’ Roll” Arthur still lives on through The Arthur Podcast, which wrapped up its fourth season this year, and the show’s legacy will live well beyond that.

The show won four Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program, a George Foster Peabody Award for educational broadcasting and a BAFTA Award for Best International Children’s Series. The show also had one of the most iconic TV theme songs, “Believe in Yourself,” performed by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers and covered in 2014 by Chance the Rapper.

Arthur also released three albums, with cast members performing various tracks from the show and beyond, including a remix of “Believe in Yourself” and a cover of The Pretenders’ “Brass in Pocket” by D.W., voiced and sung by Oliver Grainger.

Arthur wrapped up its run by showing the main characters 20 years later. Arthur, now a graphic novelist and voiced by original voice actor Michael Yarmush, brings the series full circle by showing Arthur’s story about getting his first pair of glasses, which was also the plot of the very first episode of the show. Arthur is a show that remains immensely popular and culturally relevant and over the last three decades has become one of the most important and well known TV Series ever produced.