What Animal Is Arthur? How Well Do You Know Your Cartoons

Devangana Rathore
Oct 28, 2022 By Devangana Rathore
Originally Published on Nov 17, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
So, what animal is Arthur? Read on to find out!
?
Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.5 Min

Arthur is a children's television program that features a variety of animal species that serve as the show's main characters.

As the show is educational for children, each character has their own compelling plot. Arthur is an eight-year-old boy who attends school and hangs out with other kids his age.

As a result, the entire show demonstrates how kids as young as eight should proceed and deal with obstacles, especially at such an early age. The series is fun and interesting for the target demographic. Arthur Read is a third-grade aardvark who, like any other youngster, enjoys going on harmless excursions.

He discovers the world in a yellow sweater, meets new friends, and is simply an all-around nice preteen. His closest friend is a rabbit, the bully-turned-softy at school is a bulldog, as well as the girl he presumably likes, is a monkey.

Arthur is a multimedia brand that includes 27 books, 14 apps, and a television show in its 21st season.

If you love learning about animals and famous TV Shows, then this is just the place for you! Make sure to also check out other fun articles like what animal is Master Shifu andwhat animal is Uniqua.

What is the TV show Arthur?

What animal is Arthur? Arthur is a brown animated aardvark who lives in the fictional town of Elwood City.

Arthur is a Canadian-American cartoon educational television series aimed at children aged four to eight. Kathy Waugh created the show for PBS, and WGBH produced it.

The show is set in Elwood Metropolis, a fictitious American community in Elwood city, set in grade three at Lakewood Elementary School. Arthur is a long-running animated television series on PBS Kids.

It's based on the famous book series of Marc Brown and chronicles the exploits of Arthur Read, an eight-year-old aardvark. D.W. (Dora Winifred), who is in kindergarten and is frequently an essential character in the show, and Kate, a newborn, are his younger sisters.

Jane, his mother, is an accountant, and David, his father, is a chef. Arthur has a dog called Pal as well.

Arthur and his friends have traveled on many adventures and handled a variety of difficulties over the years, including buying a new bike, participating in sports, learning how to be a friend, and more. These two girls, Francine Frensky and Muffy Crosswire are monkeys.

Binky Barnes is a bulldog who lives in a kennel. On the outside, Binky seems rugged, but on the inside, he's a sweetheart. Fern Walters is an author as well as a creative detective. Fern is a floppy-eared dog.

The bear cubs, Tommy and Timmy Tibbles, are pretty active. Bear cubs gain a lot of energy as they grow older. Prunella Deegan is a rat who enjoys reading and yoga. Finally, Sue Ellen is a cute fluffy cat.

What animals are the main characters of Arthur?

Over the years, the show has included several memorable characters. Many of the roles have also been performed by a variety of actors.

Arthur Read is an eight-year-old aardvark in primary school who is gentle and caring. Arthur's younger sister is D.W. Read. She is four years old and can anger Arthur at times, envious of his age. Emily is D.W.'s best buddy and studies preschool.

Jane Read, the mother, is an accountant. David Read, the father, is a chef. Arthur's baby sister is Kate Read, and Arthur's favorite dog is Pal.

Arthur's best friend, Buster Baxter, is an eight-year-old rabbit. Science fiction, comedy, video games, or watching TV are among his other interests. Arthur has a dear buddy named Francine Frensky.

It is a monkey and the school's most outstanding athlete. Muffy is her best pal. Muffy Crosswire is the wealthiest girl in school and is a cream-colored monkey.

Prunella-Fern is a rat that is nine years old and in fourth grade. The actual name of Brain is Alan Powers, and he was given the moniker because he was the sharpest school child. Alan is a brown bear who usually is friendly and courteous.

Sue Ellen Armstrong is a new student at her new school. She is a tan cat who enjoys martial arts. Binky's actual name is Shelley Barnes. Since he wanted his pacifier as a child, he was given the nickname Binky.

In previous episodes, he was a tyrant, but he has become a friendlier and better buddy of Arthur's in more current episodes. Fern Walters is Arthur's bashful classmate. She's a dog who enjoys mysteries and books. Finally, Mr. Ratburn is Arthur's and his friends' teacher.

According to the narrative, Brown delivered a bedtime story to his son, Tolon, who requested a story about a 'strange animal'. Brown chose to speak about an aardvark as it was the first animal that came to mind.

Each Arthur television show consists of two 11-minute episodes that tell independent stories. Postcards of Buster was been a spin-off show based on Buster.

Brown's sister, Kim, gives speeches about being the genuine D.W., Arthur's sister, all over the country. Unlike many animated series, which use professional voice actors to maintain continuity, Arthur uses child actors to voice most of the creatures. For example, the moving firm (Elwood City) is called Tolon’s Moving and, Muffy orders sweets from Eliza's Bakery in one episode.

In 'The Contest,' Arthur and his friends are redesigned and speak akin to the South Park characters. Buster Baxter discovers a message in a bottle and assumes it is from the lost city of Atlantis from 'Buster Baxter and the Letter from the Sea'.

Cartoons on the TV are a great way for families to bond!

Other Animals That Feature In Arthur

Arthur's TV show has 14 different animals.

Arthur and his family are the series' main protagonists because they are anthropomorphic aardvarks. Aardvarks, monkeys, rabbits, bears, cats, bulldogs, dogs, bloodhounds, poodles, moose, foxes, pandas, rattlesnakes, and rats are among the animals featured in the TV series. In the whole series, there are about 87 Arthur characters.

Why is Arthur an aardvark?

It is due to the character's design evolving, particularly between books and television episodes because it had shifted slightly. Like his parents, sisters, and grandparents, Arthur is an aardvark-like breed like in Arthur's world.

So when the son of Marc Brown asked for a bedtime story about any 'weird animal,'  Brown told Newsweek that he was considering alphabetically and that 'aardvark' was the very first animal that sprang to mind.

Brown based many of Arthur's adventures and characters on his experiences as a third-grader and his met individuals. Mr. Ratburn, for instance, was based on a teacher he had as a child, and Binky Barnes, a campus bully, too was based on an actual person. The program does a beautiful job of incorporating a diverse cast of characters.

What's remarkable about this is that it becomes a contention subject between Francine and her companion Muffy. Muffy is disappointed that Francine will not be attending her Christmas party, but when Francine reveals that she and her family will be celebrating Chanukah instead, Muffy is perplexed.

In episode eight of season 29, a puppet form of Arthur appears in the Neighborhood for Make-Believe and speaks with several residents, including Lady Elaine. It appears in season six as Arthur's adolescent neighbor who relocated after Mr. Sipple left.

Arthur Read is an anthropomorphic eight-year-old brownish aardvark who resides in the imaginary town of Elwood City. The humanoid bear, Brain, is dressed in a gray pullover, olive green slacks, and brown loafers.

In addition, Brain wears a variety of colored sweaters and shirts in the novels. The Brain is a gentle character who is one of the most courteous in the series.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly factsfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what animal is Arthur then why not take a look at unicorn facts, or Harry Potter facts.

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Devangana Rathore

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana Rathore picture

Devangana RathoreBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana is a highly accomplished content writer and a deep thinker with a Master's degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. With a wealth of experience in copywriting, she has worked with The Career Coach in Dublin and is constantly looking to enhance her skills through online courses from some of the world's leading universities. Devangana has a strong background in computer science and is also an accomplished editor and social media manager. Her leadership skills were honed during her time as the literacy society president and student president at the University of Delhi.

Read full bio >
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi Raturi picture

Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.

Read full bio >