Arthur

Developed by WGBH Boston and based on Marc Brown's beloved picture books, Arthur premiered on October 7, 1996, introducing the unforgettable theme song "Believe in Yourself" performed by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Arthur Read, an aardvark with glasses and a perpetually anxious expression, was the through-line for stories about homework, lunch money, crushes, and the strange social hierarchies of elementary school. His little sister D.W. (short for Dora Winifred) was just annoying enough to be real; Muffy was the rich kid, the Brain was the know-it-all, and Buster was the loyal goofball.

The show ran for 25 seasons and 253 episodes—a testament to how much kids craved stories about their own lives. It tackled divorce, glasses-wearing anxiety, losing teeth, and having no talent, all without ever feeling preachy. The clenched-fist meme that exploded decades later proved the show's emotional core had lasted. Arthur ended on February 21, 2022 — the finale flashed forward to the characters all grown up, having survived cultural shifts, format changes, and the rise of streaming, a true American institution for kids' television.