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16 Things The Internet Needs To Know About Meme Sensation 'Arthur'

By Michael Avery in Entertainment On 14th October 2016

If you didn't read Arthur as a kid, you were deprived. If you didn't watch Arthur as a kid, then you just completely fail at childhood. The show was full of so many great lessons like how to have fun with a library card, and how to spell aardvark. It's crazy to think that it first aired 20 years ago, like, what even?? I was surprised to find out that it's still on the air after all these years, and still educating millions of kids around the world. Today more people may know Arthur for the millions of memes featuring the character than for the countless books and episodes of his TV show. Now it's your turn to be educated all over again with these 16 Arthur facts.

1. Marc Brown is the creator the Arthur books.

He didn't want to have it turned into a television series originally. He apparently had no respect for the medium.

2. Marc's grandmother, who helped him get a start in illustration in the first place, was named Thora.

Thora appears in the Arthur series as Arthur and D.W.'s grandma.

3. Marc has 3 kids: Tolon, Eliza and Tucker. Their names are referenced many times throughout the series.

You can spot them hidden in many episodes of the show and in his books!

4. Marc even makes an appearance in the show – he's the one on the far left!

5. Over the 20 years that Arthur has been on TV, he has remained 8 years old. They decided that he will never have to worry about adult problems.

I'm not sure how much I would love staying in third grade for my whole life, but it doesn't sound all bad.

At least stuck being eight years old for 20 years is better than being stuck as babies forever.

Looking at you, Rugrats.

6. D.W. is based on Marc's younger sister Kim Brown.

She travels around and does Q&A sessions at schools, and talks about how her life experiences have played into the books and the show.

7. D.W. has been voiced by 6 different people, all males who are around 10 years old at the time.

8. Arthur has been voiced by 7 different people, also males who were around 10 years old.

9. The voice of Muffy, Melissa Altro, is the only actress to have never left the show.

10. The show has featured many celebrity guests including Mr. Rogers, Alex Trebek, the Backstreet Boys, and Matt Damon.

We will give you a minute to finish laughing over Matt Damon.

11. Joan Rivers made an appearance as Francine's grandmother.

12. Even though everyone on Arthur almost never changes clothes, the family car changes colors many times.

Let's not forget the time D.W. dressed up like Arthur and was savage AF.

13. Arthur is the longest-running children's animated series in America.

It's the 3rd longest running animated series in general behind The Simpsons and Family Guy.

14. It's the 2nd longest-running show on PBS behind Sesame Street, which has been on the air since 1969.

15. Buster Baxter got his own spinoff. He would travel North America and send video postcards back to his friends.

And no, the show wasn't as good as Arthur.

16. Elwood City is real(Ellwood City). It's located in Pennsylvania!

Road trip, anyone?

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