The ‘Arthur’ Finale Showed All the Characters as Adults

The future is bright for Arthur and his gang.

By Tinybeans Team March 1, 2022

After 25 seasons, Arthur ended it’s run with a pretty impressive title: TV’s longest-running children’s animated show and an epic ending in which you get to see your favorite characters from the show all grown up! Hint: you’ll find hair, heroism and even possibly homosexuality (but they don’t say it, so it should still be cool to watch even if you’re in Florida).

The television series aired in 1996 and was based on the Arthur Adventure book series, written and illustrated by Marc Brown. It ended with an episode on PBS Kids yesterday entitled “Blabbermouth/All Grown Up.” The characters find a fortune-telling game and get to flash-forward to the future, where they see themselves living their best lives as adults.

Arthur has grown a head of hair and he’s—surprise—a graphic novelist. The show goes meta on us when you realize that the first chapter of Arther-the-Adult’s memoir is a scene from the first television show in the series.

Head writer Peter K. Hirsch commented “[It] occurred to me that this whole series has been something Arthur has created … So the suggestion is this (the 25-year television run) has all been his memoir.” Whoa.

It’s no surprise the DW, Arthur’s tattle-taley little sister, become a traffic cop, or that Buster, his best friend with an equally-matched even personality to Arthur grows up to be an English teacher. His star student, by the way, is none other than Arthur and DW’s youngest sibling, Kate.

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Francine has cut her signature bob and is a shoe designer, and Muffy is running for Mayor of Elwood City. Binky—Arthur’s friendemy—is a news anchor, and George—DW’s quiet friend—is the owner of The Sugar Bowl dessert parlour.