PBS Says Goodbye to "Arthur" After 25 Seasons

It's the end of era! After 25 seasons, PBS aired the final episode of "Arthur." In the series finale, aptly titled "All Grown Up" and aired on Feb. 21, viewers catch a glimpse of Arthur and his friends all grown up. In a scene fast-forwarding to 20 years later, it's revealed that the titular character, Arthur, a kindhearted aardvark, becomes a graphic novelist, while his best friend, Buster, is now an English teacher. Meanwhile, Francine helms a sneaker company, and Muffy runs for mayor. Unsurprisingly, Arthur's sister D.W. is a traffic cop, and Binky Barnes is a local weatherman.

Turns out, the events of the Feb. 21 episode are part of Arthur's graphic-novel memoir. And, of course, there's a sweet nod to the very first episode. While revealing the book to his friends, Arthur reads: "Chapter one, how I got my very first pair of glasses." If you can remember, the first episode of Arthur was titled, "Arthur's Eyes; Francine's Bad Hair Day."

PBS confirmed that "Arthur" episodes will continue to air on the network with a podcast, video shorts, and digital games in the works. "It's amazing that what began as a simple bedtime story for my son eventually evolved into over a hundred books and a collaboration with GBH and PBS Kids that would last 25 years," Marc Brown, "Arthur" creator, says of the emotional finale. "Now more than ever the last line of my first book 'Arthur's Nose' rings true — 'There is a lot more to Arthur than his nose.'"

In July 2021, Variety reported that the show's then-upcoming 25th season would be its last. "Arthur" is the longest-running children's animated show in the nation's history, winning four Daytime Emmys for outstanding children's animated program and a Peabody Award in 2001. Watch the full season finale of "Arthur" above!