Arthur Creator Lands New Series at Max

Max has greenlit the new preschool series Hop from Arthur creator Marc Brown.

The animated series marks Brown’s first TV show since Arthur’s 25-year run. Co-creators and fellow Arthur alums Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown will join Brown in bringing his children’s book illustrations to life on Hop, which will be produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.

Epic has engaged RespectAbility, a nonprofit advocacy organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, to consult on the series.

Hop follows an eclectic group of best friends whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers about embracing their own uniqueness. Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, and his quirky friends address kid-relatable problems with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness and adventure.

“Even before Arthur ended, I was nurturing a new project about a little frog named Hop, for a younger audience,” said Brown. “As Hop’s world grew in my imagination, I drew inspiration from the great work my friend Fred Rogers had done. With Arthur, we occasionally introduced characters with disabilities, but they never became part of the ensemble cast in any meaningful way. But the characters in Hop reflect many kids who are underrepresented in the media. Some of our characters have disabilities, but they never define who they are or what they can achieve. Kids are kids, and each one is unique and filled with potential. And kids love to have fun; that’s what Hop is all about!”

Ken Faier of Epic Story Media added, “We’re extremely proud of our work and collaboration with industry experts on representing characters in an inclusive way. It is an honor to have developed Hop with Marc, Peter and Tolon, who know how to engage not only today’s youth but parents looking for quality content. We believe Hop will have longevity in the marketplace for many years to come.”

Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network and Boomerang, added: “Marc is a legend in children’s programming, having created one of the most iconic television shows that has garnered almost every honor imaginable. Hop exudes everything families love about Arthur but with a fresh cast of modern characters that authentically represent the sundry of little eyes watching TV.”