Marc Brown, the creator and author of the beloved children’s books Arthur, has a new series on the way via Max. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new show named Hop will encompass animal friends with disabilities. Viewers can be excited about what’s in store, considering Arthur was a most cherished book and television series on PBS for many years.
In a statement, Brown shared that “even before Arthur ended, I was nurturing a new project about a little frog named Hop for a younger audience. 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.”
The cast for Hop will include actors Moneesha “Misha” Bakshi (Fork Monster), newcomer Charlotte Walker, and Jake Shannon (Dead Body Man). The show will introduce exciting characters who live in Fair Village, including Hop’s older sister Penny, Hoot the owl, Flipa, the neurodivergent witty squirrel, shy Benny the alligator, and a beaver by the name of Benny. In each episode of the series, these characters will have to “discover that they can overcome any obstacle with perseverance, creativity, and teamwork” on each of their wonderful adventures.
Ken Faier of Epic Story Media shared, “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.”