Following last year’s momentous finale of the beloved “Arthur” series, creator Marc Brown is beginning his next chapter in the world of children’s television with “Hop,” a new preschool animated series greenlit today by Max. The series marks Brown’s first television show since “Arthur’s” staggering 25-year run, where he began telling children’s stories. Co-creators and fellow “Arthur” alums, Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown, will join Marc in bringing his beloved children’s book illustrations to life on “Hop,” produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.
Epic has engaged RespectAbility – the esteemed advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities – to consult on the series. “Hop” follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers about embracing their own uniqueness. Led by Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, he and his quirky friends address kid-relatable problems with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness, and adventure.
Set in the aspirational community of Fair Village, every episode is grounded in emotional reality but soars into the world of fantasy, populated by dragons, trolls, talking banjos, and magic crayons. With a gentle balance of humor and heart, our heroes go on fun escapades to discover that they can overcome any obstacle with perseverance, creativity, and teamwork. Together, they show us the power of friendship and kindness as they navigate the mud puddles of life.
“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 adds, “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.”
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