Arthur's First Day

TV review by Stephanie Snyder, Common Sense Media
Arthur's First Day Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 6+

Classic characters learn that change can be a good thing.

PBS Kids Kids' Animation 2022
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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 4+

Based on 4 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Arthur's First Day is a celebration of the first day of school and all of the excitement and anxiety that comes with it. Viewers young and old will be excited to see the long-running show's popular cast of characters -- Arthur (Roman Lutterotti), DW (Ethan Pugiotto), Buster, Binky (Bruce Dinsmore), Muffy (Melissa Altro), Francine, and more -- as they navigate new beginnings. The youngest viewers may be sensitive to scenes containing mild name-calling and bullying or the angst that some characters face in new roles. For example, Emily, a student in DW's class, struggles through several awkward social experiences on her first day of kindergarten. Perfectionist Muffy struggles with perceived failure in a leadership position. All in all, positive messages and images (including Samir, a Sikh student who becomes friends with Buster) will leave children excited about the first day of school.

Community Reviews

Lebron45James6
Lebron45James6 Adult
October 13, 2022
age 5+

This is epic!!!

Epic crossover of Ivan The Incredible and Arthur.
Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Adult
May 3, 2022
age 6+

Very epic

I really enjoyed this sequel a lot. I saw it in theaters when it came out back in September 2021 and it is a must see. The plot centers on Ivan The Incredible running away from his home to find Arthur and learn how to defeat his dad. Ivan arrives in Elwood City and Arthur gives him Hulk powers, teaches him how to control them, and they team up to defeat Ivan’s dad. Much like the original, you should expect some moments of peril. These include characters being chased by dogs, one scene where Ivan must jump into water that scares him to save Arthur, Ivan’s dad uses lasers, some perilous scenes involving a tall clock tower, parents are hypnotized and controlled by the villain, Arthur, Ivan and friends fall in the pit they dug to capture the dad, but eventually escape, there are a couple of high-speed chases, and Ivan’s father causes a station wagon full of Arthur’s friends to spin out of control and nearly go off a cliff before Ivan and Arthur use Hulk power to save them. However, this is a very good sequel, and is a must watch.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Summer vacation is over and it's ARTHUR'S FIRST DAY! Arthur is brimming with excitement for the start of fourth grade, until he finds out that his best friend, Buster, is in a different class for the first time. DW is nervous about starting kindergarten, and her first day is nothing like she anticipated. Muffy takes on the responsible role of being a Big Buddy to a kindergarten student, but by the end of the day, she must grapple with flaws she didn't realize she had. New friends (including Samir, the first Sikh featured on the show), new classes, and new experiences await the kids of Elwood City on the first day of school. What lessons will they learn?

Is It Any Good?

The long-running series Arthur has the recipe for a classic show that is appropriate and enjoyable for young viewers, and the one-hour PBS Kids special is no different. From the upbeat theme song to the lovable characters, kids will be hooked on Arthur's First Day, and parents who grew up on the original show will tap into the nostalgia of their childhood. Despite those warm fuzzy feelings, parents may start to tune out after another dream sequence that runs longer than necessary or the unrealistic portrayal of students who are rarely supervised by adults at school.

Nevertheless, the show does an effective job of capturing the positive and not-so-positive emotions related to the first day of school from many angles: kindergartners who are just getting started, fourth graders who know what to expect, and older kids who are seasoned enough to help others have a positive experience. This special is unique in how characters creatively solve a problem, which should give families plenty to discuss on the first day -- or any day -- of school.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about change in Arthur's First Day. How do Arthur and Buster feel about being in different classes? Why is this difficult for them to accept at first? What are some good things that happen because they're in different classes?

  • Arthur's First Day shows first day of school experiences for a number of students in order to show similarities and differences at different grade levels. How would you describe the first day of school for the kindergartners? How would you describe it for the fourth graders? What about for the older students?

  • What makes school fun and exciting? What makes school challenging? What do you most look forward to on the first day?

TV Details

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