Max is ready to welcome kids and families to Fair Village when Hop, the new animated preschool series from Arthur creator Marc Brown, which premieres in the U.S. today (April 4) on the streaming platform. The series breaks new ground for representation in children’s television, featuring an ensemble cast of animal characters who are all living with some type of disability.
Co-created by Arthur alums Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown and based on Brown’s illustrated children’s book, Hop is produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation in Quebec. RespectAbility, the advocacy nonprofit fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities, consulted on the series.
Synopsis: Hop follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers to embrace their own, and others’, uniqueness. Hop — an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other — and his quirky friends address kid-relatable challenges 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, and talking banjos. With a gentle balance of humor and heart, our heroes promise to captivate audiences with delightful journeys filled with friendship, valuable life lessons and endless possibilities.
Read more about the creation of Hop in Animation Magazine‘s exclusive interview with Marc Brown here. Hop Season 1 is now streaming on Max in the U.S.
