Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BaldnessMeansSickness: Mrs. [=MacGrady=] loses her hair because of the chemotherapy she's been receiving (though she still has her brown "fur"), so she wears a pink bandanna with white spots to cover it up. Her hair grows back in later episodes.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Bald Women is now a disambig
Deleted line(s) 183 (click to see context) :
* BaldWoman: In "The Great [=MacGrady=]".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
both first names have been used
Changed line(s) 177 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Sarah [=MacGrady=]]]
to:
[[folder: Sarah Sarah/Leah [=MacGrady=]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Not So Different has been renamed Not So Different Remark, and must be acknowledged in-universe by one of the characters.
Deleted line(s) 143 (click to see context) :
* NotSoDifferent: With Buster. Both love eating and cartoons. Not to mention if the high school video is any indication, he was also just like Buster as a teenager. When shown this particular video, Ratburn blushes and starts whistling innocently.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 120 (click to see context) from:
* CoolTeacher: His students don't like to admit it, but he's a nice guy who, while strict and a little too obsessed with handing out lots of homework, is very concerned about his students' well being. In Season 19's "The Last Day", Arthur and Buster finally come to realize how much he's taught them, and the class performs a song in his honor.
to:
* CoolTeacher: Double subverted. His students don't like to admit it, but he's a nice guy who, while strict and a little too obsessed with handing out lots of homework, is very concerned about his students' well being. In Season 19's "The Last Day", Arthur and Buster finally come to realize how much he's taught them, and the class performs a song in his honor.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 146 (click to see context) from:
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Despite the kids complaining about Ratburn being a Sadist Teacher, he's always looking out for their best interest and is usually the one to call out one of the kids if they're being OOC like Arthur in "So Funny I Forgot To Laugh".
to:
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Despite the kids complaining about Ratburn being a Sadist Teacher, he's always looking out for their best interest and is usually the one to call out one of the kids if they're being OOC like Arthur in "So Funny I Forgot To Laugh". When the kids fail to complete an assignment, Mr. Ratburn gives them a second chance, though often times it might be a ''tougher'' assignment.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 50,51 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Voiced by:''' Mark Camacho
to:
-->'''Voiced by:''' Mark Camacho
Creator/MarkCamacho
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
* WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons: Averted. Though he is a blue collar worker, Oliver is a pretty smart and nice guy, though his daughters (especially Catherine) thought he should get a more "respectable" job.
to:
* WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons: Averted. Though he is a blue collar worker, Oliver is a pretty smart and nice guy, though his daughters (especially (mainly Catherine) thought think he should get a more "respectable" job.job.
** Francine was embarrassed about his job at first but she soon accepts it, seeing her dad was able to give a good presentation about his job during her classes career day while making a playground out of recycled trash for them to enjoy likely helped.
** Francine was embarrassed about his job at first but she soon accepts it, seeing her dad was able to give a good presentation about his job during her classes career day while making a playground out of recycled trash for them to enjoy likely helped.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
* LethalChef: Notoriously so; her grandchildren do everything in their power to avoid actually eating her meals. Even David would rather that the cooking isn't left to her.
to:
* LethalChef: Notoriously so; her grandchildren do everything in their power to avoid actually eating her meals. Even David would rather and other adults prefer that the cooking isn't left up to her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pal_arthur.png]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
'''Jane is voiced by:''' Sonja Ball
to:
'''Jane is voiced by:''' Sonja Ball
Creator/SonjaBall
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 198 (click to see context) from:
She is a reporting kangaroo in a yellow coat and wears glasses. She appeared in the Eldwood City Action News on the report on the banning of ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' books from Public libraries due to a banning organization called PAWS (P-A-W-S, Parents Against Weird Stories), And they stated that ''All scary stories are bad for kids''. She tried to reach ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' creator E.A. Depoe with no success. She interviewed the Crosswire family. The mother explains that their daughter (Muffy) has been getting nightmares while reading the books.
to:
She is a reporting kangaroo aardvark in a yellow coat and wears glasses. She appeared in the Eldwood City Action News on the report on the banning of ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' books from Public libraries due to a banning organization called PAWS (P-A-W-S, Parents Against Weird Stories), And they stated that ''All scary stories are bad for kids''. She tried to reach ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' creator E.A. Depoe with no success. She interviewed the Crosswire family. The mother explains that their daughter (Muffy) has been getting nightmares while reading the books.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 215 (click to see context) from:
* SickEpisode: "Sick As A Dog" revolves around him being ill after sampling one piece of human food too many.
to:
* SickEpisode: "Sick As A Dog" revolves around him being ill after sampling one piece of human (or rather, humanoid) food too many.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 161 (click to see context) :
* ButtMonkey: The early seasons often had some form of bad luck or misfortune happening to him, usually in the form of things falling on him, from raw hamburgers, to baseballs, to a bucket of popcorn, to Binky Barnes. S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day" reveals that he had bad luck befall him even during his school days.
Added DiffLines:
* ButtMonkey: The early seasons often had some form of bad luck or misfortune happening to him, usually in the form of things falling on him, from raw hamburgers, to baseballs, to a bucket of popcorn, to Binky Barnes. S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day" reveals that he had bad luck befall him even during his school days.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Deleted line(s) 153 (click to see context) :
* WeddingDay: Gets married in "Mr. Ratburn And the Special Someone".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 211 (click to see context) from:
* AnimalTalk: He can talk to other animals and [[SpeaksFluentAnimal Kate]].
to:
* AnimalTalk: He can talk to other animals non-humanoid animals, imaginary friends, and [[SpeaksFluentAnimal Kate]].
Changed line(s) 219 (click to see context) from:
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He's afraid of cats.
to:
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He's Ironically for a dog, he's afraid of cats.
Changed line(s) 240 (click to see context) from:
* AnimalTalk: He can speak to other animals and Kate.
to:
* AnimalTalk: He can speak to other non-humanoid animals and Kate.
Changed line(s) 243 (click to see context) from:
* PlotAllergy: [[{{Irony}} Nemo is allergic to milk]].
to:
* PlotAllergy: [[{{Irony}} Nemo is allergic to milk]]. This is actually accurate for a cat-- real cats are lactose intolerant.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* HouseHusband: Downplayed, since both of the Read parents work from home. However, while David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. David also does most of the cooking for the household, and Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot about living without him in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" depicts Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
to:
* HouseHusband: Downplayed, Downplayed with David, since he and Jane both of the Read parents work from home. However, while David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. David also does most of the cooking for the household, and Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot about living without him in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" depicts Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. It's implied that David does most of the cooking for the household, since Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot about living without him in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" depicts Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
to:
* HouseHusband: Both Downplayed, since both of the Read parents work from home. While However, while David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. It's implied that David also does most of the cooking for the household, since and Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot about living without him in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" depicts Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 179 (click to see context) from:
to:
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leah_s2.png]]
Added DiffLines:
*SuddenNameChange: In Season 13, she's called "Leah"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* GoodParents: Most of the time, though they've made mistakes and they're not without their faults, they're usually very attentive to their kids, who can almost always rely on them for help whenever they face a problem.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 259 (click to see context) from:
* AnimalTalk: She can speak to other animals and Kate.
to:
* AnimalTalk: She can speak to other animals animals, imaginary friends, and Kate.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. It's implied that David cooks the majority of the household's meals, since Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" shows Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
to:
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. It's implied that David cooks the majority does most of the household's meals, cooking for the household, since Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot about living without him in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" shows depicts Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant.
to:
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant. It's implied that David cooks the majority of the household's meals, since Arthur and D.W.'s ImagineSpot in "Mom and Dad Have A Great Big Fight" shows Jane as completely unable to cook for them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
* CordonBleughChef: David likes to experiment with his cooking... with less than desired results. Arthur initially thought he was a LethalChef, but he's actually a SupremeChef... when not experimenting.
to:
* CordonBleughChef: David likes to experiment with his cooking... with less than desired results. Arthur initially thought he was a LethalChef, but he's actually a SupremeChef... SupremeChef when not getting carried away with his experimenting.
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* LethalChef: Played with. While Arthur initially thought this, it turns out David is actually an amazing cook. It's when he's experimenting in his cooking that the meals turn out a bit questionable. Either way, David is certainly not as bad a chef as Grandma Thora.
to:
* LethalChef: Played with.Subverted. While Arthur initially thought this, it turns out David is actually an amazing cook. It's when he's [[CordonBleughChef experimenting in with his cooking cooking]] that the meals turn out a bit questionable. Either way, David is certainly not as bad a chef as Grandma Thora.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
* LaughingAtYourOwnJokes: Dave, usually because nobody else gets them, much to Arthur's chagrin.
to:
* LaughingAtYourOwnJokes: Dave, David, usually because nobody else gets them, much to Arthur's chagrin.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 13 (click to see context) from:
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: David is a downplayed example; In "Arthur Cleans Up" he is shown to easily get excited over things that he ropes Arthur in to that just leaves him feeling awkward or unsure of what he's supposed to do.
to:
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: David is a downplayed example; In "Arthur Cleans Up" he is shown to easily get excited over things that he ropes Arthur in to that just leaves him into, leaving Arthur feeling awkward or unsure of what he's supposed to do.bemused.
Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* ADayInTheLimelight: "Operation D.W.!" sees David taking the lead in providing parental emotional support, a task which usually falls to Jane.
to:
* ADayInTheLimelight: "Operation D.W.!" sees David taking the lead in providing parental emotional support, a task which usually falls left to Jane.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 96 (click to see context) from:
* HonestJohnsDealership: Subverted. While assertive when it comes to selling cars, he's not into false advertising
to:
* HonestJohnsDealership: Subverted. While assertive when it comes to selling cars, he's not into false advertisingadvertising.
Changed line(s) 99 (click to see context) from:
** "Crosswire." As in hotwiring a car. It can also mean "crossed wires", as in RichInDollarsPoorInSense. It fits for his whole family.
to:
** "Crosswire." As in hotwiring a car. It can also mean "crossed wires", as in the sense of RichInDollarsPoorInSense. It fits for his whole family.
Changed line(s) 102,103 (click to see context) from:
* NouveauRiche: However, he's a more positive portrayal of this trope than the usual examples, as we don't really see him flaunt his wealth and, likewise, if the way he conducts his business is an indication, he seems to be rather good at managing his money well.
* PapaWolf: In "Caught in the Crosswires", when Jimmy Johnny Johnson bluntly tells Muffy that nobody would want to see her true self and that she is boring, Ed demands him and his film crew to leave ''immediately''.
* PapaWolf: In "Caught in the Crosswires", when Jimmy Johnny Johnson bluntly tells Muffy that nobody would want to see her true self and that she is boring, Ed demands him and his film crew to leave ''immediately''.
to:
* NouveauRiche: However, he's a more positive portrayal of this trope than the usual examples, as we don't really see him flaunt his wealth and, likewise, and if the way he conducts his business is an any indication, he seems to be rather good at managing his money well.
money.
* PapaWolf: In "Caught in the Crosswires", when Jimmy Johnny Johnson bluntly tells Muffy that nobody would want to see her true self and that she is boring, Ed demandshim that Jimmy and his film crew to leave ''immediately''.
* PapaWolf: In "Caught in the Crosswires", when Jimmy Johnny Johnson bluntly tells Muffy that nobody would want to see her true self and that she is boring, Ed demands
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
!!The Reads
[[folder: David and Jane Read]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/resilience_parent.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Jane on the left, David on the right.]]
--> '''David is voiced by:''' Bruce Dinsmore (TV series), Tony Fardella (Living Books)\\
'''Jane is voiced by:''' Sonja Ball
The parents of Arthur, D.W. and Kate. David works as a caterer and Jane is a stay-at-home accountant.
----
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: They have their moments of this, like whenever Jane buys clothes for Arthur or when David insists on telling bad jokes at Parents' Night in "Kids Are From Earth, Parents Are From Pluto."
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: David is a downplayed example; In "Arthur Cleans Up" he is shown to easily get excited over things that he ropes Arthur in to that just leaves him feeling awkward or unsure of what he's supposed to do.
* CordonBleughChef: David likes to experiment with his cooking... with less than desired results. Arthur initially thought he was a LethalChef, but he's actually a SupremeChef... when not experimenting.
* ADayInTheLimelight: "Operation D.W.!" sees David taking the lead in providing parental emotional support, a task which usually falls to Jane.
* HappilyMarried: In contrast to Buster's parents, who are divorced.
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant.
* {{Keet}}: David can get very loud when he's excited or passionate about something.
* LaughingAtYourOwnJokes: Dave, usually because nobody else gets them, much to Arthur's chagrin.
* LethalChef: Played with. While Arthur initially thought this, it turns out David is actually an amazing cook. It's when he's experimenting in his cooking that the meals turn out a bit questionable. Either way, David is certainly not as bad a chef as Grandma Thora.
* NeverASelfMadeWoman: Jane straddles both sides of this trope; she shares household responsibilities with David while earning a sizable portion of her family's income, working from their home computer as an accountant. It's possible that Jane earns more money than David does.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: They are typically extremely ineffective disciplinarians towards D.W., but whenever they finally ''do'' punish her, you know D.W. has pushed their patience past its limit.
* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Jane wears a pink shirt, while David wears a blue one.
* SheCleansUpNicely: One episode sees Jane going downtown to do office work for a couple of weeks, and she looks great in a blouse, suit pants, and a new hairstyle.
* SupremeChef: David runs a catering business and he can make amazing meals... [[CordonBleughChef as long as he isn't experimenting]].
* WomenAreWiser: In the event that one of the couple has a lapse in focus or an emotional breakdown, Jane is more likely than David to take the lead.
--> '''Ed Crosswire''': Members of the Soccer Parents Association, I have some good news and some bad news. Trevor has decided to quit coaching soccer. \\
'''David''': Yes! Hey, maybe we could even win a game this year! \\
'''Jane''': *Whispering* David, I think that's the bad news.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Thora Read]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Joanna Noyes, Michael Caloz (as a child)
The Read siblings' paternal grandmother.
----
* CoolOldLady: She is very in tune with the times and gets along well with everyone in Arthur's gang.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: Adopts an abandoned dog named Killer who has been in and out of the pound through many owners; Thora refuses to give up on her and Killer starts a new lease on life.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Sarah [=MacGrady=].
* IWasQuiteALooker: Rarely have we seen her in her younger days, but when we do we see she was quite attractive and popular in her youth.
* LethalChef: Notoriously so; her grandchildren do everything in their power to avoid actually eating her meals. Even David would rather that the cooking isn't left to her.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: If she actually tells you that she's disappointed in you, you ''know'' you've messed up.
* OutnumberedSibling: She was the only daughter in her family, having three older brothers.
* WomenAreWiser: Usually the voice of reason whenever Arthur, D.W., or their friends have a problem they feel they can't solve on their own.
[[/folder]]
!!The Frenskys
[[folder: Oliver Frensky]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Mark Camacho
The father of Francine and Catherine. Has a job as a sanitation worker.
----
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Francine imagines this in "My Dad, the Garbage Man," and she feels the need to apologize for Oliver's excessive enthusiasm in "Arthur Cleans Up."
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's as nice as they come, but will waste no time in disciplining his daughters if he finds them doing something foolish or malicious.
* FirstNameUltimatum: When Oliver decides to test out a newly-recovered baseball-pitching machine inside the apartment, it hits the bathroom door, irritating his wife.
* FunPersonified: He's always cracking jokes, coaching sports, or having fun with his daughters.
* FurryBaldness: He has a ring of human hair around the sides and back of his head, but none on top.
* GoodParents: He's very loving and caring toward his daughters, but he won't hesitate to scold them if he needs to.
* InkSuitActor: He resembles a primate version of his voice actor, Mark Camacho.
* NiceGuy: Easily one of the nicest characters on the show.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: However, for all that niceness, he still has his limits, and whenever he becomes stern or cross you know that Francine has messed up ''badly''.
* OneOfTheKids: He certainly has his moments, like wanting to be the first person to ride the bike that he renovated for Francine.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He is this towards his daughters and as a coach for the Lakewood baseball team.
* WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons: Averted. Though he is a blue collar worker, Oliver is a pretty smart and nice guy, though his daughters (especially Catherine) thought he should get a more "respectable" job.
[[/folder]]
!!The Baxters
[[folder: Bitzi Baxter]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Ellen David
Buster's mom, who divorced from Buster's father when Buster was little. She serves as the editor of the Elwood City Times.
----
* AlliterativeName: Her first and last name begin with B.
* TheAllegedCar: Her car, the "Baxtermobile", is a defining example of this in later seasons. Despite her position as the editor of the Elwood City Times, she has yet to seek out a newer one.
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Used to be one in earlier seasons, due to her protective nature. A good example of this is in "D.W. All Wet" where she actually had a messenger send Buster his bathing cap while he was at the beach with Arthur.
* AmicableExes: With her ex-husband, Beau Baxter. [[NoodleIncident Why they divorced has never been explained]], though it's implied that it was because his job as a pilot meant he wasn't able to spend enough time with his family.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Generally fun-loving and fair, but will not hesitate to discipline Buster if she catches him doing something foolish or dangerous.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Initially portrayed as overly protective of Buster, but has since become more laid back and fun-loving.
* MyBelovedSmother: She dotes on Buster a lot and was once overly obsessed with his personal well-being.
* NeatFreak: A downplayed example, but Buster's sloppiness and poor manners usually justify it.
* NervousWreck: Her defining character trait in the earlier seasons, where she often frets over ''everything'' Buster does for fear of him getting sick or hurt. In later seasons though, she seems to have gotten over the worst of it.
* SecretHandshake: Shares one with Buster.
* WomenAreWiser: Is shown to be very down to earth and sensible, especially after her worrywart tendencies are significantly downplayed; plus, she will never hesitate to help Buster when there's a problem, and usually succeeds in helping him find the answers he needs.
[[/folder]]
!!The Crosswires
[[folder: Edward Edsel "Ed" Crosswire]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fab059418fd6305880a8431cd973dd20.png]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' A.J. Henderson
Muffy's father. His business, Crosswire Motors, has enabled him to furnish a comfortable life for himself and his family.
----
* ADayInTheLimelight: Despite (and perhaps due to) hinging on the kind of lesson that never seems to stick for Muffy, with Ed elbowing his way in on Muffy's class project, "Muffy Takes the Wheel" arguably has more to do with his character development than hers.
* GoodParents: While he spoils his daughter rotten, he clearly loves her deeply and is very worried about her happiness.
* HonestCorporateExecutive: He's always trying to find new ways to sell his products, but he never makes false promises.
* HonestJohnsDealership: Subverted. While assertive when it comes to selling cars, he's not into false advertising
* MeaningfulName:
** An "Edsel" was a type of car made by Ford known as a commercial failure, but one of the meanings of the name itself is "rich."
** "Crosswire." As in hotwiring a car. It can also mean "crossed wires", as in RichInDollarsPoorInSense. It fits for his whole family.
* NiceToTheWaiter: To his butler Bailey, whom he considers as part of the family.
* NonIdleRich: He's a used-car salesman and clearly takes his job seriously, despite the pampered princess life he gives his daughter.
* NouveauRiche: However, he's a more positive portrayal of this trope than the usual examples, as we don't really see him flaunt his wealth and, likewise, if the way he conducts his business is an indication, he seems to be rather good at managing his money well.
* PapaWolf: In "Caught in the Crosswires", when Jimmy Johnny Johnson bluntly tells Muffy that nobody would want to see her true self and that she is boring, Ed demands him and his film crew to leave ''immediately''.
* RepetitiveName: His first name is Edward and his middle name is Edsel.
* SelfMadeMan: How he got his wealth. It started with him starting his own car dealership.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Once tried to convince both the parents and the library that scary books were bad for children when Muffy supposedly suffered nightmares from them, going so far as to push the library to pull such books from circulation. After actually sitting down to hear one of them read and realizing Muffy actually enjoyed them as well, he has a change of heart.
[[/folder]]
!!Lakewood Elementary Staff
[[folder: Nigel Ratburn]]
[[quoteright:263:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f64349dc1a7c8e8f0de6a3d2e5a6f756.gif]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Arthur Holden (TV series), David Kessler (Living Books)
The third grade teacher of the Arthur gang, and the primary adult character featured in the show. He is a rat.
----
* BreakingBadNewsGently: "Everyone sit down, please. Mrs. [=MacGrady=] is sick. She has cancer."
* CampGay: He is single, [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} thin and neat]]. With the exception of some earlier episodes, he speaks in a somewhat "sing-songy" way compared to other adult male characters. His hobby is performing [[AllGaysLoveTheatre puppet shows]], and he owns and maintains quite a collection of marionettes. However, he was merely AmbiguouslyGay for quite a long time until the Season 22 episode "Mr. Ratburn And The Special Someone", which features Mr. Ratburn's marriage to a man.
* CoolTeacher: His students don't like to admit it, but he's a nice guy who, while strict and a little too obsessed with handing out lots of homework, is very concerned about his students' well being. In Season 19's "The Last Day", Arthur and Buster finally come to realize how much he's taught them, and the class performs a song in his honor.
* ADayInTheLimelight: "The Return of the King"; "The Rat Who Came to Dinner"; "Get Smart"; "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone".
* TheDreaded: Early on in the series, he had a reputation as an in-universe MemeticPsychopath who ate nails for breakfast (without milk), was a vampire who ate children, and various other rumors. Fortunately for Arthur's class, they learned that wasn't the case, though he is a stickler for homework.
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day" showcases Grandma Thora's old home movies, revealing that David Read, Mr. Ratburn, and Mr. Haney all attended the same high school at the same time. S15's "The Butler Did... What?" also reveals Bailey and Mr. Ratburn were in the same high school class.
* EvilCounterpart: The one time we get to meet his own teacher, he's shown to be a far more sadistic, cold and cruel version of Ratburn. Mr. Ratburn likely designed his teaching style off of being as work-intensive as his while being far less harsh to his students.
* FacePalm: When Muffy attributes the creation of the Dewey Decimal System to UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison.
* FormerlyFat: Once admitted to Arthur that he struggled with his weight as a kid.
* FreudianExcuse: The one occasion we encounter his mentor Mr. Pryce-Jones, who taught him everything he knows, it's clear that Mr. Ratburn had to constantly work hard throughout his life to please him. His love of giving out homework most likely stems from this.
* GeniusSweetTooth: S3's "Dad's Dessert Dilemma" reveals that he LOVES cake.
-->'''Mr. Ratburn''': I thought you might want to see the spring reading list-OH! Are you having cake?!?
** Would carry over in S4's "The Rat who Came to Dinner".
-->'''D.W''': There was no cake, Arthur. Mr. Rathead was very disappointed.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With ''Arthur's dad'' of all people.
* HiddenDepths: Mr. Ratburn is often seen by the Arthur gang as a cruel teacher who has no life outside of making kids miserable. At the same time, he likes [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Spooky Poo]], and he volunteers as a puppeteer for children's puppet shows. Oh and of course, he goes giddy over cake.
* HopelessWithTech: As brilliant as he is with other subjects, he's not the most tech-savvy of individuals and Alan needed to teach him how to use the Internet.
* InterspeciesRomance: He's a rat, and in "Mr. Ratburn's Special Someone" it's revealed that he's marrying an aardvark.
* IWasToldThereWouldBeCake: S3's "Dad's Dessert Dilemma".
* {{Keet}}: Similar to Buster he loves eating sweets and he's a little ''too'' enthusiastic about teaching his students about subjects.
* LargeHam: He certainly has his moments of this.
* MathematiciansAnswer: [[spoiler: In " Lend Me Your Ear," Alan asks Mr. Ratburn if he wants his ice cream in a cone or a cup, to which he answers "Yes!" Alan humors him, [[TakeAThirdOption putting Mr. Ratburn's ice cream in cups and using cones as toppers]].]]
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: He doesn't have much of a social life and is feared and hated by his students for giving out homework, but he's actually a very nice and friendly guy.
* NiceGuy: He pushes his students to be the best that they can be, and won't take any nonsense from them. Overall, he's a really good guy.
* NotSoFast: When and if he does let students off the hook, he'll call for a tougher assignment to make up for it.
* NotSoDifferent: With Buster. Both love eating and cartoons. Not to mention if the high school video is any indication, he was also just like Buster as a teenager. When shown this particular video, Ratburn blushes and starts whistling innocently.
* OhCrap: In "Cents-less", he and his class go without spending money for a weekend. Unfortunately, he forgets to buy food before announcing the assignment. He puts on a puppet show to barter for some food.
* OnlySaneEmployee: While he's strict, he's the only teacher at Lakewood Elementary School who actually teaches his students properly. The only other competent employees are the lunch lady and the janitor.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Despite the kids complaining about Ratburn being a Sadist Teacher, he's always looking out for their best interest and is usually the one to call out one of the kids if they're being OOC like Arthur in "So Funny I Forgot To Laugh".
* RunningGag: Is revealed to know nothing of the basics of a computer, and his fascination with them becomes this over the series.
* SpeciesSurname: Played straight. Guess [[RodentsOfUnusualSize what animal]] he actually is?
* SpeechImpediment: We find out in "Maria Speaks" that like Maria, he suffered from a stutter in his youth.
* SternTeacher: The kids complain about Ratburn being this. Also frequently subverted when they realize he's not that bad of a guy (just a little strict and a bit too obsessed with handing out assignments) and he's actually succeeding in teaching them things.
* SuddenNameChange: He used to be named "Emil" as seen in one flashback; this was soon after retconned to "Nigel", although it is possible that he may have legally changed his name at some point.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: As noted above, anything to do with cake.
* WeddingDay: Gets married in "Mr. Ratburn And the Special Someone".
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Herbert/Francis Haney]]
[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/998836805c537d1360e9f59bc49fff55.png]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Walter Massey
Mild-mannered, well-to-do, absent-minded bear principal of Lakewood Elementary School. Often involved in episodes taking place at the school, though he is also involved in community work.
----
* ButtMonkey: The early seasons often had some form of bad luck or misfortune happening to him, usually in the form of things falling on him, from raw hamburgers, to baseballs, to a bucket of popcorn, to Binky Barnes. S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day" reveals that he had bad luck befall him even during his school days.
* BearyFunny: His haplessness and goofy behavior gives him this.
* BearyFriendly: Very polite.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He's a pretty spacey guy.
* DeathGlare: He briefly gives Mr. Ratburn's class this when he hears them cheering ecstatically over their teacher getting sick, in a DudeNotFunny moment.
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: Attended the same school as Mr. Read and Mr. Ratburn. Even back then, as shown in the old videos in S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day", he had bad luck.
* InconsistentColoring: Animated with more of a greenish color starting in season sixteen.
* LIsForDyslexia: Shortly after George finds out that he has Dyslexia, Mr. Haney is also revealed to have it. This gives them something to bond over.
* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: Leaves to build a school in Tanzania in "The Hallway Minotaur."]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Generally manages the school quite well and gets along well with all of the students and staff, and when the situation demands it, will take the necessary action needed to keep things running smoothly.
* RunningGag: As noted above, he was very accustomed to having things dropped on him or having all manners of bad luck cramp his day, usually followed by the kids uttering "Sorry, Sir". As of later seasons, he seems to have caught a break.
* SuddenNameChange: Was originally named Herbert, but his name was eventually retconned to Francis.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: He entrusted Mrs. Read's tax returns to Arthur without telling him anything about what the contents of the envelope were, and Arthur frets so much over what's in it that he very nearly throws them out instead of delivering them to his mother as promised.
* TheVoiceless: Became this after the 2014 death of his voice actor.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Sarah [=MacGrady=]]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Bronwen Mantel
The cafeteria lady at Lakewood Elementary.
----
* ADayInTheLimelight: "The Great [=MacGrady=]", where she is diagnosed with cancer and forced to take a leave of absence while she undergoes treatment. All the children do what they can to support her until she's well enough to return to work.
* BaldWoman: In "The Great [=MacGrady=]".
* CoolOldLady: She's very street-smart and is well-liked by everybody at school.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Thora Read.
* ImportantHaircut: Shaves her head when she is diagnosed with cancer, but it grows back.
* NiceGirl: She's a very good natured person who is always willing to help those who need it.
* SecretTestOfCharacter: Performs one of these on the kids in "Draw!" when they draw a bunch of unflattering comics about Francine after she insults Fern. She tricks the kids into thinking they'll get back at Francine by dumping slime on her, but moves Francine to express how hurt she is by their teasing which moves the rest of the gang not to go through with their prank. Everybody quickly reconciles thanks to this.
* SupremeChef: Played with; there are several episodes where the students are served questionable meals, but Mrs. [=MacGrady=] is generally shown to be an excellent cook.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: In "Arthur Accused" she absentmindedly bakes quarters earned for a school charity into a batch of brownie mix, which lands Arthur in hot water as he was to make sure she got them. Buster eventually uncovers this mistake, and so she's much more careful as a result.
* WomenAreWiser: She has plenty of old school philosophies that have helped the children to overcome the questions and problems they face.
[[/folder]]
!!Other
[[folder:Julia]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Unknown actress
She is a reporting kangaroo in a yellow coat and wears glasses. She appeared in the Eldwood City Action News on the report on the banning of ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' books from Public libraries due to a banning organization called PAWS (P-A-W-S, Parents Against Weird Stories), And they stated that ''All scary stories are bad for kids''. She tried to reach ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' creator E.A. Depoe with no success. She interviewed the Crosswire family. The mother explains that their daughter (Muffy) has been getting nightmares while reading the books.
----
* OneShotCharacter: She only appeared in the episode ''The Scare Your Pants Off Club''.
[[/folder]]
!Pets and others
[[folder:Pal]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Simon Peacock, Michael Yarmush (during an ImagineSpot in "Sick As A Dog"), Arthur Holden ("And Now Let's Talk To Some Kids"), Yvette Kaplan (''Arthur's Missing Pal'')
Arthur's dog and the best friend of Kate in the episodes focusing on them.
----
* AnimalTalk: He can talk to other animals and [[SpeaksFluentAnimal Kate]].
* BlackBeadEyes: Beady dot eyes.
* ConspicuouslyLightPatch: Thanks to this, we know which of Perky's puppies he is.
* OralFixation: As a puppy he would bite on a lot of things, such as his leash. This almost got him banned to garage in an earlier episode
* PreciousPuppies: He isn't an actual puppy, but still adorable nonetheless.
* SickEpisode: "Sick As A Dog" revolves around him being ill after sampling one piece of human food too many.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: He loves his bacon.
* TroublemakingNewPet: When he was a puppy he was rambunctious and wouldn't always listen to Arthur.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He's afraid of cats.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nadine Flumberghast]]
D.W.'s imaginary friend, who resembles a squirrel. Despite being the product of D.W.'s imagination, she manages to be more sensible than her creator, and mostly serves as her conscience.
----
* BarefootCartoonAnimal: Doesn't normally wear shoes, but her "older self" does in "D.W.'s Time Trouble."
* TheConscience: She often serves as this to D.W, usually by suggesting more sensible alternatives to D.W.'s {{Zany Scheme}}s.
* FunnyAnimal: Within a series that has a large amount of FurryConfusion, she's on a lower "rung" of the anthropomorphic ladder than the other "human" characters.
* ImaginaryFriend: She's often only seen interacting with D.W. in most of the series. However, see NotSoImaginaryFriend below.
* MeaningfulName: "Nadine" is pretty close to "Nadie", Spanish for "No one", an appropriate name for an imaginary person.
* NotSoImaginaryFriend: She's able to communicate with Kate and Pal.
* RealityWarper: If "Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight" is of any indication.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nemo]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Greg Kramer
Francine's cat. He's the enemy of Kate and Pal.
----
* AnimalTalk: He can speak to other animals and Kate.
* CatsAreMean: He's a cat who's a condescending snob.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Had a much different appearance in his debut episode.
* PlotAllergy: [[{{Irony}} Nemo is allergic to milk]].
* IronicFear: [[spoiler: He's terrified of Ladonna's pet rat, General Higgins]].
%%* TheRival: To Kate and Pal.
* TheVoiceless: In his appearances after the death of his voice actor, Greg Kramer.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Contrary to Arthur's objections, he was shown to get along with Pal upon his debut in "Francine and the Feline". For unexplained reasons, they became bitter enemies afterward.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Amigo]]
The Molina's Bulldog. He seems to be older than Pal.
----
* TheBigGuy: Serves this role in the Kate and Pal centered episodes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Killer]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Melissa Pirrera
Grandma Thora's pet Jack Russel terrier.
----
* AnimalTalk: She can speak to other animals and Kate.
* CanonImmigrant: She first appeared in the book ''Arthur's Christmas'' before making her animated debut in Season Nine's "It Came From Beyond".
* TookALevelInKindness: She started out as a mean dog who would attack others. After getting a second chance by Thora, she mellows out and does act kinder towards others.
[[/folder]]
----
[[folder: David and Jane Read]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/resilience_parent.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Jane on the left, David on the right.]]
--> '''David is voiced by:''' Bruce Dinsmore (TV series), Tony Fardella (Living Books)\\
'''Jane is voiced by:''' Sonja Ball
The parents of Arthur, D.W. and Kate. David works as a caterer and Jane is a stay-at-home accountant.
----
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: They have their moments of this, like whenever Jane buys clothes for Arthur or when David insists on telling bad jokes at Parents' Night in "Kids Are From Earth, Parents Are From Pluto."
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: David is a downplayed example; In "Arthur Cleans Up" he is shown to easily get excited over things that he ropes Arthur in to that just leaves him feeling awkward or unsure of what he's supposed to do.
* CordonBleughChef: David likes to experiment with his cooking... with less than desired results. Arthur initially thought he was a LethalChef, but he's actually a SupremeChef... when not experimenting.
* ADayInTheLimelight: "Operation D.W.!" sees David taking the lead in providing parental emotional support, a task which usually falls to Jane.
* HappilyMarried: In contrast to Buster's parents, who are divorced.
* HouseHusband: Both of the Read parents work from home. While David has his catering business, most of the money comes from Jane, who's an accountant.
* {{Keet}}: David can get very loud when he's excited or passionate about something.
* LaughingAtYourOwnJokes: Dave, usually because nobody else gets them, much to Arthur's chagrin.
* LethalChef: Played with. While Arthur initially thought this, it turns out David is actually an amazing cook. It's when he's experimenting in his cooking that the meals turn out a bit questionable. Either way, David is certainly not as bad a chef as Grandma Thora.
* NeverASelfMadeWoman: Jane straddles both sides of this trope; she shares household responsibilities with David while earning a sizable portion of her family's income, working from their home computer as an accountant. It's possible that Jane earns more money than David does.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: They are typically extremely ineffective disciplinarians towards D.W., but whenever they finally ''do'' punish her, you know D.W. has pushed their patience past its limit.
* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Jane wears a pink shirt, while David wears a blue one.
* SheCleansUpNicely: One episode sees Jane going downtown to do office work for a couple of weeks, and she looks great in a blouse, suit pants, and a new hairstyle.
* SupremeChef: David runs a catering business and he can make amazing meals... [[CordonBleughChef as long as he isn't experimenting]].
* WomenAreWiser: In the event that one of the couple has a lapse in focus or an emotional breakdown, Jane is more likely than David to take the lead.
--> '''Ed Crosswire''': Members of the Soccer Parents Association, I have some good news and some bad news. Trevor has decided to quit coaching soccer. \\
'''David''': Yes! Hey, maybe we could even win a game this year! \\
'''Jane''': *Whispering* David, I think that's the bad news.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Thora Read]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Joanna Noyes, Michael Caloz (as a child)
The Read siblings' paternal grandmother.
----
* CoolOldLady: She is very in tune with the times and gets along well with everyone in Arthur's gang.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: Adopts an abandoned dog named Killer who has been in and out of the pound through many owners; Thora refuses to give up on her and Killer starts a new lease on life.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Sarah [=MacGrady=].
* IWasQuiteALooker: Rarely have we seen her in her younger days, but when we do we see she was quite attractive and popular in her youth.
* LethalChef: Notoriously so; her grandchildren do everything in their power to avoid actually eating her meals. Even David would rather that the cooking isn't left to her.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: If she actually tells you that she's disappointed in you, you ''know'' you've messed up.
* OutnumberedSibling: She was the only daughter in her family, having three older brothers.
* WomenAreWiser: Usually the voice of reason whenever Arthur, D.W., or their friends have a problem they feel they can't solve on their own.
[[/folder]]
!!The Frenskys
[[folder: Oliver Frensky]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Mark Camacho
The father of Francine and Catherine. Has a job as a sanitation worker.
----
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Francine imagines this in "My Dad, the Garbage Man," and she feels the need to apologize for Oliver's excessive enthusiasm in "Arthur Cleans Up."
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's as nice as they come, but will waste no time in disciplining his daughters if he finds them doing something foolish or malicious.
* FirstNameUltimatum: When Oliver decides to test out a newly-recovered baseball-pitching machine inside the apartment, it hits the bathroom door, irritating his wife.
* FunPersonified: He's always cracking jokes, coaching sports, or having fun with his daughters.
* FurryBaldness: He has a ring of human hair around the sides and back of his head, but none on top.
* GoodParents: He's very loving and caring toward his daughters, but he won't hesitate to scold them if he needs to.
* InkSuitActor: He resembles a primate version of his voice actor, Mark Camacho.
* NiceGuy: Easily one of the nicest characters on the show.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: However, for all that niceness, he still has his limits, and whenever he becomes stern or cross you know that Francine has messed up ''badly''.
* OneOfTheKids: He certainly has his moments, like wanting to be the first person to ride the bike that he renovated for Francine.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He is this towards his daughters and as a coach for the Lakewood baseball team.
* WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons: Averted. Though he is a blue collar worker, Oliver is a pretty smart and nice guy, though his daughters (especially Catherine) thought he should get a more "respectable" job.
[[/folder]]
!!The Baxters
[[folder: Bitzi Baxter]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Ellen David
Buster's mom, who divorced from Buster's father when Buster was little. She serves as the editor of the Elwood City Times.
----
* AlliterativeName: Her first and last name begin with B.
* TheAllegedCar: Her car, the "Baxtermobile", is a defining example of this in later seasons. Despite her position as the editor of the Elwood City Times, she has yet to seek out a newer one.
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Used to be one in earlier seasons, due to her protective nature. A good example of this is in "D.W. All Wet" where she actually had a messenger send Buster his bathing cap while he was at the beach with Arthur.
* AmicableExes: With her ex-husband, Beau Baxter. [[NoodleIncident Why they divorced has never been explained]], though it's implied that it was because his job as a pilot meant he wasn't able to spend enough time with his family.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Generally fun-loving and fair, but will not hesitate to discipline Buster if she catches him doing something foolish or dangerous.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Initially portrayed as overly protective of Buster, but has since become more laid back and fun-loving.
* MyBelovedSmother: She dotes on Buster a lot and was once overly obsessed with his personal well-being.
* NeatFreak: A downplayed example, but Buster's sloppiness and poor manners usually justify it.
* NervousWreck: Her defining character trait in the earlier seasons, where she often frets over ''everything'' Buster does for fear of him getting sick or hurt. In later seasons though, she seems to have gotten over the worst of it.
* SecretHandshake: Shares one with Buster.
* WomenAreWiser: Is shown to be very down to earth and sensible, especially after her worrywart tendencies are significantly downplayed; plus, she will never hesitate to help Buster when there's a problem, and usually succeeds in helping him find the answers he needs.
[[/folder]]
!!The Crosswires
[[folder: Edward Edsel "Ed" Crosswire]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fab059418fd6305880a8431cd973dd20.png]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' A.J. Henderson
Muffy's father. His business, Crosswire Motors, has enabled him to furnish a comfortable life for himself and his family.
----
* ADayInTheLimelight: Despite (and perhaps due to) hinging on the kind of lesson that never seems to stick for Muffy, with Ed elbowing his way in on Muffy's class project, "Muffy Takes the Wheel" arguably has more to do with his character development than hers.
* GoodParents: While he spoils his daughter rotten, he clearly loves her deeply and is very worried about her happiness.
* HonestCorporateExecutive: He's always trying to find new ways to sell his products, but he never makes false promises.
* HonestJohnsDealership: Subverted. While assertive when it comes to selling cars, he's not into false advertising
* MeaningfulName:
** An "Edsel" was a type of car made by Ford known as a commercial failure, but one of the meanings of the name itself is "rich."
** "Crosswire." As in hotwiring a car. It can also mean "crossed wires", as in RichInDollarsPoorInSense. It fits for his whole family.
* NiceToTheWaiter: To his butler Bailey, whom he considers as part of the family.
* NonIdleRich: He's a used-car salesman and clearly takes his job seriously, despite the pampered princess life he gives his daughter.
* NouveauRiche: However, he's a more positive portrayal of this trope than the usual examples, as we don't really see him flaunt his wealth and, likewise, if the way he conducts his business is an indication, he seems to be rather good at managing his money well.
* PapaWolf: In "Caught in the Crosswires", when Jimmy Johnny Johnson bluntly tells Muffy that nobody would want to see her true self and that she is boring, Ed demands him and his film crew to leave ''immediately''.
* RepetitiveName: His first name is Edward and his middle name is Edsel.
* SelfMadeMan: How he got his wealth. It started with him starting his own car dealership.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Once tried to convince both the parents and the library that scary books were bad for children when Muffy supposedly suffered nightmares from them, going so far as to push the library to pull such books from circulation. After actually sitting down to hear one of them read and realizing Muffy actually enjoyed them as well, he has a change of heart.
[[/folder]]
!!Lakewood Elementary Staff
[[folder: Nigel Ratburn]]
[[quoteright:263:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f64349dc1a7c8e8f0de6a3d2e5a6f756.gif]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Arthur Holden (TV series), David Kessler (Living Books)
The third grade teacher of the Arthur gang, and the primary adult character featured in the show. He is a rat.
----
* BreakingBadNewsGently: "Everyone sit down, please. Mrs. [=MacGrady=] is sick. She has cancer."
* CampGay: He is single, [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} thin and neat]]. With the exception of some earlier episodes, he speaks in a somewhat "sing-songy" way compared to other adult male characters. His hobby is performing [[AllGaysLoveTheatre puppet shows]], and he owns and maintains quite a collection of marionettes. However, he was merely AmbiguouslyGay for quite a long time until the Season 22 episode "Mr. Ratburn And The Special Someone", which features Mr. Ratburn's marriage to a man.
* CoolTeacher: His students don't like to admit it, but he's a nice guy who, while strict and a little too obsessed with handing out lots of homework, is very concerned about his students' well being. In Season 19's "The Last Day", Arthur and Buster finally come to realize how much he's taught them, and the class performs a song in his honor.
* ADayInTheLimelight: "The Return of the King"; "The Rat Who Came to Dinner"; "Get Smart"; "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone".
* TheDreaded: Early on in the series, he had a reputation as an in-universe MemeticPsychopath who ate nails for breakfast (without milk), was a vampire who ate children, and various other rumors. Fortunately for Arthur's class, they learned that wasn't the case, though he is a stickler for homework.
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day" showcases Grandma Thora's old home movies, revealing that David Read, Mr. Ratburn, and Mr. Haney all attended the same high school at the same time. S15's "The Butler Did... What?" also reveals Bailey and Mr. Ratburn were in the same high school class.
* EvilCounterpart: The one time we get to meet his own teacher, he's shown to be a far more sadistic, cold and cruel version of Ratburn. Mr. Ratburn likely designed his teaching style off of being as work-intensive as his while being far less harsh to his students.
* FacePalm: When Muffy attributes the creation of the Dewey Decimal System to UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison.
* FormerlyFat: Once admitted to Arthur that he struggled with his weight as a kid.
* FreudianExcuse: The one occasion we encounter his mentor Mr. Pryce-Jones, who taught him everything he knows, it's clear that Mr. Ratburn had to constantly work hard throughout his life to please him. His love of giving out homework most likely stems from this.
* GeniusSweetTooth: S3's "Dad's Dessert Dilemma" reveals that he LOVES cake.
-->'''Mr. Ratburn''': I thought you might want to see the spring reading list-OH! Are you having cake?!?
** Would carry over in S4's "The Rat who Came to Dinner".
-->'''D.W''': There was no cake, Arthur. Mr. Rathead was very disappointed.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With ''Arthur's dad'' of all people.
* HiddenDepths: Mr. Ratburn is often seen by the Arthur gang as a cruel teacher who has no life outside of making kids miserable. At the same time, he likes [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Spooky Poo]], and he volunteers as a puppeteer for children's puppet shows. Oh and of course, he goes giddy over cake.
* HopelessWithTech: As brilliant as he is with other subjects, he's not the most tech-savvy of individuals and Alan needed to teach him how to use the Internet.
* InterspeciesRomance: He's a rat, and in "Mr. Ratburn's Special Someone" it's revealed that he's marrying an aardvark.
* IWasToldThereWouldBeCake: S3's "Dad's Dessert Dilemma".
* {{Keet}}: Similar to Buster he loves eating sweets and he's a little ''too'' enthusiastic about teaching his students about subjects.
* LargeHam: He certainly has his moments of this.
* MathematiciansAnswer: [[spoiler: In " Lend Me Your Ear," Alan asks Mr. Ratburn if he wants his ice cream in a cone or a cup, to which he answers "Yes!" Alan humors him, [[TakeAThirdOption putting Mr. Ratburn's ice cream in cups and using cones as toppers]].]]
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: He doesn't have much of a social life and is feared and hated by his students for giving out homework, but he's actually a very nice and friendly guy.
* NiceGuy: He pushes his students to be the best that they can be, and won't take any nonsense from them. Overall, he's a really good guy.
* NotSoFast: When and if he does let students off the hook, he'll call for a tougher assignment to make up for it.
* NotSoDifferent: With Buster. Both love eating and cartoons. Not to mention if the high school video is any indication, he was also just like Buster as a teenager. When shown this particular video, Ratburn blushes and starts whistling innocently.
* OhCrap: In "Cents-less", he and his class go without spending money for a weekend. Unfortunately, he forgets to buy food before announcing the assignment. He puts on a puppet show to barter for some food.
* OnlySaneEmployee: While he's strict, he's the only teacher at Lakewood Elementary School who actually teaches his students properly. The only other competent employees are the lunch lady and the janitor.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Despite the kids complaining about Ratburn being a Sadist Teacher, he's always looking out for their best interest and is usually the one to call out one of the kids if they're being OOC like Arthur in "So Funny I Forgot To Laugh".
* RunningGag: Is revealed to know nothing of the basics of a computer, and his fascination with them becomes this over the series.
* SpeciesSurname: Played straight. Guess [[RodentsOfUnusualSize what animal]] he actually is?
* SpeechImpediment: We find out in "Maria Speaks" that like Maria, he suffered from a stutter in his youth.
* SternTeacher: The kids complain about Ratburn being this. Also frequently subverted when they realize he's not that bad of a guy (just a little strict and a bit too obsessed with handing out assignments) and he's actually succeeding in teaching them things.
* SuddenNameChange: He used to be named "Emil" as seen in one flashback; this was soon after retconned to "Nigel", although it is possible that he may have legally changed his name at some point.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: As noted above, anything to do with cake.
* WeddingDay: Gets married in "Mr. Ratburn And the Special Someone".
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Herbert/Francis Haney]]
[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/998836805c537d1360e9f59bc49fff55.png]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Walter Massey
Mild-mannered, well-to-do, absent-minded bear principal of Lakewood Elementary School. Often involved in episodes taking place at the school, though he is also involved in community work.
----
* ButtMonkey: The early seasons often had some form of bad luck or misfortune happening to him, usually in the form of things falling on him, from raw hamburgers, to baseballs, to a bucket of popcorn, to Binky Barnes. S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day" reveals that he had bad luck befall him even during his school days.
* BearyFunny: His haplessness and goofy behavior gives him this.
* BearyFriendly: Very polite.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He's a pretty spacey guy.
* DeathGlare: He briefly gives Mr. Ratburn's class this when he hears them cheering ecstatically over their teacher getting sick, in a DudeNotFunny moment.
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: Attended the same school as Mr. Read and Mr. Ratburn. Even back then, as shown in the old videos in S1's "Arthur's Almost Boring Day", he had bad luck.
* InconsistentColoring: Animated with more of a greenish color starting in season sixteen.
* LIsForDyslexia: Shortly after George finds out that he has Dyslexia, Mr. Haney is also revealed to have it. This gives them something to bond over.
* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: Leaves to build a school in Tanzania in "The Hallway Minotaur."]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Generally manages the school quite well and gets along well with all of the students and staff, and when the situation demands it, will take the necessary action needed to keep things running smoothly.
* RunningGag: As noted above, he was very accustomed to having things dropped on him or having all manners of bad luck cramp his day, usually followed by the kids uttering "Sorry, Sir". As of later seasons, he seems to have caught a break.
* SuddenNameChange: Was originally named Herbert, but his name was eventually retconned to Francis.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: He entrusted Mrs. Read's tax returns to Arthur without telling him anything about what the contents of the envelope were, and Arthur frets so much over what's in it that he very nearly throws them out instead of delivering them to his mother as promised.
* TheVoiceless: Became this after the 2014 death of his voice actor.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Sarah [=MacGrady=]]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Bronwen Mantel
The cafeteria lady at Lakewood Elementary.
----
* ADayInTheLimelight: "The Great [=MacGrady=]", where she is diagnosed with cancer and forced to take a leave of absence while she undergoes treatment. All the children do what they can to support her until she's well enough to return to work.
* BaldWoman: In "The Great [=MacGrady=]".
* CoolOldLady: She's very street-smart and is well-liked by everybody at school.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Thora Read.
* ImportantHaircut: Shaves her head when she is diagnosed with cancer, but it grows back.
* NiceGirl: She's a very good natured person who is always willing to help those who need it.
* SecretTestOfCharacter: Performs one of these on the kids in "Draw!" when they draw a bunch of unflattering comics about Francine after she insults Fern. She tricks the kids into thinking they'll get back at Francine by dumping slime on her, but moves Francine to express how hurt she is by their teasing which moves the rest of the gang not to go through with their prank. Everybody quickly reconciles thanks to this.
* SupremeChef: Played with; there are several episodes where the students are served questionable meals, but Mrs. [=MacGrady=] is generally shown to be an excellent cook.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: In "Arthur Accused" she absentmindedly bakes quarters earned for a school charity into a batch of brownie mix, which lands Arthur in hot water as he was to make sure she got them. Buster eventually uncovers this mistake, and so she's much more careful as a result.
* WomenAreWiser: She has plenty of old school philosophies that have helped the children to overcome the questions and problems they face.
[[/folder]]
!!Other
[[folder:Julia]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Unknown actress
She is a reporting kangaroo in a yellow coat and wears glasses. She appeared in the Eldwood City Action News on the report on the banning of ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' books from Public libraries due to a banning organization called PAWS (P-A-W-S, Parents Against Weird Stories), And they stated that ''All scary stories are bad for kids''. She tried to reach ''Scare Your Pants Off Club'' creator E.A. Depoe with no success. She interviewed the Crosswire family. The mother explains that their daughter (Muffy) has been getting nightmares while reading the books.
----
* OneShotCharacter: She only appeared in the episode ''The Scare Your Pants Off Club''.
[[/folder]]
!Pets and others
[[folder:Pal]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Simon Peacock, Michael Yarmush (during an ImagineSpot in "Sick As A Dog"), Arthur Holden ("And Now Let's Talk To Some Kids"), Yvette Kaplan (''Arthur's Missing Pal'')
Arthur's dog and the best friend of Kate in the episodes focusing on them.
----
* AnimalTalk: He can talk to other animals and [[SpeaksFluentAnimal Kate]].
* BlackBeadEyes: Beady dot eyes.
* ConspicuouslyLightPatch: Thanks to this, we know which of Perky's puppies he is.
* OralFixation: As a puppy he would bite on a lot of things, such as his leash. This almost got him banned to garage in an earlier episode
* PreciousPuppies: He isn't an actual puppy, but still adorable nonetheless.
* SickEpisode: "Sick As A Dog" revolves around him being ill after sampling one piece of human food too many.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: He loves his bacon.
* TroublemakingNewPet: When he was a puppy he was rambunctious and wouldn't always listen to Arthur.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He's afraid of cats.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nadine Flumberghast]]
D.W.'s imaginary friend, who resembles a squirrel. Despite being the product of D.W.'s imagination, she manages to be more sensible than her creator, and mostly serves as her conscience.
----
* BarefootCartoonAnimal: Doesn't normally wear shoes, but her "older self" does in "D.W.'s Time Trouble."
* TheConscience: She often serves as this to D.W, usually by suggesting more sensible alternatives to D.W.'s {{Zany Scheme}}s.
* FunnyAnimal: Within a series that has a large amount of FurryConfusion, she's on a lower "rung" of the anthropomorphic ladder than the other "human" characters.
* ImaginaryFriend: She's often only seen interacting with D.W. in most of the series. However, see NotSoImaginaryFriend below.
* MeaningfulName: "Nadine" is pretty close to "Nadie", Spanish for "No one", an appropriate name for an imaginary person.
* NotSoImaginaryFriend: She's able to communicate with Kate and Pal.
* RealityWarper: If "Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight" is of any indication.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nemo]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Greg Kramer
Francine's cat. He's the enemy of Kate and Pal.
----
* AnimalTalk: He can speak to other animals and Kate.
* CatsAreMean: He's a cat who's a condescending snob.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Had a much different appearance in his debut episode.
* PlotAllergy: [[{{Irony}} Nemo is allergic to milk]].
* IronicFear: [[spoiler: He's terrified of Ladonna's pet rat, General Higgins]].
%%* TheRival: To Kate and Pal.
* TheVoiceless: In his appearances after the death of his voice actor, Greg Kramer.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Contrary to Arthur's objections, he was shown to get along with Pal upon his debut in "Francine and the Feline". For unexplained reasons, they became bitter enemies afterward.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Amigo]]
The Molina's Bulldog. He seems to be older than Pal.
----
* TheBigGuy: Serves this role in the Kate and Pal centered episodes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Killer]]
-->'''Voiced by:''' Melissa Pirrera
Grandma Thora's pet Jack Russel terrier.
----
* AnimalTalk: She can speak to other animals and Kate.
* CanonImmigrant: She first appeared in the book ''Arthur's Christmas'' before making her animated debut in Season Nine's "It Came From Beyond".
* TookALevelInKindness: She started out as a mean dog who would attack others. After getting a second chance by Thora, she mellows out and does act kinder towards others.
[[/folder]]
----
