Marc Brown’s Animated Preschool Series ‘Hop’ Gets Premiere Date On Max

Denise Petski
·2 min read

Max has set April 4 for the U.S. premiere of its new animated children’s series Hop from Arthur creator Marc Brown and fellow Arthur alums Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown. The 26-episode series will debut with six half-hour episodes, with the remaining episodes to roll out this year.

Co-created by Marc Brown, Hirsch and Tolon Brown, Hop follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers to embrace their own, and others’, uniqueness. Led by Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, he and his quirky friends address kid-relatable challenges with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness, and adventure.

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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, per the description.

The premiere of Hop also marks a significant milestone in inclusive children’s entertainment, with the entire ensemble cast coping with some type of disability, helping kids relate to, and better understand, others—challenges that are often also reflected in the show. RespectAbility, the advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities, was brought on to consult on the series.

Hop will be voiced by David Connolly, the first amputee to perform on Broadway. Characters also include Penny, Hop’s slightly older sibling, voiced by Moneesha “Misha” Bakshi; Hoot, the life of the party, voiced by Makeda Bromfield; Filipa, a fiercely intelligent squirrel, voiced by Charlotte Walker; Benny, an alligator, who may look fearsome, but is the sweetest, shyest – and most neurotic – one of the group, voiced by Jake Shannon; and Alfred Beaver, the youngest member of the group who loves to hang out with the Hoppers, also voiced by Bromfield.

Hop is produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.

“I am beyond excited to finally share Hop April 4th on Max,” said Marc Brown. “I believe we’ve created a safe, inviting show that will challenge our viewers to understand and appreciate people who are not like them, and to encourage children to act with tolerance and kindness. This show is a labor of love, and I hope it brings joy and inspiration to children and families everywhere.”

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