Highly Anticipated Children's Show "Hop" from Beloved Creator Marc Brown Set to Premiere April 4 on Max

Creator of "Arthur" and Epic Story Media to Debut New Animated Original Embracing Kindness, Acceptance, and Working Together

Los Angeles, CA - March 13, 2024 - The wait is finally over! Acclaimed creator Marc Brown is thrilled to announce the premiere date of his latest animated children's show, "Hop." The eagerly anticipated series is set to debut April 4 on Max in the U.S., bringing a kind, heartwarming and enchanting world to young viewers. Co-creators and fellow "Arthur" alums, Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown join Marc in bringing his beloved children's book illustrations to life on "Hop," produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.

Created by the mind behind the beloved "Arthur" series, "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. 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.

"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."

"Working with Marc, Peter and Tolon has been an absolute pleasure. Their commitment to inclusive story-telling and their skill at leading our entire creative team has been inspiring for everyone. I am especially proud of the authentic casting and the diverse writers and creative team we brought together for this series," said Ken Faier, founder of Epic Story Media. "Our goal has always been to make epic content for kids with the world's best creators. It's a wonderful achievement and we are thrilled to be working with the team at Max and Warner Bros. Discovery. More announcements from around the world to come!"

The premiere of "Hop" 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 esteemed advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities, was brought on to consult on the series. With its enchanting animation, lovable characters, and meaningful storytelling, "Hop" is set to become a new favorite for audiences both big and small.

Don't miss the debut of "Hop" Thursday, April 4 on Max, when six half-hour episodes will premiere with laughter, friendship, and endless fun! A total of twenty-six episodes are set to roll out this year on Max.

For more information please visit https://www.epicstorymedia.com/hop.

About Max

Max(R), which launched May 23, 2023, is an enhanced streaming platform from Warner Bros. Discovery, delivering unparalleled quality content for everyone in the household. With a personalized user experience that brings unique and unexpected stories ranging from the best of unscripted to the highest quality in scripted programming to live news to sports, Max is the destination for HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, Max Originals, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, CNN Max, Bleacher Report Sports Add-On, an expansive offering of kids and family content, and best-in-class programming across food, home, reality, lifestyle, and documentaries from leading brands like HGTV, Food Network, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, ID and more, all in one place.

About Marc Brown

MARC BROWN is the creator of Arthur, the NY Times bestselling series of books as well as the author or illustrator of more than 140 other books for children. He is also the executive producer of the PBS television series ARTHUR. He lives in New York City with his wife, Laurie, and two cats currently on dietary restrictions.

About Epic Story Media

Founded by Ken Faier, Epic Story Media launched in 2018 to put creators at the center of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. Epic now has an active and growing slate of properties in development working with some of the most talented creators around the world. Faier also owns Vancouver's Epic Story Interactive, a mobile game development company, and has partnered with Steve Couture's IP development company, Epic Storyworlds; animation studio, Loomi Animation; and Roblox game development studio, Freeground.