Marc Brown's "Hop" Hops Back With Exciting New Episodes On Max August 15

Creator of Arthur and Epic Story Media to Debut Seven New Episodes of the Hit Animated Original Embracing Kindness, Acceptance and Working Together

Los Angeles, CA - July 18, 2024 - Get ready to hop back into the whimsical world of Marc Brown's "Hop" as seven exciting new episodes of the preschool series that embraces kindness, acceptance and working together, are set to premiere exclusively on Max on August 15. The series initially debuted on Max April 4, capturing the hearts of audiences young and old with its lovable characters showcasing the powers of friendship and kindness. 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.

In these brand-new episodes, Hop (David Connolly), an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, and his quirky friends continue to navigate the mud puddles of life 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 of all ages with delightful journeys filled with friendship, valuable life lessons and endless possibilities.

"Our entire ensemble cast of characters are coping with some type of disability, which teaches our audience to embrace their own, and others', uniqueness," said Marc Brown. "In this new batch of episodes we introduce a blind character and we continue to create a show that will challenge our viewers to understand and appreciate people who are not like them."

"'Hop' marks a significant milestone in inclusive children's entertainment, helping kids relate to, and better understand others," said Cheryl Gotthelf, who serves as the series Executive Curriculum Advisor. To ensure the series positively impacts how society views and values people with disabilities, Gotthelf collaborated with RespectAbility, an esteemed advocacy nonprofit organization that fights stigma and advances opportunities for people with disabilities.

"I am honored to have played a leadership role on a series that helps ensure young people with disabilities are authentically represented," said Gotthelf. "At Epic Story Media, we believe in the power of inclusive storytelling to positively impact our society and foster a more diverse and equitable world."

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

About Max

Max(R) is an enhanced streaming platform from Warner Bros. Discovery, available in the US and countries in Latin America and Europe. With a personalized user experience that brings unique and unexpected stories ranging from the highest quality in scripted programming, the best of unscripted, and live sports and news (where available), Max is the destination for HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, Max Originals, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, 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 their cat who is 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 Nightmarket Games, 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.