A little trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Hey Arnold! In “The Journal,” we get a glimpse of Miles and Stella’s adventures in Rio, with the famous Carioca Aqueduct (Arcos da Lapa) appearing in the background, along with the city's colorful streets and hillsides.

The Music of Hey Arnold! Live tour is almost here! 🎷 Starting October 26, Jim Lang and the 118 All Stars will be bringing the unforgettable music of Hillwood to stages across the US, with Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett joining as a special guest! Poster by @spikermonster

Happy 70th birthday to Craig Bartlett, the man who gave us Hey Arnold! ❤️ Thank you for creating a world that felt so real, filled with unforgettable characters, incredible music, and stories that still resonate with us 30 years later. You taught an entire generation that there's always more to people than meets the eye, and that a little kindness can go a long way. 70 years young. Stay as cool as Arnold, Craig! 🏈

Back in 1998, Craig Bartlett was asked whether the city in Hey Arnold! was supposed to be in the Pacific Northwest. “Yep. I try not to be specific, since it's an amalgam of large northern cities I have loved, including Seattle (my hometown), Portland (where I went to art school) and Brooklyn (the bridge, the brownstones, the subway). It's a fictitious, unnamed city.” Craig Bartlett, November 4, 1998

One of my favorite things about Hey Arnold! is how much thought went into making Hillwood feel like a real city. Craig Bartlett once revealed that while working on the first season, he traveled through Seattle, Portland, and Tacoma taking black-and-white photos of old buildings, rooftops, windows, doors, and fire escapes. He put those photos together in a little reference book for the show's artists. So much of what made Hillwood special came from real places Craig had explored growing up. Those worn-down buildings and crowded streets weren't just random backgrounds. They were a huge part of the world he wanted to create.

Hey Arnold! actually gave us two different versions of how Arnold got his iconic little blue hat. In “Arnold’s Hat,” we see Arnold’s own childhood memory of receiving it. Years later, “The Journal” shows a different version through his father’s diary, revealing that his parents bought it for him at the park. A really interesting little continuity detail.

“The Old Building” is a great example of how Hey Arnold! treated the city’s history as something worth preserving. The Circle Theater wasn't just an old building , it was where Grandpa and Grandma had their first date and where Dino Spumoni got his big break. It was also Dino’s very first appearance in the series.

Craig Bartlett on what made Hey Arnold! different from other cartoons: “That was our real rebellion, to make it not a gag show but more kind of moody.” Instead of relying entirely on jokes, the show made room for loneliness, melancholy, and quiet moments. That atmosphere became one of its defining qualities.

“Eugene’s Bike” introduced one of Hey Arnold!’s longest-running jokes: Eugene’s unbelievably bad luck. What started with Arnold accidentally destroying his brand-new bike became a recurring part of Eugene’s character throughout the series.

30 years later, Hey Arnold! is still getting the recognition it deserves. 🏈 The Los Angeles Times celebrates the show's 30th anniversary with a feature exploring its lasting impact, featuring insights from Craig Bartlett and members of the original creative team. Definitely worth a read! latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Hey Arnold! The Music is making headlines! 🎷🏈 Animation Magazine covers the soundtrack’s first-ever streaming release, bringing Jim Lang’s iconic music to major platforms just in time for the show's 30th anniversary. Read the article: animationmagazine.net/2026/1…

BIG NEWS: Hey Arnold! The Music is officially available on streaming for the first time! 🎷🏈 Originally released on vinyl in 2020, Jim Lang’s iconic soundtrack can now be heard on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL and other major streaming platforms. Happy 30th anniversary, Hey Arnold!

30 years ago today, Hey Arnold! premiered on Nickelodeon with “Downtown as Fruits”. Arnold and Gerald getting lost in the city dressed as a banana and a strawberry. Happy 30th anniversary, Hey Arnold! 🏈