Rattles (Arthur)

Arthur

He's a eighth-grader at Lakewood High School and a member of the Tough Customers, a group that was initially portrayed as bullies but later showed a softer side.

He's depicted as a gray animal, though his specific species is often a source of discussion among fans (sometimes appearing as a dog, at other times as a cat or bear). He consistently wears a backwards red baseball cap, black leather jacket, pale yellow t-shirt, green jeans, and high tops.

Red baseball hat: Always worn backward, with a tuft of hair sticking out.
Black leather jacket: Featuring two front pockets.
Pale yellow t-shirt: Worn underneath the jacket.
Green jeans: A common element of his attire.
High tops: A style of athletic shoe.

A dark blue t-shirt over a pale yellow long-sleeved shirt instead of the jacket and t-shirt combination.
Street hockey equipment in "Meek for a Week".
Barbershop quartet clothes in "D.W. Beats All".

Personality & Skills: Initially portrayed as a bully, Rattles demonstrates a range of interests and skills, including:
An affinity for knitting.
Proficiency at chess.
A surprising compassionate side, shown in episodes like "Arthur's First Day," where he helps a new student make friends.
He also has a Northern New Jersey accent.
Early Seasons
Tough and antagonistic: In the beginning, Rattles was primarily depicted as a bully, often engaging in petty and malicious behavior.
A generic "tough guy": He fit the mold of a schoolyard antagonist, lacking much in terms of individual traits or depth.
Later Seasons
Softer side revealed: As the series progressed, Rattles began to show a kinder side, especially towards those he cared about, like his family and (in high school years) his girlfriend, Annika.
Hidden intelligence: He demonstrates unexpected intelligence, showcasing skills like playing chess and using advanced vocabulary, according to the Arthur Wiki. He even put together a complex scavenger hunt, revealing a surprisingly thoughtful side.
Compassionate and helpful: Rattles has shown compassion, going out of his way to help a new student make friends. He also helped D.W. with a ballet project and offered her advice when she was being teased.
Doesn't like being labeled a bully: Despite his initial behavior, Rattles doesn't seem to see himself as a bully and pushes back against that label, sometimes attributing his actions to being "misunderstood"

Rattles is the only child of his parents, although his mother is planning to remarry, which will give him a future step-father (Archie Vanderloo), and future step-siblings (Angie and Ansel Vanderloo). His father works in marketing.

Early seasons (antagonist phase): Rattles was first introduced as a member of the Tough Customers, known for their bullying behavior. His first speaking role was in "Brother, Can You Spare a Clarinet?", though he'd previously appeared as an antagonist in the episode "Arthur Accused!" During this initial period, Rattles was largely depicted as a stereotypical tough kid, often engaging in intimidating and sometimes petty actions.

Rattles was introduced in the show's inaugural season, first appearing in the episode "Arthur Accused!".
He was initially portrayed as a stereotypical school bully and a member of the Tough Customers, a group known for its antagonistic behavior.
Rattles was particularly loyal to Binky, the group's leader, and would participate in their schemes and pranks.

As the series progressed, Rattles' character began to reveal unexpected layers beyond the initial tough-guy persona.
He developed an interest in knitting, even joining Dr. Fugue's knitting club in the episode "Arthur Unravels".
In a surprising display of compassion, Rattles designed a scavenger hunt to help a new student make friends in the episode "Arthur's First Day," showing a thoughtfulness and empathy not initially associated with his character.
He also demonstrated surprising intellect and resourcefulness in this episode, correctly using the term "Neophytes" and creating a complex cipher for the scavenger hunt.
Rattles' willingness to help D.W. on a few occasions further underscores his evolving personality, including assisting with a ballet project and offering advice against the Tibble twins.

The flash-forward to the high school years brings a new dimension to Rattles' character arc.
He's seen to have developed into a bodybuilder after being teased for being "too skinny", but unfortunately, this leads him to revert to bullying younger students, acting as the school jock.
Despite this regression, Rattles' compassionate side and loyalty still emerge, particularly towards his family and girlfriend.
He demonstrates his growing independence and entrepreneurial spirit by planning to open a health and nutrition store with Molly and Slink.
Rattles' help in Carl's puppet show rehearsal showcases his continued willingness to support his friends, even when it presents challenges.

Rattles's species has been depicted inconsistently throughout the show's run, appearing as a cat in earlier seasons, then a dog in Season 8, and later a bear in Season 18.
He is shown to be taller than Binky, Slink, and Molly, but skinnier than Binky.
Rattles's voice actor is Scott Beaudin.
His real name is unknown, but his nickname comes from a childhood fear of snakes, during which he would cry out, "Ah! It's a rattler!"
Rattles speaks with a Northern New Jersey accent.
He is lactose intolerant.
Rattles has a dog named Crusher, who first appeared in "Pet Peeved".
He likes to eat peach-flavored sorbet for dessert.
It's revealed that his dad works in marketing in the episode "The Last Tough Customer".
Rattles's mom remarries Archie Vanderloo, and he gains two step-siblings, Angie and Ansel. Before this, he was the only Tough Customer member without siblings.
In the high school storyline, he dates Annika Lundgren, George's sister, and they plan to marry.
Rattles's favorite breakfast is freshly bought bialys.
He has a soft spot for those close to him, including his family and girlfriend.
Rattles is afraid of spiders in the high school storyline.
He has an affinity for knitting, as shown in the episode "Arthur Unraveled".
Despite his tough exterior, Rattles is also skilled at sewing.
In "Arthur's First Day", Rattles shows a surprising level of intelligence and compassion by organizing a scavenger hunt to help a new student make friends.

Pansexual