Maya the Bee

Synopsis

Maya, a newborn honeybee, possesses an insatiable curiosity about her surroundings. From the moment she hatches, she is raised to become a worker bee, but her unique personality and strong desire for independence make it hard for her to grasp and obey the strict regulations of the hive. After gathering all the honey within the honeycomb, Maya resolves to embark on an adventure in search of a flower garden so she can collect more honey for the colony. Her motives are honorable, but because she departs the hive without permission, the Queen dispatches Maya's friend Willy to track down the little mischief-maker. Willy joins Maya on her journey, and beyond the familiar confines of the hive, the two companions marvel at the stunning beauty of the natural world. Through a series of events—some joyful, others dreadful or sorrowful—and meetings with a variety of insects, Maya matures into a resilient and intelligent honeybee.

Background

The series was based on the German children’s book Maya the Bee, originally published in 1912. Mitsubachi Maya no Bouken was notably in English twice, once for British with British voice actors and again for the United States with Canadian voice actors.