Mitsubachi Mâya no bôken

I am almost 40 and I'm not ashamed to confess I have the complete DVD collection at home. Extremely popular in Europe this TV show is just as charming and lovely as it was back in 1975. Maybe the animation isn't as great for today standards but it doesn't matter, it works perfectly. I don't know in other countries but here in Spain the show got even better thanks to a wonderful dubbing cast who just captured the real magic of each character. And of course we cannot forget that wonderful intro song that it's known for everybody in Spain...You only have to start singing the first lines and probably somebody will join you. Wanna try? :-)

In German, this series was called "Biene Maya", in English "Maya the Bee". It features two young bees having adventures out and about, discovering new things and helping other insects. Among their friends are a wise grasshopper, they also encounter ants, beetles, earthworms, and some not so nice wasps and the spider Thekla.

I would say the target audience is 2 - 8 year old children. The animation is good for its age, but you do notice that the series is over 25 years old, however, it holds up very well compared to modern children's TV series, especially as the characters and story lines are well thought through.

Most 20 minute long episodes will convey values such as friendship, helping others, etc., but the messages are never too blatant.

Strong, courageous, independent, curious, brave, and FUN! Maya was all this and so much more. She was like the kids watching: discovering life bit by bit, unencumbered by preconceptions. Mistakes were bound to happen but they were never squandered, they were used instead as stepping stones to maturity.

Maya, in a sense, helped me grow up.

Also, like Vicky the Viking, Maya had gorgeous design and visuals that still feel modern today.

As I have just come across this title in the IMDb, I simply felt obliged to add my short comment on this cartoon, or more to say, my memories concerning the lovely adventures of mesmerizing Maya. This adorable bee is still known to have filled the minds and hearts of many kids in the early 1980s in Poland. Every Sunday evening, the TV presenter of the time invited us to join the bee and her friends in their lovely world of adventure in nature. And, as a few seconds of preparation passed, the memorable title song rang out, the tune we found so beautiful and delightful. At that moment, we were already deep within a magical world...

However, many years have passed since those days and people could ask why I even bother coming back to this distant past once again through this review? For several reasons...

This is one of the very few cartoons that brings back lots of good memories, intense emotions and deep nostalgia, something that has remained in my childlike thoughts and has always strongly belonged to the personal world of those blissful years. Besides, this is one of the cartoons that taught me to love nature and cherish friendship since it really promotes these values. We find Maya a social, friendly character who makes lots of friendships and likes to be in company with others, who helps others, laughs with others when they laugh and cries with them when they cry. A sort of basic idea of a true friend... Finally, I loved this cartoon for its clear morals, which showed the children what is good and what is bad, what is wrong and what is right in particular situations. I remember that we modeled on the events and behaviors as little children and that proves everything for itself.

Yes, those are my feelings and memories concerning this charming cartoon. Perhaps, I have not said anything special nor new in my comment. Yet, I hope that you will find it helpful as the opinion of yet another 'fan' of these adventures who says heartfelt words with others: Charming Days of Childhood...Days which cannot be forgotten!

The Maia bee is undoubtedly the best children's series of the 70's. Very engaging and educational. Highly recommend.