Mitsubachi Mâya no bôken

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.

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

I have watched few episodes of this Japanese-German cartoon from the 1970s on YouTube before. I thought I never watched any old anime TV series like that before in my entire life. It looks pretty interesting and I like it. I heard it was shown on RTÉ 2 and the ITV/BBC long time ago. Wish I watched it as a kid.

I know it is loosely based on the 1912 German children's novel by Waldemar Bonsels.

I'm sure it looks better than that silly 2010s reboot series and its films.

If you are interested in bees, you'll love this 1970s anime TV series. It isn't just for kids, you know. It is for everyone including the fans of Maya the Bee.

Maya the bee must be one of those shows which everyone here in Slovenia know. It is cult cartoon here specially for the generation who have watched cartoons 10-25 years ago. There are even some theme song covers by many bands. It was shown very often from 80s to early 90s. I've seen it also 2 years ago on national TV so i believe even many children today knows that show. I never know this show was made in Japan. Hard to believe the cartoon from Japan was so popular in a country with totally different culture. I have no idea how it was accepted in Japan or any other countries, but I guess its not that popular if the review i am just writing is the 3rd one. I've seen the show also many times on German TVs so I guess it was quite popular there too but definitely not as popular as here. People here made it look like some national show.

"Maya The Bee" is one of those shows very popular in Europe and nearly unknown in the US. Just like Krtek, Bamse, Reksio, Ferdy the Ant and more. The show is inseparable part of many people's childhood memories and even now, more than 30 years after its first airing it hasn't lost its charm. Whole generations grew up with Maya and her friends. It's a timeless classic! The animation has some typical anime features, but they don't protrude too much, so even those who don't like Japanese shows can easily find themselves enjoying the episodes. Each episode is a separate story, featuring Maya and her friends - Willie, Flip and the rest of the insects living in the field. From 1975 to 1976 52 episodes were produced, and 52 more from 1982 to 1983 (also known as "The New Adventures of Maya the Bee", where Alexander the Mouse, the first non-insect character was introduced). The episodes don't resemble or follow any particular pattern. The seres are always colorful and full of joy. It's pure delight! For some months they air the show on the TV, and imagine me, nearly 21 years old, getting back home from my lectures at the Uni, and waiting for today's Maya episode :)