Maya the Bee (みつばちマーヤの冒険 Mitsubachi Māya no Bōken, lit. The Adventures of Maya the Honey Bee) is a Japanese anime series co-produced by Nippon Animation, the German Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) and Austrian Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), based on a children's novel published in 1912 by German writer Waldemar Bonsels.
The series consists of 52 episodes, and was first broadcast in Japan from April 1, 1975 to April 20, 1976 on TV Asahi. A sequel series of 52 episodes titled The New Adventures of Maya the Honey Bee (新みつばちマーヤの冒険 Shin Mitsubachi Māya no Bōken) was broadcast from October 12, 1982 to September 27, 1983 (though it had been broadcast earlier in Germany). The music of the series was composed by the Czech Karel Svoboda.
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Dubbing History[]
Maya the Bee - Opening Titles
Opening to the Original Dub
Maya the Bee - Saban's U.S. intro -HD REMASTERED-
Opening to Saban's dub
The original series, The Adventures of Maya the Honey Bee, was originally dubbed in the 1980 by Sonovision for the South African Broadcasting Corporation.[1][2] This dub was more closely based on the German version, even titling the series as Maja the Bee in some prints, and features an unknown cast with upper-class English South African accents for the characters. This version of the series was also shown in Australia, and is viewable on the official Maya the Bee YouTube channel, and has been released for Digital Download.
Yet another dub was produced by Saban Entertainment with a Canadian voice cast from Montreal, and aired from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1992 on Nickelodeon in the United States, and from 1990 to 1993 on Family Channel and 1992 to 1998 on YTV in Canada. As typical for a Saban dub, a new music score and theme song for the anime was composed. 65 episodes from both the original series and the sequel series were dubbed.[3]
Cast[]
| Character | Seiyū | Saban Dub | Sonovision Dub | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | Michiko Nomura | Pauline Little | Linda Stewart[4] | 1 |
| Runa Akiyama | 2 | |||
| Willy | Masako Nozawa | Richard Dumont | ¿? | 1-2 |
| Flip | Ichirō Nagai | A.J. Henderson | ¿? | 1 |
| Ritsuo Sawa | 2 | |||
| Grimelda | Terue Nunami | Anna MacCormack | ¿? | 1 |
| Toshiko Sawada | 1 (ep. 6) | |||
| Noriko Uemura | 2 | |||
| Miss Cassandra | Miyoko Asō | Jane Woods | ¿? | 1 |
| Reiko Yamada | 2 | |||
| Alexander | Keiko Toda | Arthur Holden | ¿? | 2 |
| Pete | Kōsei Tomita | ¿? | ¿? | 1 |
| Kumiko Mizukura | 2 | |||
| Kurt | ¿? | Michael Rudder | ¿? | 1 |
| Hideki Fukushi | 2 | |||
| Colonel Ramrod | Jōji Yanami | Arthur Grosser | ¿? | 1 |
| Hozumi Gōda | 2 | |||
| Max | Isamu Tanonaka | Rick Jones | ¿? | 1 |
| Takuzō Kamiyama | 1 (ep. 28) | |||
| Shō Hayami | 2 | |||
| Beasley | Sanji Hase | ¿? | ¿? | 1 |
| Kōzō Shioya | 2 | |||
| Digger | Eken Mine | Michael Rudder | ¿? | 1 |
| ¿? | 2 | |||
| Sidney | Katsuji Mori | Sonja Ball | ¿? | 1 |
| Kōzō Shioya | 2 | |||
| Effie | ¿? | ¿? | ¿? | 1 |
| Reiko Suzuki | 2 | |||
| Mrs. Ladybug | Yoshino Ōtori | ¿? | ¿? | 2 (ep. 54) |
| Seiko Nakano | 2 | |||
| Madame Butterfly | ¿? | Jane Woods | Carolyn Steyn[4] | 1 |
| Yuki Yukino | 2 (ep. 55) | |||
| Mari Tone | 2 (eps. 61-66) | |||
| Hiromi Tsuru | 2 (eps. 68-104) |
Episodic Characters[]
| Character | Seiyū | Dub Actor | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ant Captain | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | 4 |
| Spider | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Old Man | Kōhei Miyauchi | Rick Jones | 5 |
| Hector Hidesnuggler | Kōsei Tomita | ¿? | 8 |
| Minoru Inaba | ¿? | 65 | |
| Crab Spider | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | 8 |
| Ant Soldiers | Yūji Mikimoto Shigezō Sasaoka Maki Nozawa Tako Hiromi |
¿? | |
| Frog | Kōji Yada | ¿? | 10 |
| Bees | Kazuko Makino Rihoko Yoshida |
Jane Woods | |
| Moth | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | |
| Cluto | Sanji Hase | ¿? | 11 |
| Centipede | Katsuji Mori | ¿? | |
| Ant | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | |
| Greenleaves | Noriko Ohara | Susan Glover | |
| Caterpillar | Keiko Yamamoto | ¿? | |
| Jimmy | Osamu Ichikawa | Rick Jones | 12 |
| Tunnel Bug | Jōji Yanami | Michael Rudder | |
| Baby Bumblebee | Kazuko Sugiyama | Bronwen Mantel | |
| Mother Bumblebee | Rihoko Yoshida | ¿? | |
| Grandma Locust | Junko Hori | Kathleen Fee | 13 |
| Wasp | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Ed | Tetsuo Mizutori | Michael Rudder | |
| Stella | Noriko Tsukase | ¿? | |
| Spider | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | |
| Baby Caterpillar | Eiko Masuyama | ¿? | 15 |
| Ladybug | Noriko Tsukase | ¿? | |
| Butterfly | Akiko Tsuboi | ¿? | |
| Stag Beetle | Sachiko Chijimatsu | ¿? | |
| Ant | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Arthur | Setsuo Wakui | ¿? | 16 |
| Amy | Noriko Tsukase | ¿? | |
| Spider | Kazuya Tatekabe | Kathleen Fee | |
| Fly | Kaneta Kimotsuki | ¿? | |
| Caterpillar | Katsuji Mori | ¿? | |
| Earwig Children | Keiko Ushizaki Sachiko Chijimatsu |
¿? | |
| Baby Dragonfly | Keiko Yamamoto | ¿? | 18 |
| Butterfly | Rihoko Yoshida | ¿? | |
| Hoverfly | Kaneta Kimotsuki | ¿? | |
| Ant | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Pillbugs | Sachiko Chijimatsu Kazuko Sugiyama Keaton Yamada |
¿? | 22 |
| Ivy | Noriko Ohara | ¿? | 23 |
| Jack | Makio Inoue | Rick Jones | |
| Bobby Crossgrain | Kaneta Kimotsuki | ¿? | |
| Mr. Greenbloom | Masashi Amenomori | ¿? | 24 |
| Pat | Kazuko Sugiyama | ¿? | |
| George | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | |
| Sylvia | Noriko Tsukase | ¿? | |
| Wilbur | Eken Mine | ¿? | |
| Murphy | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Tiger Longhorn Beetle | Kazuya Tatekabe | Kathleen Fee | 25 |
| Todd Barkley | Osamu Katō | Rick Jones | |
| Ladybug | Sachiko Chijimatsu | ¿? | |
| Ike Nose-Needle | Kōji Yada | Arthur Holden | 27 |
| Alf the Elf | Yoshiko Matsuo | Rob Roy | |
| Cindy | Ayumi Tokita | ¿? | |
| Tim | Eishō Itō | Bronwen Mantel | |
| Boys | Masaaki Waguri Manabu Tezuka |
Liz MacRae ¿? | |
| Hornet | Osamu Katō | ¿? | 28 |
| Doc Mulberry | Ryūji Saikachi | Walter Massey | |
| Dr. Snip | Kazuyuki Sogabe | ¿? | |
| Snail | Takuzō Kamiyama | ¿? | 29 |
| Red Caterpillar | Nobuyo Ōyama | ¿? | |
| Wasp | Noriko Tsukase | ¿? | |
| Leafcutter | Sachiko Chijimatsu | ¿? | |
| Locust | Takako Sasuga | ¿? | |
| General Blusterby | Ryūsuke Shiomi | ¿? | 30 |
| Billy Kelpclimber | Ichirō Nagai | Arthur Holden | |
| Spider | Eken Mine | ¿? | |
| Sammy | Keiko Yamamoto | ¿? | |
| Robbie | Osamu Katō | ¿? | |
| Waterbug | Kenichi Ogata | ¿? | |
| Caddisfly | Noriko Tsukase | ¿? | |
| Toni | Junko Hori | ¿? | 31 |
| Queen Bee | Akiko Tsuboi | ¿? | 32 |
| Barbara Poggemiller | 52 | ||
| Dragonfly | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | 32 |
| Hornet | Kazuya Tatekabe | ¿? | |
| Waterbeetle | Takashi Satomi | ¿? | 33 |
| Frog | Kōji Yada | ¿? | |
| Andy Heyward | Isao Nagahisa | ¿? | |
| Susie | Yoshiko Tominaga | ¿? | |
| Vera | Fuyumi Shiraishi | Jane Woods | 36 |
| Larvae | Kazuko Sugiyama Sachiko Chijimatsu |
¿? | |
| Stinkbug | Eken Mine | ¿? | |
| Ladybugs | Setsuo Wakui Takashi Satomi |
¿? | |
| Mort Ghostley | Kazuyuki Sogabe | ¿? | 37 |
| Ladybug | Takashi Satomi | ¿? | |
| Butterfly | Kazuko Sugiyama | ¿? | |
| Hoverfly | Kaneto Shiozawa | ¿? | |
| Waterbeetle | Tetsuo Mizutori | ¿? | |
| Jack | Hiroshi Masuoka | Michael Rudder | 39 |
| Lily | Kazuko Sugiyama | Jane Woods | |
| Spider | Hiroko Kikuchi | ¿? | |
| Noel | Kazuo Hayashi | ¿? | |
| Digger Wasp | Yoshiko Matsuo | Susan Glover | 41 |
| Parasite Fly | Keiko Yamamoto | ¿? | |
| Clyde | Takuzō Kamiyama | Michael Rudder | 42 |
| Caterpillar | Kazuo Hayashi | ¿? | |
| Butterfly | Kazuko Sugiyama | ¿? | |
| Daphne Longstrider | Hiroko Kikuchi | Jane Woods | |
| Jeffrey | Keiko Ushizaki | ¿? | |
| Bug | Chiyoko Kawashima | ¿? | |
| Tansy | Keiko Yamamoto | ¿? | 44 |
| Hornet | Osamu Katō | ¿? | |
| Cricket | Rihoko Yoshida | ¿? | |
| Beetle | Tetsuo Mizutori | ¿? | |
| Morley | Hiroshi Masuoka | ¿? | 46 |
| Beetle | Eken Mine | ¿? | |
| Mother Snail | Sachiko Chijimatsu | ¿? | |
| Baby Snails | Kazuko Sugiyama Tomoko Deguchi |
¿? | |
| Orville | Masako Nozawa | Rick Jones | 47 |
| Holly Slowslider | Chiyoko Kawashima | ¿? | |
| Bagworm | Kazuko Sugiyama | ¿? | |
| Red Ant | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Mr. Webspinner | Sachiko Chijimatsu | ¿? | |
| Jimmy | Kazuyuki Sogabe | ¿? | |
| Minister | Sachiko Chijimatsu | ¿? | 52 |
| Hornet Commander | Mie Azuma | ¿? | |
| Guards | Eken Mine Kōji Yada |
¿? | |
| Scout | Hiroko Kikuchi | ¿? | |
| Hornets | Ritsuo Sawa Takeshi Watabe |
¿? | |
| Francine | Kan Tokumaru | Kathleen Fee | 53 |
| Little Ant | Yuki Yukino | ¿? | |
| Gloria Rednose | Natsumi Sakuma | Kathleen Fee | |
| Rednose Junior | Noriko Uemura | ¿? | |
| Herman | Banjō Ginga | ¿? | 54 |
| Ladybug Kids | Noriko Uemura Mari Yashiba Yuki Yukino |
¿? | |
| Ant Soldier | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Uncle Stanislas | Yūji Fujishiro | ¿? | 56 |
| Mr. Waterbeetle | Toshiro Ishii | Rick Jones | |
| Mr. Ladybug | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Tick | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | 58 |
| Tock | Naruhito Iguchi | ¿? | |
| Praying Mantis | Mari Yashiba | ¿? | |
| Mrs. Snail | Shigeru Chiba | ¿? | 59 |
| Atsuko Mine | ¿? | 60 | |
| Bug | Tsutomu Fujii | ¿? | 59 |
| Praying Mantis | ¿? | 60 | |
| Alexander's Great-Great-Grandfather | Shō Hayami | ¿? | 61 |
| Mousica | Mari Yashiba | ¿? | |
| Ant Soldier | Seiko Nakano | ¿? | |
| Hornet | Kumiko Mizukura | ¿? | |
| Whitney | Masako Miura | ¿? | 62 |
| Kenny | Junichi Sugawara | ¿? | 63 |
| Merv | Shigeru Chiba | ¿? | |
| Longdaddy | Kōsuke Meguro | ¿? | |
| Sewer Rat | Kōzō Shioya | ¿? | |
| Queen Bee | Kumiko Mizukura | ¿? | 64 |
| Boss Bee | Tesshō Genda | ¿? | |
| Fat Bee | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Thin Bee | Tsutomu Fujii | ¿? | |
| Old Bee | Noriko Uemura | ¿? | |
| Barney Crumb | Kaneto Shiozawa | ¿? | 65 |
| Sally | Yōko Kawanami | ¿? | |
| Fireflies | Shō Hayami Kumiko Mizukura Hozumi Gōda |
¿? | |
| Flea | Mari Yashiba | ¿? | 67 |
| Bugs | Shō Hayami Junichi Sugawara Yuki Yukino |
¿? | |
| Maddie | Yoshiko Matsuo | ¿? | 68 |
| Wasp King | Tetsuo Mizutori | Dean Hagopian | |
| Wasp Commander | Kōzō Shioya | ¿? | |
| Wasp Guard | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Melvin | Kei Tomiyama | ¿? | 69 |
| Praying Mantis | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Caterpillar | Kōzō Shioya | ¿? | |
| Giant Beetle | Masashi Hirose | ¿? | 70 |
| Nematode | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Cricket | Hozumi Gōda | ¿? | |
| Army Ant Commander | Keaton Yamada | ¿? | |
| Ridley | Masako Miura | ¿? | 71 |
| Beetle | Kōzō Shioya | ¿? | |
| Dragonfly | Shō Hayami | ¿? | |
| Ladybug Kids | Akari Hibino Sanae Miyuki Kaoru Fujima |
¿? | 72 |
| Ant Soldiers | Shō Hayami Hideki Fukushi |
¿? |
Additional Voices
Saban Dub
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Transmission[]
| Date(s) | Channel | Dub | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¿? | SABC | Sonovision | South Africa | 
|
| 1984-91 | Network 10 | Australia | 
| |
| 1983-84 | CBC | Canada | 
| |
| 1988;
1992-98 |
YTV | |||
| Saban | ||||
| 1990-93 | Family Channel | |||
| 1990-92 | Nickelodeon | United States | 
| |
Video Releases[]
| Distributor | Year | Format | Contents | Region | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video Treasures | 1989-1992 | 
|
9 Episodes | NTSC | United States |
|
| 3 Volumes | ||||||
Videos[]
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ Maya the Bee South African End Credits on Retrojunk
- ↑ (November 1, 2019) E-mail with Sonovision dub translator. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ↑ (February 20, 1998) ABC FAMILY WORLDWIDE INC - Securities Registration Statement (S-1/A) EXHIBIT 10.19. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 (August 10, 2021) Carolyn Steyn on Twitter. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 (August 10, 2021) Carolyn Steyn on Twitter. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
External Links[]
- Maya the Bee at the Internet Movie Database
- Maya the Bee (anime) at the Anime News Network