Centipede
Foreign titles: Die Biene Maja (German), L'Apemaia (Italian), La Abeja Maya (Spanish), Vèelka Mája (Czech)
Series title: みつばちマーヤ
- Studio
- Nippon Animation, Peter Film, Apollo Films, Zuyô Eizô, Wang Company Ltd., Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Österreichischer Rundfunk
- Animation studio
- Zuiyo, Nippon Animation
Synopsis
Maya, a newborn honeybee, brims with curiosity about the world around her.
From the time she is born, she is brought up to be a worker bee, but it is difficult for her to understand and follow the strict rules of the hive because of her individuality and strong desire for independence.
Having collected all the honey around the honeycomb, Maya decides to set out on an adventure to find a flower garden in order to collect more honey for the hive. Her intentions are noble, but because she leaves the hive without permission the Queen sends Maya's friend Willy to search for the little troublemaker. Willy joins Maya in her quest, and together, beyond the familiar hive, the two friends marvel at the sheer beauty that nature has to offer.
Through many experiences-sometimes enjoyable, sometimes terrible or sad-and encounters with various insects, Maya matures into a strong and wise honeybee.
From the time she is born, she is brought up to be a worker bee, but it is difficult for her to understand and follow the strict rules of the hive because of her individuality and strong desire for independence.
Having collected all the honey around the honeycomb, Maya decides to set out on an adventure to find a flower garden in order to collect more honey for the hive. Her intentions are noble, but because she leaves the hive without permission the Queen sends Maya's friend Willy to search for the little troublemaker. Willy joins Maya in her quest, and together, beyond the familiar hive, the two friends marvel at the sheer beauty that nature has to offer.
Through many experiences-sometimes enjoyable, sometimes terrible or sad-and encounters with various insects, Maya matures into a strong and wise honeybee.
Characters
Maya, Philip.
Characters (English Version): Maya, Flip, Willi, Grimelda, Miss Cassandra.
Characters (German Version): Maja, Flip, Willi, Kassandra, Harald, Guard, Thekla, Snail Mother, Old Man, Smallest Ant, Nick, Bumblebee, Puck, Max, Female Weevil, Johann, Schnuck, Ant Colonels
Characters (English Version): Maya, Flip, Willi, Grimelda, Miss Cassandra.
Characters (German Version): Maja, Flip, Willi, Kassandra, Harald, Guard, Thekla, Snail Mother, Old Man, Smallest Ant, Nick, Bumblebee, Puck, Max, Female Weevil, Johann, Schnuck, Ant Colonels
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Hiroshi Saitô, Seiji Endô
Writing
- Writer
- Fumi Takahashi
- Based on the Original Novel Die Biene Maja Und Ihre Abenteuer ("The Adventures o
- Waldemar Bonsels
Animation
- Animator
- Toshio Nobe, Takao Ogawa
- Animation Directors
- Susumu Shiraume, Hayao Nobe, Takao Ogawa
Voices
- Voice
- Michiko Nomura (Maya), Keiko Mari (Maya), Ichirô Nagai (Philip)
- Vocal Talent (English Version)
- Pauline Little (Maya), A.J. Henderson (Flip), Richard Dumont (Willi), Anna MacCormick (Grimelda), Jane Woods (Miss Cassandra)
- Vocal Talent (German Version)
- Manfred Lichtenfeld (Flip), Eberhard Storeck (Willi), Lorley Katz (Kassandra), Helga Anders (Harald), Harald Baerow (Guard), Tilli Breidenbach (Thekla), Alice Franz (Snail Mother), Willy Friedrichs (Old Man), Christa Häussler (Smallest Ant, Nick), Gusti Kreissl (Bumblebee), Bruno W. Pantel (Puck), Michael Rüth (Max), Inge Schulz (Female Weevil), Horst Sommer (Ant Colonel), Berno von Cramm (Ant Colonel), Mogens von Gadow (Johann), Fee von Reichlin (Schnuck)
Music
- Music
- Karel Svoboda (German Version)
Crew
- Art Direction
- Masahiro Kitao
- Character Design
- Susumu Shiraume
- Script Editor
- Marty Murphy
- Singer (Theme Song)
- Keiko Mari
- Singer (Theme Song [German Version]
- Karel Gott
Production notes
Based on the 1929 children's book by Waldemar Bonsels.
A sequel, "New Maya," was made soon after this series. However, it was not screened until 1982. The sequel, produced by a new crew, was chiefly animated by Wako Production. It introduced a new character, Mousey the Mouse.
A sequel, "New Maya," was made soon after this series. However, it was not screened until 1982. The sequel, produced by a new crew, was chiefly animated by Wako Production. It introduced a new character, Mousey the Mouse.