Today, people shocked to know that the original Maya the Bee, beloved European children’s cartoon, was an anime project.
Alternative Titles:
- Mitsubachi Maya no Bouken
- みつばちマーヤの冒険
Year Anime Premiered: 1975
Animation Studio: Nippon Animation
Number of Seasons: 2
Source Material Country of Origin: Germany
Source Material Available: Novel
Is It Officially Licensed Past Where The Anime Ends?: Yes
Is It Fan Translated Past Where The Anime Ends?: Yes
Entry Last Updated: July 27th, 2026
Where To Start The Maya the Bee Novel After The Anime?
Maya the Bee was originally a German children’s book published in 1912 by Waldemar Bonsels. The Maya the Bee anime, produced in 1975 with 52 episodes, is—of course—a loose adaptation of that novel.
While Maya the Bee pads out the original story about a young bee wanting to be in the world outside the hive, it also doesn’t adapt the story in the strictest sense either.
The Maya the Bee anime adapts some novel events, not always strictly like the original story, but it is best to look at the anime series as an expansion of the story. It expands on a lot of aspects, themes, and even events.
It does, however, end the series similarly to the novel in that it depicts the same event of hornets attacking the hive.
It needs to be said that the New Adventures of Maya the Honey Bee sequel anime doesn’t adapt the novel.
