Harsher in Hindsight: The series as a whole takes a rather dark turn for those who've read about Waldemar Bonsels's outspoken antisemitism and support for the Nazi regime. Which is morbidly ironic considering how the series is quite popular in Poland despite Nazi Germany's invasion of the country in 1939.
Values Dissonance: It goes without saying since the original author, Waldemar Bonsels, was an outspoken antisemite and Nazi sympathizer. Even though the book was written 8 years before the official formation of the Nazi Party, it still contains many elements of nationalist and xenophobic rhetoric such as this, which was nixed from the anime and future adaptations:
"The first rule that a young bee must learn… is that every bee, in whatever it thinks and does, must be like the other bees and must always have the good of all in mind. In our order of society, which we have held to be the right one from time immemorial and which couldn't have been better preserved than it had been, this rule is the one fundamental basis of the wellbeing of the state."
The dragon-fly regarded Jack Christopher contemplatively.
“Yes, he is a dear little fellow,” it replied tenderly and—bit Jack’s head off.
The anime
Accidental Innuendo: The fact that an animator snuck in image of a large penis in the background of the episode "King Willi" gives the episode title (which was obviously chosen separately from that rogue decision) a whole new meaning.
Adaptation Displacement: The anime is considerably better known than the original series of books. Given original author Waldemar Bonsels's later support of the Nazi regime, it's almost assuredly for the better.
The 3D remake has gotten a very lukewarm reception in Germany, not all of it because They Changed It, Now It Sucks!; the scripts are legitimately horrible and rely completely on Cliché Storm, in no small way because the episodes are so short in order to be cheaper; anything that might be scary for children was removed completely and the music - save for the opening, which was a remake of the original - is completely uninvolving. The CGI incarnation later received better reception after the first movie was released in 2014 and the arrival of Season 2.
In a more traditional sense, Maya the Bee is obscure to the point of being completely unknown in the US. While Nick Jr. aired the Saban dub in the early 90s, and Sprout has broadcast the CGI series, but they weren’t popular enough to endearing American audiences. It's so unknown there, that some have even mistaken Maya the Bee Movie as a Bee Movie rip-off of all things (notably from Quinton Reviews video on "Bee Movie Knockoffs" from January 2018). Yes, this is even despite the fact that Maya was released first.
Better than the Source Material: Even amongst the people who do know it's based on a book and have read it, the anime adaptation is seen as superior to the books for many reasons. From the much loved additions of Willy and Flip adding much needed rapport and spice to Book Maya's solo adventures, and, more importantly, cutting out the book's xenophobia and extreme nationalist themes.
Can't Un-Hear It: Ewa Złotowska's performance as Maya has left a strong impression with Polish fans of the series. Especially since knowing that she's still actively voicing Maya on occasionally tie-in material (such as Maya the Bee albums, a brief speaking role for Amadeo's remix of the theme song, and the PC Game).
Friendly Fandoms: In Japan, parts of Europe (mainly in Spain, Portugal, and Italy) and South America, fans of Maya The Bee get along very well with Honeybee Hutch, another anime that also stars a bee and other insects.
Germans Love David Hasselhoff: While the book and anime are very popular in Germany, it is also beloved in other nations.
In Italy and Portugal during the '70s and '80s, it marked many a childhood of kids who watched it and was also popular amongst parents and teenagers. In both those countries it was rerun often and got toy releases.
It is also fondly remembered in parts of Latin America, to the point Studio 100 has commented that they intend to expand the brand to Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay as many Gen X-ers (who are now parents) grew up with it.
It is also very popular in Belgium. The series is currently owned by Studio 100 (the current right holders) and the franchise is prominent at numerous Studio 100 owned theme parks note Plopsaland De Panne, Plopsa Indoor Hasselt, Plopsa Coo, and Holiday Park. The Flanders region of Belgium even received an exclusive musical stage show based on the CGI series called "Maya en de Pollenbollen". The main characters (notably Maya and Willy) also made appearances at numerous special events held by Studio 100note such as their annual Sinterklaas show "De Grote Sinterklaas Show" Maya the Bee alongside numerous Studio 100 characters (such as Samson En Gert and Kabouter Plop) perform for Sinterklaas and Zwarte Pieteand sing with each other.
The franchise is also huge in Poland where it has a very dedicated adult fanbase. Maya's Polish voice actress recorded cover songs (mostly Polish children's songs) sung as Maya herself for audiences, and the exclusive extended theme by Zbigniew Wodecki was performedat various concerts. Poland even got a Maya the Bee-themed indoor theme park that opened in 2018.
The series has been enjoying popularity in Greece since the early 2000's when Modern Times bought the distribution rights to it, getting many books and DVDs, the theme song being featured in "Children's TV Favorites" CDs (as well as an instrumental karaoke version) and being one of the company's biggest franchises in general.
Under the name Zeina and Nahoul, the anime became a success in a few Arabic countries. Lebanon in particular adores the series, which could be because the Arabic dub was created there. Elvira Younes (the voice of the female protagonist) has gotten a lot of love from audiences over her performance - and according to her, the fandom extends to grown adults as well as children.
On the flip side, the second anime series (made in 1979) is more or less completely forgotten in Japan, where it wasn't even broadcast until 1982.
Growing the Beard: Besides Belgium, the CGI series has gained mixed reception in parts of Europe (especially in the series's native country Germany). After the beginning of Season 2 the series started gaining more positive feedback in some parts of Europe. The character animation improved, making the characters more expressive and alive, while the episodes received better writing.
Heartwarming in Hindsight: In one episode of the CGI series, Willy eats some pollen that causes him to say whatever he thinks of his friends out loud no matter how rude or hurtful the comment might be. It's made clear he can't control it and can't stop until Miss Casandra makes an antidote for him. Yet throughout the episode he never says anything bad about Maya, meaning he had no negative thoughts about her.
The Latino Spanish song called "Maya Y Willie" which is dedicated to Maya and Willy's relationship.
One episode of the anime involves Maya taking care of a baby bird who appears to have no mother. Maya feels bad for it and decides to take care of it, and goes as far as singing it a lullaby and carrying it around in circles to make it go to sleep. Flip, Willy and the other insects are shocked that Maya is taking care of a baby bird, since birds are predators to them. After Flip finds Maya falling asleep after singing a lullaby to the baby bird, it finally learns to fly and leaves the meadow, with Flip being the only witness. He actually feels proud for Maya being able to take her kindness to a new level, even when it's an animal that is a predator to the others.
In episode 102 of the anime, after breaking Willy out of a block of ice, Maya and the others believe he froze to death and begin to mourn. However, after warming up under the sun, Willy wakes up and wonders what everyone is so upset about. Maya quickly grabs him and gives him a smooch on the cheek.
In the movie, after Willy wakes up, Maya, who thought he had died, quickly hugs him tightly and apologises.
Maya: I am so sorry. Are you still my friend? Willy: Of course! You must never let a friend go Maya, especially your best and only friend.
Pretty much any time Maya gives Willy a kiss on the cheek.
This adorable song features Maya and Willy singing together to the French children's song "Promenons-Nous dans le Bois" ("Let's Walk in the woods (The Wolf Song") in English). In the song, Thekla plays the role of the wolf and tries catching Maya and Willy once both characters finish their verses.
In "Question of Confidence," while it does backfire later, Maya and her friends letting Willy win a game of rugseed and cheering for him because they want him to be confident and happy.
From the same episode, Willy saving Maya from both a frog and almost drowning.
The 2018 song Biene Maja, Unsere Freundin from the album Biene Maja - Liederalbum Sing mit uns! is about Maya's kindness and friendship with the bugs from the meadow. Most of the song is performed by Maya's friends with Maya performing a few lyrics in between.
In the movie, Willy is angry at Maya for not wanting to return to the hive with him. After he flies off in a huff, he runs into a frog who tries to eat him. However, he's so angry at the time, he just kicks the frog's tongue back into its face and warns it that he's not in the mood.
In "Field Trip", Maya is being chased by a bird. Willy is understandably afraid, but when he hears Maya call for help he immediately flies at the bird and jumps on its beak to get it away from Maya. He then torments and attacks it until the bird gets fed up and flies away.
Older Than They Think: The South African English dubnote Which uses an adaptation of the (German) theme song and the soundtrack from the German version, which premiered one year after the Japanese version. actually predates the more familiar U.S. dub by Saban.
Questionable Casting: The first film was live action and was produced in the 1920s. That said, the actors in the film were all live insects.
Signature Scene: The brief moment in the intro of the anime, where Maya is seen sitting in a water lily and shedding a big teardrop. It was even used in the intro of the CGI series, though she actually smiles for a few frames.
Squick: Ben's dung balls. Being a dung beetle, he always has one with him. And he has a habit of kissing them affectionately.
Speaking of Ben's dung balls, "Keep Ball Rolling" involved a fly using one of Ben's balls as a nest to lay her eggs in. Granted, she laid her eggs off screen, but still. In fact, it got so bad that Moral Guardians would take to Sprout'snote Now Universal Kids Facebook page to complain about the episode because of that scene, with some even begging the network to remove the episode from the airwaves altogether.
The season 2 episode "Jealousy" pretty much confirms Maya has a crush on Willy, but isn't ready to admit it.
The stage musical has this scene where the two become bashful when Beatrice makes them hold hands.
They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: Polish fans of the series were not happy when the voice cast was replaced for the DVD dub. Especially Ewa Złotowska who's been voicing the titular character for almost 50 years.
The films
Easily Forgiven: After Team Poppy finishes the last part of the Honey Games, the Queen forgives the Empress by telling her she has everything she needs and reconciles with her.
). Yes, this is even despite the fact that Maya was released first.
