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Characters / Maya the Bee

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Main Characters

    Maya (Maja) 

Voiced by: Michiko Nomura (1975); Runa Akiyama (1982); Pauline Little (US Saban dub, anime); Andrea Libman (EN, CGI series season 1), TBA (EN, CGI series season 2); Coco Jack Gillies (EN, CGI movies); Ewa Złotowska (Poland, anime and CGI series' TV dub); Agnieszka Fajlhauer (Poland, CGI series' TV dub, DVD dub and movies); Angela Mit (FR, CGI series); Jenifer Bartoli (FR, CGI movies); Matilde Vilariño (Spain, anime)

The titular character of the series.
  • Adaptation Dye-Job: In the comics, she had orange hair◊ instead of her usual blond.
  • Adaptational Nice Girl: In the book, while she was polite, she isn't as compassionate as she is in the series. One page mentions that she knows that drones are killed after summer, but isn't bothered by it as she understands the necessity. And while she is annoyed about the dragonfly eating Hans Christopher, she quickly forgets about him after she hears the dragonfly has met humans.
  • Adaptation Personality Change:
    • In the anime, Maya isn't afraid of showing her stinger for self defence or as a warning to any threat. This is toned down in the 2012 reboot and movie where Maya would never be seen using her stinger to protect herself.
    • In the book, she hates wasps and hornets and becomes offended or violent if another insect mistakes her for one. In the CGI reboot, while she does find the wasps to be a nuisance, she doesn't hate them, to the point where she becomes friends with a affable wasp in one episode. And in the movie, she befriends Sting and still trusts him even after finding out he's actually a hornet.
    • In the book and the anime, she has a fascination with humans and desires to meet them. In the CGI series, she never once even mentions humans.
  • Best Friend: To Willy.
  • All-Loving Hero: She holds no illwill towards anyone and usually tries to solve conflicts without violence. She'll even help predators if they need it.
  • Berserk Button: Destroying flowers will cause her to lose her temper.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: In the anime, if she was pushed enough she would lose her temper or threaten to use her sting.
  • Break the Cutie: Happens to her sometimes.
  • Blush Sticker: She is sometimes given these in various merchandise, mostly ones made in Germany and in the CGI series. Although two black marks that look like whiskers appear to be located around her cheeks in the anime, which was later carried to German merchandise before the CGI reboot.
  • Character Tic: In the US Saban dub of the anime, Maya is usually heard giggling and laughing. One old Nick Jr promo was dedicated to Maya giggling with Willy.
  • Clingy Jealous Girl:
    • In "Jealousy", she becomes jealous when Lara pretends to be Willy's friend and hogs all of his attention.
    • In "The Honey Games", she is clearly jealous whenever Violet flirts with Willy.
  • Damsel in Distress: Sometimes gets herself into dangerous situations.
  • The Exile: In the first movie, she is banished from the hive by Buzzlina for not following the rules. Luckily it doesn't last since The Queen never agreed on banishment.
  • Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: She has blond hair and is the nicest character of the franchise.
  • The Hero: Of the franchise
  • Heroic BSoD: Has a brief one when she finds out the truth about parasitic flies and how they lay their eggs.
  • Nice Girl: A fair, helpful bee.
  • Non-Mammalian Hair: She is a bee, and yet is drawn with hair.
  • Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: The Masculine Girl to Willy's Feminine Boy. Maya is adventurous and brave while Willy is easily frightened and shy.
  • One of the Boys: More noticeable in the CGI series. Her friends are mostly boys, and she doesn't really hang around with Beatrice or Lara very often.
  • Parental Substitute:
    • One episode of the anime involves Maya having to take care of a baby bird with no parents in sight. The other insects are surprised by her decision, especially Willy. Eventually the baby bird leaves Maya after she sings it a lullaby since it was having trouble going to sleep. Flip is the only insect able to witness this and feels proud for Maya's bravery and kindness.
    • Both she and Willy become this to Smoosh in "The Golden Orb". Taking care of the baby ant while trying to return her home.
  • The Pollyanna: Very optimistic and nice and rarely gets angry unless something very serious happens.
  • Single Tear: In the anime and CGI openings, she is watching the moon as a single tear rolls down her cheek.
  • The Smurfette Principle: In the first season of the anime, where she was the only main female.
  • Tomboy and Girly Girl: The tomboy to Lara's girly girl. Maya enjoys rough and tumble games like Rugseednote  and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, while Lara cares a great deal about her appearance and spends most of her free time admiring her own reflection.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: In season 1 of the CGI series, she is kind, patient and helpful. In season 2, she is still kind, however, she has become bossy towards Willy and tends to get into more squabbles with him. Though her bossy nature is very similar to how she was in the anime.
  • You Are Number 6: In the CGI movie, Maya has a number, 396. The main antagonist, Buzzlina, insists on referring to her as this.

    Willy (Willi) 

Voiced by: Masako Nozawa (JP, 1975-1982, CGI movies); Richard Dumont (US Saban dub, anime); Rebecca Shoichet (EN, CGI series season 1); Celia Gruss (EN, CGI series season 2); Kodi Smit-McPhee (EN, 2014 movie); Benson Jack Anthony (EN, The Honey Games, The Golden Orb); Jan Kociniak (Poland, anime); Tomasz Gut (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Sebastian Perdek (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Łukasz Lewandowski (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub); Mateusz Banasiuk (Poland, movies); Sauvane Delanoë (FR, CGI series and movies)

Originally created for the anime and eventually becoming one of the three main protagonists of the franchise. Willy is a young male bee (drone) and Maya's best friend, although not the brightest and prone to laziness.
  • Adaptational Dumbass: In the anime, while he wasn't a genius, the first episode shows that he has some knowledge on what dangers to avoid and could remember important information Miss Cassandra had taught him (in the Japanese version, he was an honor student ). In the CGI series, he has the lowest grades in his class, can't seem to focus, and, according to Maya, makes spelling mistakes.
  • Adaptation Personality Change:
    • In the anime, Willy is extremely lazy and prone to taking very long naps. Willy in the 3D reboot, while also lazy and prone to sleeping a lot, is still a lot more active and awake compared to his anime counterpart. His movie counterpart's tendency to sleep doesn't come up nearly as much as his love for food. In fact, in the second movie, he never once complains about being tired, just hungry.
    • He is also prone to jealousy in the anime when Maya makes new friends, usually worrying that she wouldn't need him anymore. In the CGI series, he doesn't mind any new friends Maya makes and usually befriends them too.
  • Best Friend: To Maya.
  • Big Eater: Loves honey (Pollen in the CGI series)
  • Brutal Honesty: He has a habit of saying exactly what he thinks of someone without stopping to think about how harsh it might be. When he meets Freda the fly in episode 66 of the anime for example.
  • Butt-Monkey: He usually can't get through an episode without something happening to him.
  • Brilliant, but Lazy: He slacks off a lot but he does occasionally have good ideas.
  • Cannot Keep a Secret: He unintentionally blabs secrets when under pressure. Both "Rosita" and "The Orchirosa" show this.
  • Cowardly Lion: Has his moments, especially if Maya is the one in danger. In one episode from the CGI series for example, he takes on a bluebird when it tries to eat Maya.
  • Crazy Jealous Guy: In the anime, he would easily become jealous if Maya made a new friend. Even more often when Alexander shows up.
  • Declarative Finger: He does this often in the anime, usually when quoting one of his proverbs.
  • Distressed Dude: He often gets himself into situations and needs to be rescued by Maya.
  • Dub Name Change: Willy is called Gucio in Poland (a cutesy form of Gustaw/Gustav).
  • Exhausted Eye Bags: Always has bags under his eyes to emphasise his lazy nature. It's more notable in the anime compared to the CGI series and movies.
  • Friendless Background:
    • In the movie, he makes it clear Maya is the first friend he's ever made and that the other children ignored him.
      Willy: What are you doing?
      Maya: Sitting next to you.
      Willy But nobody ever sits next to me-I mean, excellent choice Maya!
    • Later, when he decides to keep Maya company when she is banned from flying lessons.
      Maya: Oh Willy! You're my best friend ever!
      Willy: You're my first friend ever...
  • Heavy Sleeper: He prefers sleeping most of the time.
  • Hurricane of Aphorisms: He likes to use "Bee Proverbs".
  • Informed Flaw: In the anime, he was often called Fatty by other insects even though his body is the same size as Maya's.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Willy is a bit greedy and selfish but is a very nice bee when he's not acting like that.
  • Lazy Bum: In the anime, he's extremely lazy and prefers having a laid-back lifestyle. He's typically seen complaining about working on specific tasks and once got exiled from the hive over falling asleep during The Queen's presence. This aspect was toned down in the CGI series and movies, however test animation for the 2014 movie attempted to bring back Willy's lazy aspect.
  • Lovable Coward: He prefers to hide or fly away from danger, understandable since he doesn't have a sting to protect himself with.
  • Non-Mammalian Hair: He has a small brown tuft of hair on the top of his head.
  • Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: The Feminine Boy to Maya's Masculine Girl. Willy is cowardly, but Maya is courageous.
  • Only Sane Man: He considered himself to be this in the anime, as he always found Maya's ideas of adventure to be careless or stupid. He usually outright tells her he thinks she's crazy.
    Willy: (Maya has just told him she's been raising a baby bird) Now listen! I've always had the opinion that you were more than just a little bit cuckoo Maya, but never in my wildest dreams did I think your cuckoo was quite as big as that.
  • Parental Substitute: Both he and Maya become this to Smoosh in "The Golden Orb". Taking care of the baby ant while trying to return her home. Arnie and Barney even constantly insist he is Smoosh's "Dada", much to his annoyance.
  • Screw This, I'm Outta Here: He'll try to do this if an adventure gets too dangerous. Usually Maya is able to convince him to stay, or he'll come back if Maya is in extreme danger.
  • Simpleton Voice: In the South African, German, and Latino dubs of the anime.
  • The Slacker: He is very lazy.
  • Too Hungry to Be Polite: He's a noisy eater. In one episode, when Maya comes across him on the verge of starving, he eats too fast and coughs up pollen into Maya's face.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Honey and pollen.
  • Undying Loyalty: To Maya. In "The Honey Games", Violet believes he'll do anything she asks because he's infatuated with her. She tells him to profess to Maya that he's injured during a race, so Team Tropolis has a better chance of winning. However, he immediately loses interest in Violet because of this, tells Maya the truth, and says he's hurt that anyone would think he'd lie to his best friend.
  • Vocal Dissonance: He's a child and looks young, yet in most dubs of the anime he was voiced by grown men. Averted in the CGI series (except the German, Italian and Polish dub) where he is voiced by females or children.
  • Vocal Evolution: In the South African dub he always had a Simpleton Voice, but in the earlier episodes he also had a lisp, which his VA eventually drops.

    Flip 

Voiced by: Ichirō Nagai (1975); Ritsuo Sawa (1982); A.J. Henderson (US Saban anime dub); Phil Hayes (CGI series); Andrzej Gawroński (Poland, anime); Michał Napiątek (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Marcin Przybylski (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Piotr Bajtlik (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Grzegorz Kwiecień (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub and 2018 movie); Krzysztof Ibisz (Poland, 2014 movie)

Created for the anime and serving as the three leading characters of the franchise. Flip is the wisest and father figure to Maya in Willy. In the anime, he served as the show's narrator and frequently seen talking to the viewer. In the Studio 100 incarnation, he's a supporting character where he frequently performs his violin to pass the time (mainly as a lullaby at nighttime).
  • Adaptational Nice Guy: Flip is a lot more calmer and kinder in the CGI series and film compared to his anime counterpart where he was more hyperactive (In the earlier episodes of the anime) and would lose his temper more easily.
  • Breaking the Fourth Wall: Flip can sometimes be seen talking to the viewer in some episodes of the anime.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Flip becomes this in the later episodes of the anime.
  • Demoted to Extra: While Flip is one of the main characters of the series, he is almost a minor character in the first movie by Studio 100 and given less screen time in the sequel. He is also not as prominent in the CGI series, but started gaining more screen time and his own set of episodes in Season 2, compared to a small amount in Season 1.
  • Characterization Marches On: While Flip was always the Team Dad to Willy and Maya. In the anime, Flip would sometimes get annoyed along with getting easily excited. In the reboot, Flip rarely gets like that and would usually give some helpful advice to Maya and Willy about certain situations or problems
  • Hair-Trigger Temper: In the later episodes of the anime, Flip would sometimes be prone to losing his temper during certain situations mostly when it involved Alexander's inventions causing trouble.
  • Keet: At least in the older episodes of the anime up to season 2.
  • Narrator: Flip would sometimes be heard narrating the events of an episode of the anime including talking to the viewer and talking about the next episode.
  • Never Bareheaded: Never takes his hat off.
  • Nice Guy: He's one of the kindest friends Maya had made.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: In all media, Flip is the biggest sources of help with Maya and Willy. In the CGI series, he becomes this with all the younger bugs where to the point that they all start crying when he's close to leaving the meadow for good.
  • Saying Sound Effects Out Loud: In all animated media, Flip would always say "Hop" out loud when he is seen jumping from place to place.
  • Team Dad: With Maya and Willy in both the anime and CGI series. He also becomes this for the other young insects in the CGI series.
  • Twin Switch: Flip's cousin Flap steals his hat and causes mischief around the other insects. Flip is blamed, and the others start chasing him thinking he did it.
  • Signature Headgear: His brown top hat present in all media and merchandise.
  • Vocal Evolution: Flip's voice in the South African dub was much higher in the early episodes. In later episodes, his voice actor gave him a deeper more mature sounding voice.
  • Waistcoat of Style: Wears one in the CGI reboot.

Recurring Characters

    Miss Cassandra 

Voiced by: Miyoko Aso; (1975); Reiko Yamada (1982); Jane Woods (US Saban anime dub); Kira Tozer (EN CGI series season 1); Justine Clarke (EN, 2014 movie); Teresa Lipowska (Poland, anime); Krystyna Miecikówna (Poland, anime); Agnieszka Kunikowska (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Katarzyna Tatarak (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub and 2014 movie); Tess Meyer (Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb (2021)

Maya's teacher who mostly stays in the hive.
  • Ascended Extra: Compared to the anime, Cassandra becomes a secondary character in the reboot and film.
  • Parental Substitute: Since bees have no parents, she serves as a mother figure and teacher for the going bees.
  • Single Tear: In the Japanese and Arabic versions of the anime, Cassandra is seen shedding a single tear after overhearing Maya leaving the hive. Especially after she returned badly injured with her students (including Willy and Maya) all crying hoping she doesn't die.
  • The Bus Came Back: She returns in the second season of the anime.

    The Queen 

Voiced by: Miriam Margolyesin (EN, 2014 movie); Justine Clarke (EN, 2018 movie); Halina Kossobudzka (Poland, anime); Elżbieta Kijowska (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Ewa Złotowska (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Hanna Kinder-Kiss (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub); Teresa Lipowska (Poland, movies)

The Queen is the ruler of the hive and mother of all the bees.
  • Adaptation Dye-Job: In the CGI series, her hair is colored grey to reflect being the oldest of the honeybees. Compared to the anime, where her hair was either blonde (only seen in the Japanese and Arabic versions) or brown (earlier episodes) colored hair. She also used to have a much more humanoid design compared to the other bees in the anime.
  • Adaptational Nice Guy: Much more strict in the book and anime than she is in the CGI series. In the book, she threatens to take the heads of two bees if they fail to deliver a message on time. While in the anime, she banishes Willy from the hive briefly when he falls asleep during guard duty. In the CGI series, when Willy messes up his job as a guard, he thinks he'll be banished, but The Queen reassures him she has no intention to do such a thing.
  • Age Lift: In the the original anime, two of her characters designs gave her a notably youthful and prettier design and appearance. In the CGI series and films, The Queen was redesigned as a middle-aged bee and notably taller than Cassandra.
  • Anthropomorphic Shift: In the anime, while she gained two redesigns in the series. The Queen had a notably unique design by resembling a human. In the Studio 100 incarnation, her design was given a less human appearance and looked similar to the other bees in the series.
  • Ascended Extra: In the original anime she only showed up in a few episodes, but ends up as a supporting character in the CGI reboot. She actually plays an important role with the first movie's plot.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: She loves her subjects, but banishment can happen if laws are broken, which Beeswax learns when he is wrongfully accused.
  • Black Bead Eyes: In the original anime, she doesn't have pupils unlike the other bees.
  • Disney Death: In the 2014 movie, she's almost on the verge of death after The Royal Jelly was stolen. By the time Maya encounters her near the third act, she's slowly dying. Luckily, she gets better after The Royal Jelly was returned.
  • Non-Standard Character Design: In the anime, The Queen had a very humanoid design complete with brown hair and an orange dress. Making her stick out compared to the other bees in the hive.
  • You Don't Look Like You: She gained a redesign in the CGI reboot compared to her original anime counterpart. On the topic of the anime, The Queen had two different designs which is seen in the Arabic and Japanese versions.

    Ben the Dung Beetle 

Voiced by: Tabitha St. Germain (EN, CGI series season 1); Hali Beth Muller (EN, CGI series season 2); Krzysztof Strużycki (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Anna Apostolakis (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub)
  • Companion Cube: He tends to talk to his dung balls, even giving them the nickname "Bally".
  • Demoted to Extra:
    • He's a friend of Maya and Willy in the CGI series, but in the movie, he only makes a small, non-speaking appearance at the party Flip throws at the lake.
    • In "The Honey Games", he has a small speaking appearance at the beginning.
  • Innocently Insensitive: At times. When Willy goes missing after getting stuck in a bottle, Ben keeps worrying about his dung ball which also went missing and forgets that Maya is understandably worried sick about Willy. Maya scolds him, reminding him that he can always make a new ball.
  • Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Due to being a dung beetle, he can easily push around balls that Maya has trouble even nudging slightly.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: In season 2, his dung ball traps Max in a hole that he can't dig his way out of due to the walls being covered in rocks. Maya suggests he dig through the dung ball, but Ben refuses, even though a storm is coming and Max will be flooded and drown if he doesn't get out. Putting his dung ball before his friend is extremely selfish, to say the least.
  • Unexplained Accent: In season 2, his new voice actress gives him a southern accent. Despite the fact that his uncle, Kurt, doesn't have any kind of southern drawl.

    Kurt the Dung Beetle 

A dung beetle who cleans the meadow with his dung ball. He is Ben's uncle and one of Maya's friends.

  • Adaptation Dye-Job: Kurt had a blue elytron and a brown stomach in the anime. In the CGI series, he's green.
  • Ascended Extra: In season 1, the only thing we knew about him was that he is Ben's uncle and he would only appear occasionally. In season 2, he has 5 episodes that focus on him.note 
  • Companion Cube: Just like his nephew, he treats dung balls as if they were alive. "Phobia" shows him having romantic moments with his...
  • Henpecked Husband: He is this in the anime where he had a wife.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: In season 1, he was shown to be a calm, level-headed parental figure to Ben. In season 2, he's become an impatient loudmouth and considers his dung ball a top priority above pretty much anything else. Though he still cares for Ben.

    Shelby the Snail 

Voiced by: Samuel Vincent (EN, CGI series season 1); Krzysztof Szczepaniak (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Michał Podsiadło (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub)

A snail and friend of Maya and Willy. He has a habit of complaining.
  • Dub Name Change: He's called Rufus in the German dub and Szymek/Muszlak in Polish dubs.

    Max the Earthworm 

Voiced by: Kira Tozer (EN CGI series season 1); Alina Bukowska (Poland, anime); Sergiusz Żymełka (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Agnieszka Mrozińska (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub)

A friend of Maya and Willy. He loves to dig tunnels and is very polite.
  • Ascended Extra: Would appear every now and then in the anime, but not much. In the CGI series he appears much more often.
  • Black Bead Eyes: Only in the anime.
  • Canon Foreigner: Like Willy and Flip, he wasn't in the book and his first appearance was in the anime. He was kept around in merchandise since then and is even a recurring character in the CGI series.
  • Precocious Crush: On Beatrice in season 2 of the CGI series.
  • She's a Man in Japan: In the Polish dub of the anime Max is female, renamed Magda.
  • You Don't Look Like You: He gained a slight redesign for the CGI series. No longer having beady eyes and given a rounder head.

    Beatrice the Butterfly 

Voiced by: Krystyna Kozanecka (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Anna Wodzyńska (Poland, CGI series' TV dub)

A butterfly who has an interest in dancing and is one of Maya's friends. She is Max's love interest in Season 2.

    Barry the Fly 

Voiced by: Kira Tozer (EN CGI series season 1); Piotr Bajtlik (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Łukasz Lewandowski (Poland, CGI series' TV dub)

    Theo 

Voiced by: Maciej Kosmala (Poland, CGI series' TV dub)

A young bee introduced in the second season of the CGI series. He couldn't fly at first due to a disabled wing, but Maya and Willy helped him by asking Kurt to build an artificial wing for him.
  • Bamboo Technology: His artificial wing. It's made of twigs and has a motor that runs on sunflower oil.
  • Hiding the Handicap: At first. He didn't want anyone to know he couldn't fly, so he just refused to.
  • Loner-Turned-Friend: Dismissive to Maya's friendship at first due to thinking she'd make fun of his disability, but after she rescues him and helps him with his flying problem, he starts to consider her a friend.

    Lara the Ladybug 

Voiced by: Diana Kaarina (EN, CGI series season 1); Hali Beth Muller (EN, CGI series season 2); Brygida Turowska (Poland, CGI series' TV dub)
  • Adaptational Nice Guy: While she only has a brief appearance, she's much nicer in the movie compared to her counterpart in the CGI series.
  • Attention Whore: Lara very much enjoys being looked at and gets upset when no one is paying attention to her.
  • Bratty Half-Pint: She's Maya's age, and is quite the brat.
  • Depending on the Writer: Her friendship with Maya and the others will switch from her genuinely caring about them, or her just wanting to be the centre of attention, even if it means betraying or lying to her friends.
  • Disposable Love Interest: Despite her and Willy hitting it off at the end of the 1st movie, she is not seen or mentioned in "The Honey Games" and Willy even becomes infatuated with Violet instead.
  • False Friend: Towards Willy in "Jealousy". She claims to be his friend solely so he'll steal royal jelly for her. When he refuses, she snaps at him.
  • The Friend Nobody Likes: The others tolerate her at best. In one episode, where Willy is blamed for something she did, she even asks why they put up with her after she's caught.
    Lara: How can you stand me?
    Willy: Sometimes we wonder!
  • It's All About Me: She prefers to be the centre of attention.
  • Hollywood Tone-Deaf: She believes herself to be a good singer. Nothing could be further from the truth.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: While she can be selfish, she does appreciate her friends.
  • Lack of Empathy: She steals two berries from the ants and doesn't show guilt after Willy is blamed for it.
  • Manipulative Bastard: In "Jealousy", she tricks Willy into believing she's his friend by lavishing him so he would steal royal jelly for her. Luckily, Maya isn't fooled.
  • Satellite Love Interest: Oddly becomes this in the movie. She only appears twice and both times she hardly says a word and just flirts with Willy completely out of nowhere. Despite the fact that in the CGI series, she and Willy don't get along, and Willy finds her annoying. Although the movie is an Alternate Continuity, there really wasn't an explanation of why a love interest was needed at all.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: While she has never been that good of a friend to begin with, she's at her absolute worst in "Jealousy." Not only does she intentionally cause Maya and Willy to have a falling out, but she is also perfectly fine with Willy stealing from the Queen just so she can have a good complexion.
  • What's He Got That I Ain't Got?!: Her page on this website says that she can't understand why Maya is so loved by everyone.

    Judge Beeswax 

Voiced by: Stanisław Zatłoka (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Paweł Szczesny (Poland, CGI series' TV and DVD dub)
  • Control Freak: Wants everything to be at his standards.
  • Demoted to Extra:
    • His only appearance in the movie was a very short scene during a story being told by Hank to warn young hornets about honeybees.
    • Happens again in "The Honey Games" where he can be briefly seen in the crowd of insects watching the games.
  • Dirty Coward: If anything tries to attack, the first thing he will do is hide or beg to be spared.
  • Fantastic Racism: He has absolutely no respect for other insects, viewing them as nothing but thieves and, in one episode, even called them tramps.
  • The Finicky One: Sums him up pretty good.
  • Neat Freak: He gives the cleaner a hard time if there is even a tiny speck anywhere around the hive and strongly believes in "A place for everything and everything in its place."
  • Obstructive Bureaucrat: He is constantly forcing new rules and regulations on the hive, which often make things harder for everyone.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: He has always been a bit of a Control Freak, but back in season 1, most of the decisions he made were because he honestly believed they were for the hive's benefit and survival, and in "Did I Say That?" he had no shame thanking and rewarding Willy when he believed he had saved his life. Starting in season 2, he does things simply because he knows he can, clearly gets enjoyment out of annoying the worker bees, and usually has to be forced to say thank you because he's too prideful to admit when someone has helped him.
  • Ungrateful Bastard: He is banished from the hive in one episode, and even though Maya offers to help him, he refuses to say thank you, telling her that he doesn't need to be grateful because she's obligated to help him.

    The Colonel/Paul the Ant Colonel and The Ant Army (Die Ameisenarmee) 

Voiced by: Krzysztof Szczerbiński (Poland, CGI series' TV dub for Paul)

An army of ants lead by The Colonel (known as "Paul" in the CGI series) who are the protectors of the meadow and all bugs. In the anime and GBA games, they have an intense rivalry with an army of red ants.
  • Adapted Out: The youngest and smallest ant from the anime didn't reappear in the CGI incarnation. Instead, Arnie and Barney served as replacements over that character.
  • Adaptation Dye-Job: In the anime, The Ant Army was colored black, depicted with pink colored lips, and wore yellow army helmets. In the Studio 100 series, they are colored brown and wear green army helmets.
  • Adaptation Name Change: In the comics, The Colonel was renamed to "Paul". The name was kept for the Studio 100 series.
  • Adaptational Nice Guy: In the CGI incarnation, Paul and his army of ants while stern, are notably friendlier and open to dancing and having fun with others. In the the original book and anime, The Colonel/Paul and his army (except for the youngest ant) are no-nonsense, stern, and rarely involved in fun activities.
  • Ascended Extra: In the anime, they were recurring characters who appeared in multiple episodes mostly doing military related duties. In the CGI series, The Ant Army are given more prominent roles which extends to the film series.
  • Leitmotif:
    • In the anime, The Ant Army's theme consists of 70s era music that sounds vaguely like disco.
    • In the CGI series, their theme is more upbeat and characteristic.
  • Butt-Monkey: The small ant from the anime always ends up in trouble and barely gets attention from the others including The Colonel.
  • The Runt at the End: In the anime, there is an unnamed young member of the army who always ends up far behind and easily ends up in trouble.

    Arnie and Barney 

Voiced by: Robert Tondera (Artie, Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Janusz Wituch (Barney, Poland, CGI series' TV and DVD dub); Jerzy Kryszak (Artie, Poland, 2014 movie); Jarosław Boberek (Barney, Poland, 2014 movie); Jacek Wolszczak (Artie, Poland, 2018 movie); Jacek Bończyk (Barney, Poland, 2018 movie)

A duo of clumsy army ants sent to search for Maya and Willy. They're among the supporting characters of the first film, tritagonists of the second film, and recurring characters of the second season of Maya the Bee.
  • Ascended Extra: In The Honey Games, they're part of Maya's team and are given a larger role in the film compared to the 2014 movie.
  • Canon Foreigner: They first appeared in the 2014 film and become recurring characters in season 2 of the CGI series.
  • Dub Name Change:
    • In Germany, they're called Eddie and Freddi in the movie and Emil and Egon in the CGI series.
    • In France, they're Jean-Michel and Jean-Pierre.
  • The Ditz: They have a hard time understanding orders. In one episode, Maya needs them to find three young bees that went missing. Instead, they take her to the hive, thinking she had asked them to simply find any bee.
  • Expy: They act pretty similar to the black ant from the anime.
  • Fish Eyes: Barnie has these in the CGI series, it's the only way to tell him apart from Arnie.
  • Heterosexual Life-Partners: They're inseparable. In "Love Struck", they mention you can't have an Arnie without a Barnie.
  • The Klutz: From tripping over each other, to destroying the hornets camp. It's a miracle they're still alive, really.
  • Sudden Name Change: In "Flip Has Got The Blues" and "Rosita", Arnie and Barney are referred to as Billy-Joe and Jimmy-Joe.

    Zip, Zap and Zoe 

Voiced by: Krzysztof Strużycki (Zip, Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Bartosz Wesołowski (Zap, Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Kim Grygierzec (Zoe, Poland, CGI series' TV dub)
  • Ascended Extra: In season 1, they were just background characters whose names, voices, hair colour, etc. would change between different episodes. It wasn't until season 2 that they were given official names and had plots focusing on them.
  • Alliterative Family: All three have names starting with Z.
  • Aesop Amnesia: Any episode focusing on the triplets has them misbehaving, only to apologise in the end after their behaviour has caused a problem. But if they appear again, they're back to being a nuisance for Maya and Willy.
  • Bratty Half-Pint: They intentionally annoy and cause problems for others usually for their own amusement.
  • Odd Name Out: Zoe is the only one with a normal name. Her name also doesn't end with a P.
  • Signature Headgear: Zip has a propeller beanie.
  • Sudden Name Change: Frequently through season 1. Zip, for instance, was called Zig in "Runaway Bee".

    Edgar 

A male bee who once feared he was cursed with bad luck.

  • The Klutz: Most of his bad luck was caused by his own clumsiness.
  • Recurring Extra: He becomes one in season 2.
  • Remember the New Guy?: He only appeared once in the first series and, despite living in the same hive, was never seen or mentioned before his episode, yet Maya and Willy already know him and have apparently known him for a while.

Meadow Villains

    Thekla 

Voiced by: Alina Bukowska (Poland, anime); Barbara Zielińska (Poland, CGI series' TV dub); Anna Apostolakis (Poland, CGI series' DVD dub); Mirosława Nyckowska (Poland, 2018 movie)

A female spider who mostly serves as an antagonist in the earlier episodes of the anime and as one of the main antagonists in the CGI series.
  • Adaptation Dye-Job: She is brown in the anime, but purple in the CGI series.
  • *Crack!* "Oh, My Back!": In the first season of the CGI series, although this isn't a problem for her in the second series.
  • Crossdressing Voices: Voiced by a male in the South African Dub of the anime
  • Demoted to Extra: In both movies, she only has small scenes and is quickly dealt with by the heroes.
  • Jerkass: Curmudgeonly and stingy.
  • Dreadful Musician: Only in the anime where she constantly insists on playing her violin, much to everyone's annoyance.
  • Arch-Enemy: To Maya and Willy.
  • Grumpy Old Man: It's impossible to have a conversation with her without her yelling. She's only interested in catching a meal, and if no one is stuck in her web, she'd rather they leave.
  • Non-Standard Character Design: Compared to the other insects in the anime she has a more human face, mostly resembling a witch.
  • Predators Are Mean: Something she seems to be proud of. In "A Very Peculiar Mother" she is thrilled when Maya tells a story about a spider who is horrible and cruel.
  • Scatterbrained Senior: In season 2 of the CGI series, she now has a tendency to forget things, this includes forgetting to eat Maya even when she's trapped right in front of her.
  • You Don't Look Like You: She, like the queen, gained a redesign for the CGI series.

    Stinger, Deez and Doz 

Voiced by: Robert Tondera (Stinger, Poland, CGI series' TV dub)

Stinger, Deez and Doz are a trio of wasps who always try to cause trouble for Maya. Stinger is the main antagonist and Deez and Doz is one of the secondary antagonists of the CGI series.
  • Big Bad: Stinger is this for the show.
  • Fat and Skinny: Deez and Doz
  • Harmless Villain: Doz is a rather lame villain. He's pretty easy to trick and probably doesn't even fully understand that he's supposed to be a bad guy.
  • Ironic Name: Stinger is a male wasp and therefore has no sting.
  • Terrible Trio: They're evil wasps who are cause mayhem around everywhere.
  • Wicked Wasps: They're gangsters who regularly antagonize Maya and her friends and constantly try to steal fruit and honey for themselves.

Movie Characters

    Sting the Hornet 

A young hornet and the tritagonist of the first film.

    Drago the Dragonfly 

A blue dragonfly who lives in the meadow and a supporting character in the films.

    Bedford, Craig, and Spinder (Team Poppy) 

Voiced by: Cam Ralph (Bedford), Jimmy James Eaton (Craig); Jordan Hare (Spinder); Jarosław Boberek (Bedford, Poland); Magdalena Różczka (Spinder, Poland)

Bugs from Poppy Meadow who befriend Maya and help her compete in The Honey Games.
Vegetarian Carnivore: Spinder admits that she refuses to eat anything with a face.

Movie Villains

    Buzzlina Von Beena 

Voiced by: Agnieszka Kunikowska (Poland)

The royal advisor of the hive and the main antagonist of the first film.
  • Big Bad: Of the first film. She steals the royal jelly so she can take the Queen's place as ruler of the hive and blames the hornets for the royal jelly theft. She strongly dislikes Maya because she doesn't follow rules in the hive.
  • Frame-Up: She attempts to frame the hornets of being thieves and stealing the royal jelly as part of her plan to take over the hive.
  • Hypocrite: She tells Maya that a bee has to accept and embrace their place in the hive. But later, she steals the Queen's royal jelly so she herself can become Queen.

    Beegood 

Voiced by: Wojciech Paszkowski (Poland)

The games master for the Honey Games, and one of the main antagonists of the 2nd movie. He is Violet's father and the Empress' second-in-command.
  • Abusive Parents: The emotional type of abuser. He refuses to even speak to Violet when her team doesn't come in first during the games.
  • Big Bad: Of the second movie. He tries to steal all the hive's honey for the Empress, uses any excuse he can find to punish Maya, and orders Violet to cheat to ensure victory for Team Tropolis.
  • Ironic Name: He's not good and is perfectly okay with cheating if it means winning.
  • Second Place Is for Losers: He's not happy if Team Tropolis don't win. He even calls Violet "snail-footed" when her team comes in second.
  • Sore Loser: Unlike his daughter, who finally realises her treatment of Maya was unfair and is happy to agree that Team Poppy won, he remains miserable about having lost and being disgraced, and is seen sulking about this at the party.

Reformed Villains

    Hannah 

A female bee who is the new bee from the hive and originally dislikes Maya. She is Maya's friend and former arch-rival. She is also the former minor antagonist in first season episode "The Outsider", and one of the recurring characters in the second season.

  • Heel–Face Turn: When the hive was destroyed by the apple while she's rivalry with Maya, she apologised to Maya for being jealous of her and finally she becomes a friend of Maya.

    Crawley 

A male bee from the hive and the former secondary antagonist of the first film. He's one of the supporting characters in the sequel.

    Hank the Hornet 

The leader of hornets and a tertiary antagonist turned one of the supporting characters in the first film. He is Sting's father.

    Hornets 
A number of hornets and minor antagonists turned one of the supporting characters in the first film. They are also minor characters in the sequel film.

    Violet 

Voiced by: Linda Ngo; Katarzyna Łaska (Poland)

A female bee from Buzztropolis and the former leader of Team Tropolis. She and Maya start off as rivals, but they eventually become friends.
  • Alpha Bitch: She has her own group of followers but gives them very little respect.
  • Calling the Old Man Out: After she helps Maya's team win, Beegood attempts to accuse Maya of cheating, but Violet is quick to step in to disown her father and tell everyone the truth about Beegood making Team Tropolis cheat during the games.
  • Daddy's Girl: Formerly to Beegood.
  • False Friend: To Willy. She quickly notices that he is infatuated with her and uses this to her advantage by making him believe she's nice, while she, unknown to Willy, bullies Maya.
  • Heel–Face Turn: When Team Poppy saves her from Thekla, she realises how horrible she was and apologises to Maya. She also helps Team Poppy win the final race and stands up to Beegood to protect Maya.
  • Jerkass at Your Discretion: She's openly nasty to Maya and her friends only when Willy isn't around to notice.
  • Kids Are Cruel: She spends most of the movie framing Maya and had apparently been bulling Team Poppy long before Maya joins them.
  • Manipulative Bitch: Once she catches on that Willy is infatuated with her, she goes along with it and flirts with him solely so he'll trust her and not realise she is trying to get Maya disqualified from the games behind his back.
  • Meaningful Name: Violet like her hair, which probably means she was born with it that way.
  • Missing Mom: We find out Beegood is her father, but her mother is never mentioned.

    Chelsea and Sandra 

Voiced by: Anna Wodzyńska (Chelsea, Poland); Marta Dobecka (Sandra, Poland)

A female bees from Buzztropolis who is Violet's friends and former henchman. They are one of the tertiary antagonists-turned-minor protagonists of the sequel. They were one of Maya's friends and former arch-rivals, and also Beegood's former right-hand man.
  • The Bully: Formerly to Maya and other bugs from the meadow.
  • Heel–Face Turn: When Team Poppy saves them from Thekla, they redeemed themselves by become one of Maya's friends. They also helps Team Poppy win the final round of the games along with Violet as they abandoned of rivals.
  • Kids Are Cruel: Of the second film, they use to bully Maya and abuse other bugs from the meadow who became first place because they not real meadow bugs but although was later become one of Maya's friends in the end of the sequel.

    Spotty, Dotty, Lotty, and Brian (Team Tropolis) 

Voiced by: Anna Karczmarczyk (Spotty, Poland); Julia Kołakowska-Bytner (Dotty, Poland); Hanna Kinder-Kiss (Lotty, Poland); Krzysztof Szczerbiński (Brian, Poland)

A bugs from Buzztropolis who is Violet's friends and former henchman. They are one of the tertiary antagonists-turned-minor protagonists of the sequel. They were one of Maya's friends and former arch-rivals, and also Beegood's former right-hand man.
  • The Bully: Formerly to Maya and other bugs from the meadow.
  • Heel–Face Turn: When Team Poppy saves them from Thekla, they redeemed themselves by become one of Maya's friends. They also helps Team Poppy win the final round of the games along with Violet as they abandoned of rivals.
  • Kids Are Cruel: Of the second film, they use to bully Maya and abuse other bugs from the meadow who became first place because they not real meadow bugs but although was later become one of Maya's friends in the end of the sequel.

    The Empress 

Voiced by: Elżbieta Kijowska (Poland)

The ruler of Buzztropolis who was presumably divorces her sister in long time ago and tries to steal all the hive's summer honey when Team Tropolis win in the Honey Games. She is (former) one of the main antagonists of the second film. She also the Queen's sister and formerly one of Maya's arch-rivals.
  • Big Bad: Of the second movie, She is the one who steal all the hive's honey by conquer Poppy Meadow when Team Tropolis wins in the Honey Games and orders Beegood make Violet's team to win but she did not approve of Beegood tricks Violet to cheat in the games. She also formerly dislikes meadow bugs and her sister the Queen.
  • Heel–Face Turn: After Maya's team wins, who was helped by Violet's team and admits to cheating, she knows that Beegood's lies who told Violet to cheat to ensure victory for Team Tropolis, but Team Poppy rescued her. When she becomes the Queen's sister again by victory to Team Poppy instead of bring the ruby pollen, presumably punish and fires Beegood for exposed of his cheat way and lie to make Team Poppy lose. at the party she and the Queen as her sister dances together happily after she accidentally hits on the plate of pollens.

Anime Only Characters

    Alexander the Mouse 

Voiced by: Keiko Toda (JP); Henryk Talar (Poland); Arthur Holden (U.S. Saban Dub)
  • Adapted Out: He hasn't been seen in the franchise since the second season of the anime.
  • A Dog Named "Dog": Only in Japan, where his name is Mousey.
  • Animals Not to Scale: He's a harvest mouse that is the same size as Maya, a young honey bee. While mice are small, he's even smaller than Miss Cassandra, who is a full grown bee.
  • Bamboo Technology: If he builds something, it will be made of wood and plants. He and the insects were once able to build a ship.
  • Blind Without 'Em: Cannot see without his glasses.
  • Dub Name Change: Alexander is his name in any dub that followed the German version. His original name in the Japanese version is Maushī or Mousey.
  • Gentleman and a Scholar: He's usually well mannered and uses his knowledge to help others.
  • Motor Mouth: How Willy feels about him whenever he starts rambling on about his ancestors.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: In the episode "Brother Melvin", after he scolds his brother for his behaviour at a dinner party and tells him to go home. Luckily, he is able to apologise to Melvin before he leaves.
  • Nice Mice: He's a polite guy.
  • Sixth Ranger: Introduced in the second season of the anime and became part of the main group.
  • The Smart Guy: Alexander is intelligent.
  • Smart People Wear Glasses: He's a wise mouse who wears glasses.
  • Spotlight-Stealing Squad: A lot of season 2 episodes focus on him, and the episodes that don't usually have him solve the problem of the day.
  • Stock Animal Diet: He loves cheese. In real life mice aren't really all that fond of it and usually only have a little nibble if they're hungry enough.
  • Token Nonhuman: He's the only main character who is not an insect.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Cheese.
  • Vague Age: Whether he's about Maya's age or older isn't made clear. In the Japanese version he's voiced by a female, which is a common casting choice for young male characters, but he's also very intelligent and has traveled to many locations by himself.
  • You Don't Look Like You: Artwork of him◊ on merchandise released in Germany looked very different to how he looks in the anime.

    Puck (Puck Die Stubenfliege) 

Voiced by: Tadeusz Włudarski (Poland)

A glasses-wearing housefly.
  • Adapted Out: He, like Alexander, isn't present in the 2012 reboot and film.

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