Image: Waldemar Bonsels / Zuiyo Enterprise, Nippon Animation
AMBot | 07/25/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The curious honeybee Maya is returning to a regular free-TV slot after nearly 15 years. Starting August 28, 2026, ZDFneo will air the classic anime series from Monday to Friday at 6:30 AM in double episodes in German. Afterwards, the episodes will be available for streaming in the ZDF media library. This ends an approximately 14-year hiatus of the original series on free-to-air German television—it was last seen on KiKA in summer 2012.
The broadcast coincides with a special anniversary: On September 9, 2026, the German premiere of the series will mark its 50th anniversary. The first episode originally aired on ZDF on September 6, 1976. To celebrate, ZDF and KiKA are planning an extensive special program. On Sunday, September 6, ZDF will air four episodes of the 3D-animated remake that started in 2013 from 6:00 AM, followed by the feature film "Maya the Bee – Her Greatest Adventures" at 6:50 AM. Later in the morning, "Löwenzahn" and the children's game show "1, 2 or 3" will focus on the topic of bees. From 9:25 AM, KiKA takes over with the two computer-animated films "Friendship is Thicker than Honey" and "The Secret Kingdom," as well as selected episodes of the original series. The anniversary will also be celebrated digitally: Starting September 1, KiKA will expand its offerings on kikaninchen.de, the Kikaninchen app, and the KiKA app with a dedicated theme world, puzzles, and interactive activities. Additionally, a new song has been created in collaboration with rapper Eko Fresh.
The 104-episode children's series aired on Japanese television from April 1975 to September 1983, produced by Studio Nippon Animation under the direction of Hiroshi Saitou. It is based on the novels of German author Waldemar Bonsels and was produced on behalf of ZDF and ORF. In addition to the classic anime version, a modernized CGI remake with 130 episodes across four seasons was produced between 2013 and 2017.
Internationally, the brand is currently gaining new momentum: The Parisian digital company Animaj and Studio 100 have announced a partnership to reposition "Maya the Bee" globally. Alongside traditional TV broadcasts, YouTube, short video clips, games, and music are set to introduce the franchise to a new generation. A announced cinematic spin-off titled "Arnie & Barney" is in preparation.
The broadcast coincides with a special anniversary: On September 9, 2026, the German premiere of the series will mark its 50th anniversary. The first episode originally aired on ZDF on September 6, 1976. To celebrate, ZDF and KiKA are planning an extensive special program. On Sunday, September 6, ZDF will air four episodes of the 3D-animated remake that started in 2013 from 6:00 AM, followed by the feature film "Maya the Bee – Her Greatest Adventures" at 6:50 AM. Later in the morning, "Löwenzahn" and the children's game show "1, 2 or 3" will focus on the topic of bees. From 9:25 AM, KiKA takes over with the two computer-animated films "Friendship is Thicker than Honey" and "The Secret Kingdom," as well as selected episodes of the original series. The anniversary will also be celebrated digitally: Starting September 1, KiKA will expand its offerings on kikaninchen.de, the Kikaninchen app, and the KiKA app with a dedicated theme world, puzzles, and interactive activities. Additionally, a new song has been created in collaboration with rapper Eko Fresh.
The 104-episode children's series aired on Japanese television from April 1975 to September 1983, produced by Studio Nippon Animation under the direction of Hiroshi Saitou. It is based on the novels of German author Waldemar Bonsels and was produced on behalf of ZDF and ORF. In addition to the classic anime version, a modernized CGI remake with 130 episodes across four seasons was produced between 2013 and 2017.
Internationally, the brand is currently gaining new momentum: The Parisian digital company Animaj and Studio 100 have announced a partnership to reposition "Maya the Bee" globally. Alongside traditional TV broadcasts, YouTube, short video clips, games, and music are set to introduce the franchise to a new generation. A announced cinematic spin-off titled "Arnie & Barney" is in preparation.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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