MAYA THE BEE Buzzes onto Bluray!

Maya (voiced by Coco Jack Gillies) is a young bee with tons of curiosity. Simply to excited to remain inside the hive, she wants to know what is going on in the world! The Queen is amused by Maya but the Queen’s royal advisor Buzzlina (Jackie Weaver) is hardly amused. Maya soon meets Willy (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a shy bee who follows her into adventures.

Also in the meadow are the hornets and a young Sting (Noah Taylor) who is being told that bee’s are dangerous, just as Maya is told that the hornets are! Feeling into this is Buzzlina who believes a war with the hornets is what is required to keep the bees safe. When the Royal Jelly needed by the Queen is stolen, Maya wants to solve the mystery.

With the help of Flip the grasshopper, Kurt the dung beetle and more meadow friends, and the Army Ants - Maya might just have what it takes to save them all!

Gillies as the voice of Maya is so uplifting and fun with an endearing quality that just makes one smile. Smit-McPhee as Willy is so sweet and well done. Taylor as Sting is tough and believes what he has been told about bee’s, that’s until he meets Maya. Weaver as Buzzlina is hilarious and her voice completely fits the wonderful animation that this character gets.

The story is originally a German children’s novel by Waldemar Bonsels The Adventures of Maya the Bee. The book was published in 1912, that’s over one hundred years ago and since it’s original publishing has been translated into many languages. Maya the Bee is also a comic book series leading it to an animated motion picture.

SHOUT! Factory brings such awesome features films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music and comedy specials to fans. To see more of what SHOUT! Factory has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give MAYA THE BEE four tubs of popcorn out of five. This truly is such fun to watch with animation that is completely stellar to the story. I had such a good time watching the story unfold and watching characters mesh together as friends. The diversity the film brings will allow kids and their family to talk about it in such a way that the young ones will understand. This is such a totally relatable film with lessons of friendship, loyalty and other ways to resolve conflict.

MAYA THE BEE is a box office success in Europe, Australia and Asia and now on Bluray for everyone to enjoy in all it’s fantastic animation. Given the seal of approval by The Dove Foundation, MAYA THE BEE is truly meant for the family home library. I do so hope they make other films with Maya and the gang because I, for one, would be thrilled.

The Bluray contains A Interview With Maya, Dancing with Bee’s - An Exclusive Episode of the Maya the Bee television series, Blooper Reel, and Trailers. The DVD contains the bonus features of An Interview with Maya, “Dancing With Bees” as well as a Blooper Reel and Trailers.

In the end - friends come in all shapes and sizes in the meadow!