Maple Town, also known as , is a 1986 anime series created by Chifude Asakura and directed by Junichi Sato. The series, animated by Toei Animation, consists of 52 half-hour episodes, which aired on TV Asahi in Japan from January 19, 1986 to January 11, 1987.
The show focuses on the adventures of Patty Rabbit, Bobby Bear and their families, in a small anthropomorphic city named Maple Town. The series was followed by a 50-episode sequel, New Maple Town Stories: Palm Town Chapter, which retained only Patty Rabbit (and her voice actor, Maya Okamoto) from both series, although Maple Town's citizens made cameos from time to time. To date, this has not had an official English release.
The show was dubbed into English and syndicated in the United States in 1987. The program spawned collectable figurines with changeable clothing, as well as houses, furniture and vehicles. Tonka was the US licensee and manufacturer.
VHS compilations of Maple Town appeared in North America, Europe and Japan during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As of 2013, official DVDs of the show had surfaced in Japan, Spain and Hungary, with no release plans announced for other territories.
Plot summary
Patty Hoperabbit, along with her family, arrives in Maple Town, a small town inhabited by friendly animals. However, in a train heist by the sly – if usually "endearingly unsuccessful" – thief, Wilde Wolf stole the mailbag from her father and escaped into the forest. Soon she followed after him to retrieve the mailbag. In the midst of getting the bag back from the thief, she befriends a boy of her age named Bobby Kumanoff who has the bag. After they escape from Wilde Wolf and outwit him, they deliver the mailbag safely to her father. Soon, the Rabbit Family settles in Maple Town as mail carriers and the bitter, yet sweet friendship of Patty and Bobby begins to blossom. At the same time they try to foil Wilde Wolf's plans.
The series's setting is Canada around the 1920s, while the setting of Palm Town Chapter is based on the West Coast of the United States around the 1980s.
Characters
Maple Town
The Rabbit Family – Patty, Rachel, Mr. Rabbit, Mrs. Rabbit, Ann, Mick, Grandma and Grandpa Rabbit, Cousin Rabbit, Roger Rabbit The Bear Family – Bobby, Mr. Bear, Mrs. Bear, Kin, Kon and Kan, Bonny The Fox Family – Fanny, Mr. Fredrick Fox, Mrs. Florence Fox and Fred The Cat Family – Mr. Kevin Cat and Mrs. Kathy Cat The Dog Family – Danny, Dr. Dog, Mrs. Dog and Donny The Squirrel Family – Suzie, Squire Squirrel, Mrs. Squirrel and Skippy The Pig Family – Penny, Mr. Pig, Mrs. Pig and Polly The Raccoon Family – Ruthie, Mr. Raccoon, Mrs. Raccoon and Roxie The Mouse Family – Missie, Mr. Mouse, Mrs. Mouse and Marty The Beaver Family – Bucky, Mr. Beaver, Mrs. Beaver and Bitsy The Badger Family – Bert, Mr. Badger, Mrs. Badger and Betty The Mole Family – Maggie, Mr. Mole, Mrs. Mole and Mikey Kirby Cat Mayor Dandy Lion Miss Deer Andra Deer Sheriff Barney Bulldog Sheriff Barney Bulldog's Wife Oscar Otter Master Monkey Dr. Goat Wilde Wolf Gretel Wolf (aka Gretel) Mr. Turtle Kangaroos – Mr. Kangaroo, Mrs. Kangaroo, Coca Kangaroo Mr. Walius
Palm Town
The Pike Family - Mrs. Jane, Mr. George, Alice
The Cocker Family - Rolley, Peter, Mr. Parabura, Mrs. Dahlia
The Terrier Family - Joey, Mr. Philip, Mrs. Florence
The White Family - Shiela, Mr. Roger
The Sheep Family - Mr. Charlie, Mrs. Mary, Sisi, Remi
Marina Dietrich
Gunter and Big Bro
US version: VP of production: J. Edward Bergh Supervising director: Robert V. Barron Live action producer and director: Mary Jo Blue Music: Haim Saban and Shuki Levy Music coordination: Andrew Dimitroff Video editing: Larry Porsche Executive Producers: Haim Saban, Edd Gripes and Ray Volpe Distribution: Saban/The Maltese Companies
Voice cast
English
Karen Hartman - Mrs. Maple (live-action segments, credited as Janice Adams) Rebecca Forstadt – Patty Rabbit (as Reba West) Barbara Goodson – Bobby Bear Steve Kramer – Wilde Wolf Maureen O'Connell – Fanny Fox Barbara Goodson – Mikey Mole Ted Layman – Mayor Lion
Episodes
Production
The series was produced by Toei Animation, Asatsu and Asahi Broadcasting, Maple Town was created by Chifude Asakura and directed by Junichi Sato. It served as one of the first projects for Kunihiko Ikuhara, who later joined the crew of Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Ikuhara served as an assistant director and production manager for some of the show's later episodes.