Maple Town
Production
Production
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The series was produced by [Toei Animation](/wiki/Toei_Animation "Toei Animation"), Asatsu and Asahi Broadcasting, *Maple Town* was created by Chifude Asakura and directed by [Junichi Sato](/wiki/Junichi_Sato "Junichi Sato"). It served as one of the first projects for [Kunihiko Ikuhara](/wiki/Kunihiko_Ikuhara "Kunihiko Ikuhara"), who later joined the crew of *[Sailor Moon](/wiki/Sailor_Moon "Sailor Moon")* and *[Revolutionary Girl Utena](/wiki/Revolutionary_Girl_Utena "Revolutionary Girl Utena")*. Ikuhara served as an assistant director and production manager for some of the show's later episodes.

### United States

In October 1986, toy manufacturer [Tonka](/wiki/Tonka "Tonka") acquired the rights for US$2\.5–3 million and became its US licensee, launching a toy line and ad campaign early the following year. Tonka invested US$7 million on television ads for the toy line. An English\-dubbed version, airing in tandem with the toy promotion, starred actress Karen Hartman (credited as Janice Adams), known previously for her other children's TV role as Talkatoo Cockatoo on *[Zoobilee Zoo](/wiki/Zoobilee_Zoo "Zoobilee Zoo")*, as Mrs. Maple in its book\-ending live\-action segments. Mrs. Maple was the only human inhabitant of the title town in this version, and she offered each episode's moral lesson. The voice cast included [Reba West](/wiki/Rebecca_Forstadt "Rebecca Forstadt") as Patty Rabbit and [Steve Kramer](/wiki/Steve_Kramer_%28actor%29 "Steve Kramer (actor)") as Wilde Wolf.

The English version of *Maple Town* was produced by [Saban Entertainment](/wiki/Saban_Entertainment "Saban Entertainment") and The Maltese Companies, the latter of which also produced *[Spiral Zone](/wiki/Spiral_Zone "Spiral Zone"),* another syndicated series with Tonka, and the 1988 animated feature *[Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw](/wiki/Pound_Puppies_and_the_Legend_of_Big_Paw "Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw").*


Were there any controversy or criticism surrounding the production or airing of Maple Town in the US?