Character Relationship Map: Thumbelina

Characters

• Thumbelina (voice) (played by Kazuko Sugiyama) — protagonist

  Thumbelina is a girl no bigger than a thumb, born from a tulip and raised by a childless lady. She meets the Prince of Tulips, who falls in love with her and renames her Maya, but is later kidnapped b...

• Bunbu (voice) (played by Mariko Miyagi) — supporting

  Bunbu is Thumbelina's best friend, identified in the plot as the beetle who plays with her. After Thumbelina is kidnapped by frogs, the young frog takes pity on her and lets her go away with Bunbu. Bu...

• Mole (voice) (played by Kosei Tomita) — supporting

  Mole is a rich underground resident whom Thumbelina encounters after taking shelter in Chumi's lair. He becomes interested in her and asks for her hand in marriage. His proposal is one of the hardship...

• Prince (voice) (played by Noriko Ohara) — supporting

  The Prince is the Prince of Tulips, whom Thumbelina meets while playing with her beetle friend. He falls in love with her and renames her Maya. After Thumbelina faces hardships and is separated from h...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Thumbelina (voice) → Prince (voice) (Romantic Beloved And Intended Spouse) — Their brief first meeting gives Thumbelina a destination to hope for, and their reunion fulfills her search for the Prince.

  The Prince is captivated by Thumbelina and invites her to his tulip kingdom. After she finds him again, they joyfully promise to marry.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Bunbu (voice) → Prince (voice) (Narrative Connection Through Thumbelina) — Their shared connection is Thumbelina; Bunbu is present at the reunion that concludes her search.

  Bunbu is present when Thumbelina reunites with the Prince in the tulip kingdom.

• Thumbelina (voice) → Mole (voice) (Social Kind Host And Unreciprocated Suitor) — Mole offers Thumbelina shelter during winter and becomes a suitor, but ultimately releases her to pursue the Prince she loves.

  Mole takes Thumbelina in when she finds shelter underground. Though she hesitates to leave because he has treated her kindly, he realizes she loves so...

• Thumbelina (voice) → Bunbu (voice) (Social Close Friend And Companion) — Bunbu supports Thumbelina through her escape and journey, then remains connected to her when she asks him to tell her mother where she is.

  Bunbu becomes Thumbelina's friend, carries her to see the flowers, and helps her escape after the frogs take her away. He travels with her until he ca...

Story Analysis

A tiny girl endures separation and hardship while seeking the tulip kingdom and the Prince she loves.

Plot Progression

1. A Tulip-Born Childhood — A lonely elderly woman plants a fairy's seed, and Thumbelina is found inside the resulting tulip. Thumbelina grows up happily, befriends Bunbu, and meets the Prince, who invites her to his kingdom.
2. Taken from the Garden — Frogs carry Thumbelina away for their lonely son. She escapes with Bunbu, but loses the safety of her home and becomes separated from her mother and garden.
3. Winter's Underground Refuge — As winter advances, Bunbu becomes too cold and stiff to continue, leaving Thumbelina to go on alone. She finds shelter with Mole and nurses a frozen swallow back to life.
4. The Journey Home — When spring arrives, the revived swallow offers to carry Thumbelina away. Mole lets her go, and she reaches the tulip kingdom, reunites with the Prince, and learns that her mother will know she is saf...