It's the cartoon that took the world by storm last September. Created by Thomas Astruc, affectionately nicknamed Papapapillon, the Zagtoon produced show seemed to defy the laws of targeted demographics in a way that so many cartoons these days aim to do. While the show was created in France, it first aired in South Korea, and within days, it was being noticed by sources across the globe. It was as lucky as its protagonist; as soon as the internet picked up on it, Miraculous Ladybug became a phenomenon. People worked together to upload video of the aired episodes, translating it in order to put English subtitles on the video. The fans made the show accessible, and it began to grow.
A few months after the show initially aired in South Korea, the first episodes went up in its home country of France. By now, Miraculous Ladybug had found a firm foothold in the internet community, falling somewhere between anime and traditional cartoons that had a charming appeal to viewers of all ages. As it aired simultaneously in South Korea and France, the episode count racking up as quickly as the amount of viewers, dedicated fans worked feverishly to keep it accessible to everyone. It was then that the show got picked up by Nickelodeon in the US, and the dam broke.
With a show that was already so popular among American fans, being able to watch it on their own televisions was a blessing. And so, Miraculous: The Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir was born. The first episode checked in with nearly 1.5 million viewers. The show's demographic was wildly varied, from children tuning in to their usual weekend cartoon timeslot to adults who had been watching the show since its birth and internet uprising. One thing was for sure: Miraculous was a success. But why?
The story centers around a high school girl, Marinette Dupain-Chen, the daughter of two bakery owners. She is clumsy and shy, but she also stands up for what she believes in and for what is right. These traits make her perfect for her secret identity: France's most beloved hero, Ladybug.
Transformed by the power of her miraculous (her earrings) with a little help from her magical Kwami partner named Tikki, Ladybug takes to the streets of France to fight evil, armed with her yo-yo and her special power, "Lucky Charm." Ladybug has the ability to create any item that will help her out in a situation, but she will never know what her ability is going to create. It is up to her own smarts to solve the problem.
Of course, the show would not be complete without Ladybug's partner in crime, Chat Noir. The flirtatious cat superhero is the alter ego of Marinette's classmate Adrien Agreste, armed with with his metal staff and his miraculous ring (and subsequent Kwami partner, cheese loving Plagg). A foil to Ladybug, he has the power of "Cataclysm," the ability to destroy anything.
Together, these two superheroes fight against the evil Hawkmoth, who uses his powers to prey on the negative feelings of others. Using these negative feelings, he takes control of everyday people through his black butterflies called 'akumas' and gives them superpowers with the intent of both wreaking havoc and stealing Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculous. It is up to Ladybug and Chat Noir to defeat these villains in order to restore peace and purify the akumas.
Many love this show for its refreshing, cute style. Others like it for the "love square," in which Marinette loves Adrien and Chat Noir loves Ladybug, not knowing that they are the same people. Most of all, though, Miraculous Ladybug stands for something that everyone can relate to. Ladybug and Chat Noir aren't perfect, but they still work as hard as they can to protect their city and stand up for what they believe in. Everyone is susceptible to the darkness of negative feelings, but with a little help, they can overcome it. It's important to stay true to yourselves, and it's just as important to lean on your friends when you need it. When it comes to Miraculous Ladybug, it's all about the people the show has brought together. That is the true success.
