"Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir," has won the hearts of people of all ages across the world for a number of reasons. On the surface, the show is about the adventures of two superheroes, but over the course of the series, it becomes much more than that. Marinette, the show's protagonist transforms into the superhero Ladybug and protects Paris with her partner Cat Noir, who is secretly her classmate and crush Adrien. Besides capturing akumas, creatures sent by the villain Hawkmoth to corrupt everyday citizens, turning them into super villains, Marinette and Adrien must confront and resolve issues in their daily lives. So, while it is a superhero action show, it's also a show about friendship, a show about love, and a show about dealing with what life throws at you.
As Ladybug, Marinette is at her best confident, resourceful, and brave, a bit of a contrast from the clumsy, shy girl she is in her everyday life. Her partner, Cat Noir, undergoes a similar personality shift. As Adrien, he's kind and reserved, but as Cat Noir his goofy, charming, witty, and flirty personality shines through. Since they don't know the true identity of one another, Marinette is completely unaware that her crush is her partner Cat Noir, who is in love with Ladybug who is as oblivious to Cat Noir's feelings as Adrien is to Marinette's. It's a mess, I know, but the immense dramatic irony provides a lot of tension and comedy. The dynamic between Adrien and Marinette with each other and their alter egos is fun and entertaining to watch, to say the least.
Though "Miraculous" appeals to all ages, it's first and foremost a show geared towards kids. It's bright and colorful and, at least for an older audience member, somewhat predictable. However, there are several elements of the show that older audiences can appreciate. First, the animation is amazing, especially the creativity of the fight sequences. The show becomes even more impressive when you consider that it is the product of a truly international collaboration. Players from all over the world -- from Japan and Korea to the Middle East to Europe and to the United States--all had a hand in the production and release of "Miraculous." This diversity is reflected in the cast of characters within the show. For example, Marinette's father is French, but her mother is Chinese. Her best friend Alya is from Martinique, a French-speaking Caribbean island. Nino, Adrien's best friend, is from Réunion (an island in the Indian Ocean).
However, adults and teens enjoy even the parts of the show aimed at a younger audience. Like many cartoons, the episodes of "Miraculous" feature life lessons that the writers want to get across to their younger audience. Some episodes focus on warning the viewer about the repercussions of jealousy and lying or not listening to what others have to say, which even adults and teens need to be reminded of sometimes. Others address more specific situations. In the episode "Kung Food," Marinette struggles with the language barrier between her and her uncle, a famous chef from China. That issue is one that's common in today's world of multicultural households, and "Miraculous" addresses it well.
Needless to say, I highly recommend this show to anyone who's looking for something fun to watch in a media landscape saturated with brooding, tragic heroes and angst. Whether you're five or fifty, "Miraculous" has something you're bound to fall in love with, be it the incredible animation or the awesome characters. For those of you who have watched the show, you can rejoice: it was recently announced that season two is in production and more amazing episodes are on the way.
