Miraculous Characters and Diversity in Foreign Television

In this post, I will be discussing the TV show called Miraculous: The Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir (2015-Present). This show takes place in Paris, France. The cartoon was originally made for a French audience but it is dubbed in multiple languages, including English. It is centered around two characters; one character is Marinette. She’s a superheroine named Ladybug. The other character is Adrien; he is the superhero named Cat Noir.

Neither hero knows who the other one is. Both heroes get their powers from little beings called kwamis. Each kwami is paired up with a certain jewel, or miraculous. Ladybug’s miraculous is a pair of earrings that have a strong resemblance to a ladybug and Cat Noir’s miraculous is a ring with a paw on it.

Now let’s dissect the characters.

Marinette

First, I want to talk about Marinette. Her full name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. As a civilian, she goes to high school. She is part Chinese, which she gets from her mother. Marinette is very clumsy and is unsure about her capabilities as a Hero. She also has a huge crush on a boy at school named Adrien. But, he does not know that. Her best friend is named Alya.

As Ladybug, she feels very confident and sure of herself. Ladybug’s power is good luck and capturing Akumas. After using her lucky charm, which gives her the ability to capture the Akuma, she transforms back into Marinette. She only has five minutes to use the lucky charm before this happens. The kwami that came with her earrings is named Tikki. Her phrase to get her powers is “Spots on!’ To get the kwami out of the miraculous, she says, “Spots off!” Tikki helps Marinette find enough courage to try to ask Adrien out. But, Marinette stumbles over her words when talking to him about her feelings for him. As for her relationship with the other superhero, Cat Noir, as Ladybug, she does not return his feelings for her. Whereas, when she’s Marinette, she slowly seems to develop some feelings for him as well, without knowing who is really under the mask.

Adrien

The next character is Adrien. His full name is Adrien Agreste. As a civilian, he goes to the same high school as Marinette. Adrien has always wanted to have friends and go to school like everyone else. But, his father would not let him. Not much is known about Adrien’s ancestry, but hopefully we will find out later on in season three or when season four comes out. He is the son of a famous fashion designer named Gabriel Agreste. As his son, Adrien lives in a massive mansion. Therefore, he is very wealthy. Little does he know that his father is actually wanting to use his ring miraculous and Marinette’s earrings to make a wish! Adrien’s best friend is named Nino. Adrien is also the superhero Cat Noir. As Cat Noir, Adrien has the freedom to roam the city of Paris without his father finding out about it. Cat Noir’s power is bad luck, which is the opposite of Ladybug’s. He can destroy the akumatized victim’s item where it is hidden, also known as his cataclysm, and Ladybug can then capture it and turn it back into a white butterfly, again. After using his cataclysm, like Ladybug, he has five minutes to use it before he transforms back. His kwami is named Plagg. Adrien’s phrase is “Claws out!” and “Claws in!” Plagg eats camembert cheese. Plagg cares for Adrien, but he also senses that he also likes Marinette as well. As both Adrien and Cat Noir, he has a crush on Ladybug.

Alya

Alya is Marinette’s best friend. Her full name is Alya Cesaire. She is also Ladybug’s biggest fan. But, she has no idea that the idolized superheroine is actually her best friend! Alya is also friends with Adrien and is Nino’s girlfriend. Alya and the rest of her family, all are named after jazz singers. But, not much else is known about her heritage. Alya is extremely loyal to her friends and family. She is so loyal to them that when her twin little sisters get akumatized, Ladybug comes to her and gives her the fox miraculous. This miraculous is a necklace. Her kwami is named Trix. Trix gives her the power of allusion. As a superheroine, Alya’s name is Rena Rouge. In order to make an allusion, Alya has to use a flute and think of the allusion. Then, once she has thought of it, she can create it.

Nino

The next character is Nino. His full name is Nino Lahiffe. His last name means “the descendant of the hero,” which suits him.Nino is Adrien’s best friend. He is also a friend of Marinette’s as well. He is also Alya’s boyfriend, as I said when describing Alya. Nino would do anything to protect her, even become a fellow miraculous owner! He becomes a miraculous owner when Alya is held captive by her older sister who has turned evil. Nino’s superhero name is Carapace. He is the holder of the turtle miraculous. His kwami’s name is Wayzz. Wayzz gives him the power of protection. Nino can protect his allies by using a shield that’s on his back that looks like a turtle shell.

Chloe

The last of the superheroes is Chloe. Her full name is Chloe Bourgeois. She idolizes Ladybug and has since the start of the series. She was Adrien’s first friend since he wasn’t allowed out of the house until high school. Her best friend is Sabrina Raincompix. Chloe treats her like a slave. Chloe has never liked Marinette for reasons that the series has not said, yet. Her father is the mayor of Paris and her mother is known as the “Queen of Fashion designs.” Her mother has been living in New York for her design promotions. In order to save both her akumatized mother and father, she had the bee miraculous. This miraculous gives her the power of subjection. This miraculous is a hair comb. She found this miraculous after Ladybug dropped it on the Eiffel Tower while facing her mother who was the villain, Style Queen. Chloe’s superheroine name is Queen Bee. Chloe’s kwami is named Pollen. She can subject or paralyze her enemies with venom, like what is inside of a bee’s sting, which fits her very ‘stinging’ personality.

Gabriel

The last character is Gabriel Agreste. He is Adrien’s father. He cares for his son but hasn’t been there for him since, after his wife, Emilie Agreste presumably disappeared. He appears to care more about finding or saving Emilie than bonding with his own son! He owns his own fashion company called Gabriel, named after himself. Gabriel is a very mysterious man. He hasn’t left his house since shortly after his wife disappeared. Although he wants his son to be happy, he only wants Adrien to do what he wants. His miraculous is in the shape of a butterfly. Gabriel’s supervillain name is Hawk Moth. His kwami is called Nooroo. Nooroo gives him the ability to give ordinary people superpowers! He uses this miraculous to create super villains instead of superheroes like it is intended to be used.

Stay tuned for another post coming in about another month!