A Miraculous Obsession

In the world of superheroes and animation, ZAG’s Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir stands apart. e modern-day story of Marinette and Adrien, their alter egos Ladybug and Cat Noir, combined with stunning animation and an engaging and compelling storyline, has catapulted the brand to the highest ranks around the globe. Miraculous Ladybug is the only transforming, classic-style, super-hero girl on TV, in animation, and in merchandising in the western markets. e fourth season currently airs on Disney, a h season is in production and a US$100M+ animated action musical feature is slated for later this year. e only girls’ animated content available on Disney Channel, Disney NOW, Disney+, Net ix and YouTube, Miraculous attracts over 21.8 million subscribers across its nine o cial YouTube channels and is currently available in eight languages. With a total 27.7 billion views, fans have collectively viewed more than 1.9 billion hours of content. e series resonates with a broad audience, and TV ratings clearly indicate that both girls and boys watch the show (55% to 45% on average). Digital data from YouTube, Tumblr, Net ix and social media from Twitter to Instagram all indicate that the brand indexes high in the pop culture space with teens and young adults. But the numbers are just a chapter in the story.

Relatable Characters & Storyline

e diverse characters and depth of the series’ plots have resonated with fans around the globe. e heroes are normal people. ey have fears, feelings and challenges with family, friendships, and love. eir powers help them not only to ght supervillains, but most importantly, to grow. Marinette is a normal teenager experiencing a typical daily life. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer, is a bit awkward, and has a crush on a classmate. But she has a secret -- she lives a double life as the crime- ghting superhero “Ladybug.” Ladybug is a relatable heroine who sets up a positive, strong, and rocking persona with the ability to change the world she is living in. She represents the awkward teen, turned superhero in us all. Adrien, who has been sheltered by his controlling father his whole life, nds himself becoming more courageous in his alter ego Cat Noir.

At its core, Miraculous is a coming-of-age series about awkward kids learning about loving themselves and nding their true powers. Ladybug and Cat Noir are faced with discovering their own powers even if it scares them, and even when it is hard to do. Core values are family, friendship, courage, love, and girl empowerment. Relationship dynamics, secret identities, intriguing villains, and a diverse cast of characters keep the audience guessing and anxiously wanting more. Featuring a blend of genres from action, to superhero, to comedy, and romance, engaging story and breathtaking animation that draws in the audience and keeps them coming back for more, ZAG has cemented the series as one of IMDB’s Top 10 Best Animated Shows in the last 20 years.

Miraculous Toy Line from Playmates and ZAG Lab Mirrors Series

When it comes to the dolls and gures, Playmates Toys and ZAG Lab have adapted ZAG’s CGI animation into the line’s entire look - from fashions and accessories to the character’s unique and magical Kwamis (small, divine (and very cute) beings that each give a unique power to the wearer of their Miraculous). Starting with the actual animation les, the two companies worked closely together to translate the beauty of the CGI style into the line. e core of the line are the Miraculous Heroez Fashion dolls, which include all the main characters: Ladybug, Cat Noir, Rena Rouge, Queen Bee, and their magical Kwami. As new episodes in Season 4 introduce new characters, the doll line will, in turn, expand. is year, fans will see new characters like Vesperia and Bunnyx, and Lady Dragon from the Shanghai TV Movie special now on Disney+. Just as magic and transformation are important to the storyline, Playmates Toys and ZAG Lab incorporates these elements into its toys. For example, the Fashion Flip segment with fashion sequins that transform the out t with the ip of a nger will be at mass retail in 2022; the company expands the line into vehicle play with Ladybug Lucky Charm transforming scooter; press the dot on Ladybug’s oversized Yo-yo to magically transform it to a Scooter! Miraculous Ladybug was anime-inspired, so naturally, there is a big following with ZAG’s Chibi shorts found on YouTube. With the rise in popularity of this new stylized look, Playmates will launch a Chibi Plush line in Fall of 2022, with some exciting news to follow in 2023. In addition to the toy line, ZAG has also signed multiple new licensing partners—over 60 in the U.S. alone--with products rolling out throughout the year providing countless options for fans to engage with the brand. In the meantime, ZAG continues to seed the Miraculous fan-base. In late 2021, the studio launched Miraculous on TikTok to expand the brand’s presence on social media. e new channel, which has exceeded over 15 billion views since launch, unveils never-before-seen footage.