Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is a successful, animated superhero series that gained popularity worldwide. Kids and a surprising number of adults have flocked to this series since it debuted ten years ago, and the fandom has remained strong since. Miraculous’s inspiring tale of heroism in the face of adversity is a universal message that rings true with so many.

Ladybug, herself, also serves as an inspiration for many young girls who rarely see themselves in leading heroic roles. Miraculous has had a long history, but there is still plenty that fans may not know about. Although they may have kept up with the story’s many twists and turns, several things about the creation and inspiration for the animated series are still mysteries for some viewers.

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10

Felix Was Originally Meant to be The OG Cat Noir

Felix’s Character Was Created Before Adrien

When Miraculous was first becoming a series, Adrien Agreste did not exist. In his place was a haughty, spoiled rich kid who would later become Felix Graham de Vanily. This original character (also named Felix) would have an antithetical personality to Marinette’s, and learn to be better through becoming the hero Cat Noir.

However, the creators eventually scrapped Felix as Cat Noir. This could be because they worried about making him more likable, but many of them simply liked Adrien’s story more. Thankfully, Felix didn’t go completely by the wayside and becomes an integral character in Season 4. Adrien and Felix are also connected because of their shared experiences as long-lived Sentimonsters created by their parents.

9

Miraculous Was Supposed To Be a 2D Animated Series

Miraculous Was Changed to 3D to Appeal To A Wider Audience

The initial concept for Miraculous Ladybug was for a 2D series that more closely resembled Japanese Animation. It was also supposed to be produced by Toei Animation. The creators ultimately decided to cater more to Western audiences and settled with 3D animation instead.

However, all is not lost for the 2D animation. The original character designs and art style for the original series are used for the in-universe Ladybug and Cat Noir movie that the characters see in the theaters. Curious fans who want to check out the 2D animation in action can watch the “Animaestro” episode from the series’ third season that features the creator, Thomas Astruc, as the akumatized victim.

8

The Agreste Name Also Takes Reference From Butterflies

“Agreste” Means “Country” In French

Butterflies are a common motif in Miraculous regarding the Agreste family. This is because of Gabriel Agreste being the holder of the butterfly Miraculous and calling himself Hawk Moth, Scarlet Moth, and Monarch. However, the Agrestes have another connection to butterflies as well.

The Grayling butterfly (also known as “Agreste” in French) is an insect native to rural parts of Europe. They are called “Agreste” by the French people because “Agreste” means “country”. Non-French speakers may have missed this butterfly connection. Therefore, it is interesting to know that there was a specific intention for the Agreste name beyond the type of Miraculous Gabriel holds.

7

Alya’s TARDIS Door Is A Nod To Fans Of Another Long-Running Series

Alya’s Room Is Bigger On The Inside

When fans finally get a look inside Alya’s room at her parents’ flat, sharp-eyed viewers will notice that the door from her side of the room bears a striking resemblance to another, vastly popular series. The dark blue door with lettering on it is actually a reference to the famous TARDIS from the long-running phenomenon, Dr. Who.

The TARDIS is a spaceship that is canonically bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, and it more commonly looks like a blue telephone box. There could be many reasons Alya has this in her room. However, it’s most likely a callback to Alya’s love of science fiction, as well as the creators’ love for the Dr. Who franchise. Fans who are unaware of Dr. Who may have missed this detail when watching scenes that take place in Aly’s bedroom.

6

Noam Kaniel Composed Music For Miraculous & Another International Series

Kaniel Has A Knack For Upbeat Melodies

The music in Miraculous is one of the series’ most iconic aspects. This is because of the composer Noam Kaniel’s work. His compositions make Miraculous what it is today with its upbeat tunes. However, Miraculous isn’t the first international series Kaniel has composed for.

Kaniel is also responsible for the Power Rangers: Samurai theme. Kaniel was the composer for Glitter Force to further illustrate his international composing credentials. Miraculous takes a lot of inspiration from Japanese media, so it’s only fitting that it would feature music from a series that also took from Japanese influences. Kaniel’s frenetic, upbeat themes are prevalently found in all three series.

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5

Miraculous Was Supposed To Be a Much Darker Anime Series

Miraculous’s Original Demographic Was Meant to be Teens

When Thomas Astruc conceived the story of Ladybug, the idea was to create a comic for teenagers. Rather than the lighthearted, positive cartoon audiences see today, Astruc’s initial vision was much darker. The comic was even set to feature the Ladybug Miraculous as a necklace that Marinette would find on her father after discovering his murder.

It was only after Astruc met with producer Jeremy Zag, that the entire story was retooled to a more child-friendly angle. This proved to be the right move, as people of all ages around the world are still enjoying the series after ten years on air. With that said, a darker re-imagining of the series would make for an interesting spin-off down the line.

4

Ladybug & Cat Noir’s Voice Actors Are Famous For Their Iconic Anime Roles

Cristina Valenzuela & Bryce Papenbrook Play A Variety of Characters

One of the best things older fans has discovered about Miraculous is that many of the English Dub voice actors have had prominent anime roles as well. The star, Marinette DuPain-Cheng, is voiced by Cristina Valenzuela (Cristina Vee). Valenzuela has been the voice for countless anime characters, including Killua Zoldyck in Hunter x Hunter and Rei Hino (Sailor Mars) in the most recent redubbing of Sailor Moon. Valenzuela can also be heard in series like Helluva Boss, where she voices Verosika Mayday.

Similarly, Adrien Agreste is voiced by long-time voice actor, Bryce Papenbrook. Papenbrook also has an extensive anime filmography and lends his voice to characters like Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer and Kirito in Sword Art Online. However, his biggest claim to fame is as the voice of Eren Yeager in the English Dub of Attack on Titan. Both Valenzuela and Papenbrook play such vastly different characters than their Miraculous counterparts that some fans may be shocked to learn about the other characters they portray.

3

Émilie Agreste Was Based On A Famous Voice Actor

Émilie Agreste Bears A Striking Resemblance To Tara Strong

One of the key characters in Miraculous is Adrien’s deceased mother, Émilie. Images of her can be found throughout the Agreste household — particularly in Adrien’s room. One specific image that is featured on Adrien’s computer actually draws inspiration from another prolific voice actor, Tara Strong.

Strong’s extensive career is inspiring to a lot of creators, and the makers of Miraculous are no different. In homage to her, they designed Émilie to look much like Strong. Strong was unaware of the connection initially, but took the news in stride. For any viewers wondering why Émilie looked so familiar, it is most likely because she was modeled after a real person.

2

Ladybug Was Inspired By A Woman Astruc Met

Ladybug Was Born From An Artist’s T-Shirt

When Thomas Astruc was first creating Ladybug, he was working on the animated series W.I.T.C.H. During that production, he met another artist who wore a ladybug t-shirt. The image of a ladybug-like superhero was so powerful in Astruc’s mind that he had to create a comic about her.

The story was later picked up for a television series, meaning that hardly anyone would know that one woman’s style choice inspired one of the most well-loved superheroes. Ladybug also takes inspiration from many other comic series, but the woman with the ladybug t-shirt is the main inspiration. Marinette even dons the same hairstyle as the woman on whom she is based.

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“Kwami” Comes From Quantic Universe Kami

Kwamis Are Small Gods Who Keep The World In Balance

The Kwamis are integral parts of Miraculous. They are what give the heroes their powers and their centuries-long lives have provided them with a lot of insight into wielding their specific powers. The Kwamis are almost like miniature gods, which is what they are truly named after. The Kwamis’ official, long-form name is Quantic Universe Kamis.

Kami is the Japanese word for “god” and “Quantic Universe” comes from both the rational and irrational nature of their magic. All the Kwamis, especially the ladybug and cat Kwamis, balance each other out. That is why the cat and ladybug Miraculouses are so powerful together. They are two sides of the same coin. All the Kwamis are called small gods of the Quantic universe because they are also opposing parts of the same dynamic.