Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie

Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie, also titled Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie in some territories, is a 2023 French animated musical romantic superhero film directed and co-written by Jeremy Zag. It is an adaptation of the animated television series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, and follows two Parisian teenagers, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste, who transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir, respectively, to protect the city from supervillains led by Hawk Moth.
The film was announced in 2018, but production began in 2019, with confirmation that the plot will explore the origins of the franchise. Jeremy Zag was confirmed as director and co-writer with Bettina Lopez Mendoza. Zag also serves as a producer through ZAG Studios with Mediawan, both under The Awakening Production banner, with SND, the latter also serving as distributor. The film was animated by Mediawan's ON Animation Studios in Montreal, Canada. It is the second theatrical film based on a TF1 TFOU animated series after the 2009 film Totally Spies! The Movie. On a budget of €80 million, it is currently the second most expensive French film ever made.
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie premiered at the Grand Rex on 11 June 2023, and was released in France on 5 July 2023, by SND. Internationally, it was released theatrically from the same date onwards in select regions, and was released on 28 July 2023 on Netflix in others. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the animation and action sequences, but criticized the simplistic screenplay and story.
Plot
Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a socially anxious teenager, goes to school trying to avoid being noticed. In spite of sparking a friendship with another student, Alya Césaire, Marinette finds herself desperately attempting to avoid the wrath of rich girl Chloé Bourgeois. While attempting to escape, Marinette runs into model Adrien Agreste and develops a crush on him. Adrien has become emotionally distant from others due to his mother Emilie's passing. Similarly wracked by her death, Adrien's father, Gabriel, uses the Butterfly Miraculous, a magical jewel, to turn into Hawk Moth, with the goal of finding the Miraculous he needs to make a wish and bring his wife Emilie back to life.
Hawk Moth's appearance is sensed by Wang Fu, guardian of the Miracle Box, who chooses to release the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous, only for them to run away. He is saved from an incoming bus by Marinette, still running away from Chloé, while he realizes that she deserves the Miraculous. Marinette ducks into a corner shop in an alley and is found by Tikki, the Kwami of Creation, while her polar opposite, Plagg, the Kwami of Destruction, makes his way to Adrien.
The two become Ladybug and Cat Noir and eventually run into each other, working together to defeat the Gargoyle, an "akumatized" villain created by Hawk Moth from negative emotions. Following the fight, Wang Fu follows the two and stresses the importance of them sticking together.
Marinette initially refuses to continue being Ladybug, but Hawk Moth recruits more villains to wreak havoc. Gathering the courage to fight, Marinette transforms once again, and defeats them alongside Cat Noir.
Some time later, Marinette plans to confess her feelings to Adrien, while Adrien plans to confess to Ladybug. Being unaware of their true identities, neither confession goes well. Defeated, Hawk Moth akumatizes himself and lays waste to Paris, prompting Ladybug and Cat Noir to go into action. The two are overwhelmed, with Ladybug losing her earrings and Cat Noir's mask damaged. Marinette is able to briefly power through to save Cat Noir from Hawk Moth. Discovering that Adrien is Cat Noir, a horrified Hawk Moth renounces his Miraculous powers. Seeing him remorseful for his actions, Adrien forgives his father, while Marinette reclaims her earrings and returns the Butterfly Miraculous to Wang Fu before repairing the damage done to Paris with her powers. Gabriel is arrested, while Marinette returns to her family.
A few months later, on the day of the Winter Ball, Marinette arrives in a beautiful dress, much to the crowd's pleasure. She finds Adrien, revealing that she knows his identity having seen his reconciliation during the fight, and reveals her identity as well, and the two embrace with a kiss.
Later, Nathalie Sancoeur, the Agrestes' manager, goes to the basement underneath their house, where the body of Emilie, wearing the Peacock Miraculous, is held.
Voice cast
Original cast
Anouck Hautbois as Marinette Dupain-Cheng / Ladybug
Lou provides Marinette's singing voice.
Benjamin Bollen as Adrien Agreste / Chat Noir
Elliott provides Adrien's singing voice.
Antoine Tomé as Gabriel Agreste / Papillon
Marie Nonnenmacher as Tikki, Sabrina Raincomprix, Juleka Couffaine, and Alix Kubdel.
Cerise Calixte provides Tikki's singing voice.
Thierry Kazazian as Plagg, and the Monster.
Fanny Bloc as Alya Césaire
Alexandre Nguyen as Nino Lahiffe, and Lê Chiến Kim.
Marie Chevalot as Chloé Bourgeois, and Nathalie Sancoeur.
Martial Le Minoux as Tom Dupain, Max Kanté, and Nooroo.
Gilbert Lévy as Master Wang Fu, and Denis Damoclès
Jessie Lambotte as Sabine Cheng
Flora Kaprielian as the Magician
Franck Tordjman as Nathaniel Kurtzberg, and Ivan Bruel.
Jeanne Chartier as Émilie Agreste
English cast
Cristina Vee as Marinette Dupain-Cheng / Ladybug
Lou reprises Marinette's singing voice in the English dub, replacing Vee, who does her own singing voice in the series.
Bryce Papenbrook as Adrien Agreste / Cat Noir
Drew Ryan Scott provides Adrien's singing voice, replacing Papenbrook, who does his own singing voice in the series.
Keith Silverstein as Gabriel Agreste / Hawk Moth
Mela Lee as Tikki
Max Mittelman as Plagg and Ivan Bruel
Sabrina Weisz as Nathalie Sancoeur and Nadja Chamack
Carrie Keranen as Alya Césaire
Zeno Robinson as Nino Lahiffe and Max Kanté
Selah Victor as Chloé Bourgeois
Cassandra Lee Morris as Sabrina Raincomprix
Christopher Corey Smith as Tom Dupain
Anne Yatco as Sabine Cheng
Paul St. Peter as Wang Fu
Kira Buckland as Alix Kubdel
Jessica Gee as Mylène Haprèle
Grant George as Lê Chiến Kim
Shelby Young as the Magician
Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Emilie Agreste
Ezra Weisz as Vincent and Simon Grimault
Reba Buhr as Juleka Couffaine and Rose Lavillant (uncredited)
Andrew Russell as Luka Couffaine (uncredited)
Michael Sinterniklaas as Nathaniel Kurtzberg (uncredited)
Lauren Amante as Nooroo. Amante replaces Benjamin Diskin, who voices Nooroo in the series.
Production
Development
The film was first announced by Jeremy Zag during the Miraculous panel at the ComiKon İstanbul on 29 September 2018. The film was originally set to be released in 2021. On 5 December 2018, Zag confirmed that its plot will be a mix between an origin story and the television series storyline. Finishing the fourth and fifth seasons of the series before the movie was a priority for the studio. The following day, during a panel at Comic Con Experience 2018, Zag said that the film will be a musical with feature music composed by himself.
On 16 May 2019, during Cannes Film Festival, it was announced that the movie would be titled Ladybug & Cat Noir Awakening and that production was underway. On October 5, 2019, a short animated tease featuring Ladybug was put up on Zag's Instagram. On 12 February 2020, it was announced that Fantawild was one of the studios helping create and animate the film. In March 2022, the editing of the movie was completed.
In April 2022, it was announced that the movie was made with a budget of €80 million, making it the second most expensive French film ever made behind the 2017 film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Animation
Animation is provided by Mediawan's subsidiary ON Animation Studios in Montreal, Canada. Additional animation, lighting and compositing was provided by Dwarf Studio in France.
Music
During the 2018 Comic Con Experience, Jeremy Zag announced that the film was a musical and featured music composed by himself. Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey joined the film as executive producer to help develop the musical aspect.
The film's soundtrack was released on 30 June 2023 by Muzeek One under the TF1 Musique label. "Plus forts ensemble" by Lou and Elliott was released as the album's lead single on 9 June 2023. The music video was released on 21 June 2023. A second single, "Courage en moi" by Lou, was released on 21 July, followed by a music video on 23 July. A separate film score album was released on 5 July 2023 by Muzeek One.
A showcase with Ladybug and Cat Noir's singing voices, Lou and Elliott, was organized at the Salon Gustave Eiffel on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower on 28 June 2023 to promote the soundtrack. Another showcase was organized at the 2023 Japan Expo on 14 July.
Foreign language versions of the album were released on 5 July 2023, alongside the score album. In the English version, Lou reprises Marinette's singing voice, with Drew Ryan Scott providing the singing voice for Cat Noir, Mela Lee for Tikki, and Keith Silverstein for Gabriel Agreste. The English version of "Si je croyais en moi", titled "If I Believed in Me", was released as a promotional single on 28 July 2023, to promote the film release on Netflix in English speaking territories.
Additionally, "Careless Whisper" by Wham! is featured in the movie, and plays multiple times throughout.
Marketing
The marketing campaign for Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie began on 5 December 2022, when a teaser trailer and a teaser poster were revealed by SND. The official trailer and the theatrical release poster were released on 4 April 2023 in France, with the trailer also being released in international territories were the film was set to be released theatrically. For the territories where the film was distributed by Netflix, the trailer was released on 17 May 2023 on the service's social media platforms.
On 12 June 2023, it was revealed that the film will feature cars from Volkswagen's ID. series following a deal between the German vehicle manufacturer and ZAG Inc. An animated Volkswagen spot featuring characters from the film will be playing in movie theaters, to coincide with the release. Products from The Swatch Group's children brand Flik Flak are also be featured in the film, with the brand also releasing a watch collection inspired by the film.
On 28 June 2023, a musical showcase was organized at the Salon Gustave Eiffel on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower to promote the film and its soundtrack, with Ladybug and Cat Noir's singing voices, Lou and Elliott, performing. Another showcase was organized at the 2023 Japan Expo on 14 July 2023. To coincide with the release, Playmates Toys released a doll collection inspired by the film.
On 4 July 2023, Anouck Hautbois reprised her role as the voice of Ladybug during an interview by Xavier de Moulins for the French television news program Le 19.45 on M6. Ladybug appeared thanks to an animated sequence created by the film's team.
Release
Theatrical
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie had its world premiere at the Grand Rex in Paris on 11 June 2023.
The film was previously set for a late 2021 release in France, according to Le Figaro. During the 2021 Annecy Festival, it was moved to the first half of 2022. The film was originally set to be released theatrically in France on 3 August 2022 by SND, but was later delayed to 5 July 2023.
Internationally, the film was released theatrically simultaneously in the Netherlands, and in French speaking regions of Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It began released in other territories from 6 July 2023 onwards, starting with Germany, and German and Dutch speaking regions of Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
A limited American release at three Stone Theatres locations began on 11 August 2023 and concluded on 17 August.
Home media
In international territories where the film was not released theatrically, it was released on Netflix on 28 July 2023.
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie will be released in France digitally, and on Blu-ray and DVD on 2 November 2023 by M6 Vidéo, with distribution handled by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment France.
Reception
Box office
, Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie has grossed $12.4 million in France, and $25.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $37.9 million.
On the date of the world premiere at the Grand Rex on 11 June 2023, the film was also shown simultaneously in select movie theaters in France, selling 68,582 tickets.
In France, Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie was released alongside On the Fringe, Insidious: The Red Door, Yo Mama, Master Gardener, and the re-release of Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. For its first day, the film debut with 318,144 tickets sold (including 85,721 tickets from previews), surpassing the French opening day of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (281,442 tickets sold on 5 April 2023). It also became the biggest opening day for a French animated film.
The film went on to debut with 660,421 tickets sold for its opening week, finishing first at the box office, surpassing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (643,714 tickets sold in its second week). It became the second best opening week of the year for an animated film in France, behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie (1,866,914 tickets sold in its opening week), and the sixth best opening week for a French animated film, behind Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (751,000 tickets sold in 2010).
The film sold 294,174 tickets in its second week, finishing fourth at the box office, behind Elemental (342,490 tickets sold in its fourth week). A 55.5% drop that was blamed on the possible mixed word of mouth from the audiences.
In France, as of 20 October 2023, Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie is :
The fourth highest-grossing animated film of 2023, behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Elemental, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
The fourth highest-grossing French film of 2023, behind Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, Alibi.com 2, and The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan.
The fifteenth highest-grossing film of 2023 in the country.
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 50% based on 14 reviews.
Following its release in France, AlloCiné reported that the critical reception for the movie was mixed.
Le Parisien'''s movie team gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Paris is still the heart of Miraculous. The whole is embellished with songs, like in a Disney. The story, simple but effective, is about fear, courage and love." O.D from Le Figaro wrote in his review, "this French style animated musical blockbuster, benefits from its clean drawing, and pretty action sequences." Isabelle Boudet of Les Fiches du cinéma stated, "the animation and the Paris from a postcard are still just as attractive, but the story loses a bit of its soul by flirting with Disney."
Philippe Guedj from Le Point stated, "[It] is a classic blockbuster but he succeeded in his mission and will delight the fans, while making the parents smile." Thibault Liessi of Le Dauphiné libéré wrote, "[It] remains entertaining despite everything thanks to the twirling action scenes, and that's not bad." Cédric Coppola from Sud Ouest stated , "without revolutionizing the formula, Miraculous is worth watching because of its energy and its ability to introduce musical sequences between two fights." Fabrice Leclerc from Paris Match wrote in his review, "[It] blends into a traditional narration without any real originality, but it is visually impressive, evokes the teenage years with tenderness, plays the musical comedy card and gives a few tasty nods to French culture."
Thibault Liessi from Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace gave it 3 stars out of 5 and wrote in his review, "this gives a film with a very curious rhythm, which forces its story a little, but which leaves time for the characters to pour out their feelings in (too) many songs." Xavier Leherpeur from L'Obs'' gave the film 2 stars out of 4 and noted that he, "wonders why the writers wanted to return to the genesis of the two heroes in fetishist outfits during the very long first part [of the film], when the probability of the presence of newcomers in the theater is close to zero."
Future
On 3 July, 2023, during an interview, Jeremy Zag revealed that a script for a possible sequel was completed and that they had started working on a script for a potential third movie. However, the project had not yet been greenlit by a production company or SND.
Notes
References
External links
2023 films
2023 3D films
2023 fantasy films
2023 romance films
2023 adventure films
2023 computer-animated films
2020s French animated films
2020s children's adventure films
2020s children's fantasy films
2020s children's animated films
2020s teen fantasy films
2020s teen romance films
2020s French-language films
2020s animated superhero films
2020s musical films
French computer-animated films
French children's adventure films
French animated fantasy films
French musical films
French romance films
French superhero films
French teen films
Teen adventure films
Teen musical films
Animated adventure films
Animated films based on animated series
Animated musical films
Animated romance films
Animated teen superhero films
Anime-influenced Western animation
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
Animated films based on animated television series
Animated films set in Paris
Films set in 2023
Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Method Animation films