Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Be Miraculous

Gr 4–8—This animated series features a middle-class, Chinese-French female lead (Ladybug) and her rich, model-turned-superhero male sidekick (Cat Noir). Marinette and Adrien are ordinary teens trying to make new friends, hide secret crushes, and stand on their own two feet—until there's evil to tame. They have been chosen by an ancient master to be keepers of the Miraculous, the mystical creatures that give them special powers. When Hawk Moth releases black moths to transform classmates, rock stars, and even family members into supervillains, Marinette and Adrien become Ladybug and Cat Noir, fearless and confident superheroes who save the day and "de-evilize." Set in Paris, the episodes often feature iconic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, and are subtly sprinkled with French words in news headlines. The show has big adventure and punny wordplay, with the central theme that anger and hatred turn individuals into something unrecognizable. The computer-generated animation is artfully constructed in the vein of colorful manga.