Melanie DePriester
Staff Writer
Over the duration of the show “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir” ten years on air, it has remained consistent with its animation style for the first five seasons. When the show was initially conceptualized, it was intended to feature a 2D anime style.
The creators opted for a 3D CGI animation, instead, which has contributed significantly to its broad appeal. I think this was the correct choice because if it had followed a more cutesy aesthetic, I’m not sure the show would have garnered as much attention or captivated audiences in the same way.
The character designs from the first five seasons have become iconic over time, but after rewatching some of those earlier episodes, I noticed just how dated the animation feels now. The movements of the characters sometimes seem stiff, the backgrounds appear less dynamic and vibrant and the show overall came off as boring and lifeless. In comparison to what the animators have been able to accomplish in later seasons, it feels like a completely different show.
Starting in season six, the show adopted a new animation style, with fans having mixed feelings over the changes. It’s understandable for fans to feel sadness or disappointment over the changes in the animation, however, I find this new style to be refreshingly clean and vibrant. The attention to detail in the environments and action sequences has noticeably improved, making the viewing experience more engaging. That said, I must admit that I have mixed feelings about some of the character designs, particularly the faces.
Adrian’s new look, for example, has struck me as overly-round and childish. This seems to be a trend with many of the characters, where they all appear younger in this new season compared to how they were drawn in seasons one through five. Given that these characters are supposed to be teenagers, I feel they should reflect that age more accurately.
Today’s society often blurs the lines of age perception, with even middle schoolers frequently looking like high schoolers in real life. In many live- action shows, it’s common to cast actors who are considerably older than their characters, so it raises the question: Why do the animators seem to favor such youthful appearances for the characters in this new season?
Transitioning from the older designs to these new ones has been challenging. I understand that change is part of growth and evolution in any long- running show, but getting used to such a significant shift can be difficult when you’ve spent years getting attached to the original designs.
On a different note, the animation style of season six feels like a blend of the previous series and the animation from the movie they released. While the new style has its merits, I personally wish they had chosen to maintain the animation that was employed for the movie.
The movie was visually stunning and showcased a level of detail that could elevate the storytelling experience. However, I realize that adopting that particular style for an entire season may have been time-consuming and logistically challenging for the animation team, given the intricacies involved.
Overall, I feel that the changes made were a good decision, as they will allow new audiences to get involved in a more polished show. The improved animation quality offers a fresh look and feel. When combined with smoother motion, the action sequences become more engaging and visually appealing. I can not wait to see how this new style enhances the show in future seasons and builds off of the current ones.
