Considering its sadistic penchant for canceling beloved shows, it’s always a surprise when Netflix manages to read the room well. And now, it seems it’s finally done something right with its announcement that it’ll be releasing the film Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir at the end of July — but only on the streaming service.
The movie will serve as a prequel to one of the tech giant’s most surprisingly popular shows, Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug & Cat Noir. The computer-animated kid’s series follows the lives of two Parisian teens, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste, who protect the French capital from evil by becoming the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir. Although Netflix did not produce the series, it has become a hit on the service, and the only way most English-speaking viewers can watch it. It also helped to produce the film, which is why it’s appearing on the platform just a few short weeks after its premiere.
From the comments and tweet replies, it seems that it’s not just children who will be ecstatic at this news.
The film will be released in its native France on July 5, meaning international subscribers to Netflix will have to wait just over three weeks to get their fill. The series has received critical and commercial acclaim, with viewers praising its charm and ability to blend superhero narratives with magic. Some of those who aren’t in France are unhappy that they’re being denied a theatrical release, but at least they’ll get the chance to see it on the small screen.
Will this mark a turn for the streaming giant? Will it suddenly start actually listening to its fans? Only time will tell, but we can be sure that on July 28, we’ll be getting some of France’s finest children’s animation on our screens, and that’s worth celebrating.