Convention - SDCC 2023 : A Miraculous Ladybug and ZAG Animation panel in San Diego

By Mulder, 09 july 2023

Jeremy Zag (director, writer, composer, CEO) joins voice talent Cristina Vee (as Marinette/Ladybug), Mela Lee (as Tikki), Andrew Russel (as Luka), Bryce Papenbrook (as Adrien/Cat Noir), Selah Victor (as Chloe Bourgeois), and Carrie Keranen (as Alya), along with voice director Ezra Weisz, producer Aton Soumache, and singers Lou Jean and Drew Ryan Scott to discuss the upcoming summer film Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie. Jeremy discusses the continuous expansion of the Miraculous World, new animation projects in development, and franchise updates in gaming and manga.

Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie is a French 3D computer-animated musical superhero film released in 2023. Directed and co-written by Jeremy Zag, the movie is based on the popular animated television series, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. The story revolves around Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste, two Parisian teenagers who transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir to protect the city from supervillains, led by the notorious Hawk Moth.

Production for the film was announced in 2018, and it officially began in 2019. The plot delves into the origins of the franchise, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the Miraculous universe. Jeremy Zag, alongside Bettina Lopez Mendoza, served as the director and co-writer. Zag also acted as a producer through ZAG Inc. under The Awakening Production banner, while ON Animation Studios and SND were involved in the production and distribution respectively. Notably, this movie marks the second theatrical film adaptation of a TF1's TFOU animated series, following the 2009 film Totally Spies! The Movie. With a budget of €80 million, it currently stands as the second most expensive French film ever made.

Jeremy Zag first announced the film during the Miraculous panel at ComiKon İstanbul on September 29, 2018. Originally slated for release in 2021, Zag confirmed on December 5, 2018, that the film would incorporate both an origin story and elements from the television series. The studio prioritized completing the fourth and fifth seasons of the series before focusing on the movie. During a panel at Comic Con Experience 2018, Zag revealed that Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie would feature musical elements, with the music composed by himself. At the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2019, it was announced that the movie would be titled Ladybug & Cat Noir Awakening, billing it as a romantic fantasy adventure. Various updates were shared over time, including an animated tease featuring Ladybug posted on Zag's Instagram on October 5, 2019. Zag provided further details about the film on January 8, 2020. Additionally, it was announced on February 12, 2020, that Fantawild would contribute to the creation and animation of the film. The editing phase was completed in March 2022.

In April 2022, it was revealed that Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie had a budget of €80 million, making it the second most expensive French film ever made, following the 2017 film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. To enhance the musical aspect of the film, Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey joined as an executive producer. The film's soundtrack, released on June 30, 2023, by Muzeek One under the TF1 Musique label, features the lead single "Plus forts ensemble" (English: "Stronger Together") by Lou and Elliott, accompanied by its music video released on June 21, 2023.

Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie premiered at the Grand Rex on June 11, 2023, and was subsequently released in France on July 5, 2023, distributed by SND Films. Internationally, the film had a simultaneous theatrical release in select regions and will be available on Netflix from July 28, 2023.

Panel information :
When : Sunday July 23, 2023 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Where : Room 6BCF

Synopsis :
The superheroine, who has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world, is coming to the big screen for the first time! Ladybug must join forces with Chat Noir, the charismatic, outspoken masked vigilante, to take on the Papillon and his horde of super-villains, who threaten to destroy Paris. But as the two heroes grow closer, Marinette is unaware that behind her mysterious accomplice lies Adrien, the classmate she's fallen in love with...

Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie
Directed by Jeremy Zag
Screenplay by Jeremy Zag, Bettina Lopez Mendoza
Story by Jeremy Zag
Based on Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir by Thomas Astruc and Nathanaël Bronn
Produced by Aton Soumache, Jeremy Zag, Daisy Chang
Starring Anouck Hautbois, Benjamin Bollen, Antoine Tomé, Marie Nonnenmacher, Thierry Kazazian
Edited by Yvann Thibaudeau
Music by Jeremy Zag
Layouts by Karim El Mokaddem
Production companies : The Awakening Production, SND, ON Animation Studios
Distributed by SND (France), Netflix (United States)
Release dates : 11 June 2023 (Grand Rex), 5 July 2023 (France), July 28 2023 (Netflix)
Running time : 105 minutes