By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Mediawan and Zag have created a new, offshoot company to manage and expand their highly successful Miraculous franchise.
Called Miraculous Corp, the company is a joint venture between ZAG and Mediawan, designed to fuel an expansion of the brand’s superhero universe.
“This groundbreaking joint-venture between Mediawan and ZAG reunites all facets of the globally acclaimed Miraculous franchise, under the ownership of the two partners,” the partners said in a statement.
Miraculous Corp will be owned 60% by Mediawan and 40% by ZAG, while ZAG founder and CEO Jeremy Zag will continue his involvement as a major shareholder and Board member, while overseeing the development and creation of existing and new characters within the franchise.
Zag says the intent of the joint venture is to facilitate an “unprecedented expansion” of the brand, ushering in an era of new characters and stories, all within the existing Miraculous world.
“After all these years dedicated to passionately developing the Miraculous universe alongside Thomas Astruc, Nathanaël Bronn, and Sébastien Thibaudeau, this new chapter of our journey with Mediawan will allow us to fulfill our wildest dreams, matching the ambition we have for Miraculous,” Zag said. “We are poised to introduce a ground-breaking universe of superheroes, one that not only captivates audiences worldwide but also champions the principles of girl power and gender equality. This innovative universe will transcend borders, captivating audiences in various forms across the globe.”
The series Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir is ZAG’s first and still most successful franchise, although its second production Ghostforce has also enjoyed great success.
The series focuses on 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, and particularly their arch nemesis Hawk Moth.
The series’ popularity has spawned a media franchise with several products tied to it, including various comic books, novels, and video games. A film adaptation, Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie, was released theatrically in 2023 in France.
Pierre-Antoine Capton, Founder and President of Mediawan, says the new joint venture will allow the partners to release new content around the world, including TV movies, spin-off series with brand new characters such as Rainbow Light, Tiger Force, Captain Justice, Time Master, Jungle Queen, Lady Dragon and the sequel Miraculous, The Movie 2 directed by Jeremy Zag.
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“Miraculous is the result of the encounter between two visionary producers, Jeremy Zag and Aton Soumache, and a highly talented creative team that managed to bring to life and support the development of an unmatched work of French animation,” Capton said. “Today, Miraculous stands as an emblematic brand of Mediawan, and the introduction of Miraculous Corp, along with the formation of a dedicated team for its development, will allow us to explore new creative territories and further enhance its global presence.
“I am extremely proud, along with all the Mediawan teams, to be part of this exceptional adventure, which reflects the confidence that the group places in its IP.”
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir was crafted by the trio of Thomas Astruc, Nathanaël Bronn and Jeremy Zag, and co-produced by ZAG and Mediawan Kids & Family. The French production has won over audiences across 150 territories since its debut in 2015. With five TV seasons, three TV movies, and ongoing production for Seasons 6 and 7, the franchise continues to attract fans worldwide, and has amassed 30 awards, including the prestigious Kidscreen Award for Best Animated Series.
Miraculous, The Movie directed by Jeremy Zag shattered records as one of the most-watched French animated films worldwide, pulling in $44 million and garnering over 35 million views on Netflix within a month.
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Miraculous has also performed very well on the small screen, airing on Disney+, Globo, and TF1, while amassing a devoted following with 37 billion YouTube views, over 250 million app downloads, and 550+ million plays on Roblox.
In terms of licensing, Miraculous is now one of the world’s most successful franchises for a children’s series. The company revealed that more than 300 million branded products were sold worldwide in 2023, generating more than $400 million in retail revenues.
But the partners believe they can improve on this record by focusing their efforts through the new Miraculous Corp structure. Zag says the establishment of Miraculous Corp is an illustration of Mediawan’s dedication to serving the international deployment of its IPs, and underscores Mediawan’s commitment to fostering the global evolution of its IPs.
My partnership with Pierre-Antoine Capton is fundamental,” Zag said. “We share a vision for this unprecedented expansion of a French franchise, and together, we embark on this extraordinary adventure every day.”
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