When I first decided to watch Miraculous, I had very little clue about the show, save for its synopsis. After finishing the first episode, I was already intrigued by the striking and refreshing diversity of the show's characters. I continued watching the show and ended up consuming four seasons in a month and buying several pieces of merchandise. Of course, I am primarily invested in the ever-building, stake-increasing plot, but the show's attempt (and success) at cultural diversity and inclusion has continued to awe me since I discovered the series. For one of the first times I can recall, "ethnic" characters were not some side spectacle to behold and use for special one-off B-plots, but rather true, integral parts of the show's story that would fundamentally change the series' world with their absence.
I will unabashedly recognize that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy many privileges in all areas of my life. One such privilege-ridden area that has not gotten much attention until late has been media. My formative years were not filled with the identity-seeking and soul-searching that so many people of color have to go through, because I could find my identity/culture/lifestyle on any children's television channel. Whether live-action or animated, comedy or drama, Disney Channel or Cartoon Network, there was never a scarcity of young, white girls to idolize and model myself after. I could find some facet of myself in almost every show I watched or movie I consumed. Even books rarely featured colored leads, despite literally not having pigment.
Although the lack of cultural diversity on television did nothing to damage my self-image and identity, it did severely limit my exposure to different cultures, lifestyles, and peoples. I knew that other places and persons existed, but they were so far removed from my sphere of influence that this fact was of no consequence to me. Truthfully, I would not really delve into any other cultures (aside from through cuisine) until high school. Once I began to develop a critical mind about the world around me, I realized how disconnected and sheltered I was and began a journey of mental and social discovery about the world and (indirectly) about myself.
With this new mindset and welcome absorption of all the world has to offer, I was very pleasantly surprised about Miraculous' cast. These characters were not overtly praised for their identities, they simply existed and interacted normally with the world around them, as real people do. However, when the story allowed, their identities were utilized in ways that were educational, entertaining, and cohesive to the plot. Such use establishes the idea that these cultures exist naturally in the world and are not so far removed and foreign to the western world.
I wish I was able to grow up with media such as Miraculous. From a much earlier and developmentally important age I would have been exposed to so much more of the world and have been better equipped to recognize and understand the importance of others and the differences that we share. Fortunately, I have grown up in such a manner that I was able to develop this mindset on my own, albeit much later than I would have desired. However, I am hopefully excited that shows like Miraculous exist and are available on mainstream platforms such as Disney Channel. Positive changes are already being seen in these children, and I believe that it is in part to the new, mindful media they consume.