Miraculous World: Shanghai - The Legend of Ladydragon - Characters & Cast

Initially, her motivation is to spend time with Adrien. However, once her Miraculous is stolen and she understands the threat Hawk Moth poses in Shanghai, her motivation shifts to retrieving her earrings, protecting the city, and helping her new friend Fei fulfill her destiny.

Marinette begins the film acting on a selfish impulse—following her crush, Adrien, to another country under false pretenses. After losing her Miraculous, she is stripped of her heroic identity and forced to be resourceful as just Marinette. Through her alliance with Fei, she grows in maturity, offering genuine emotional support and guidance, and reaffirming her role as a hero who inspires others.

Her primary motivation is to reclaim her stolen bracelet and avenge her adoptive father, Wu Shifu, whose school was destroyed and who she believes was killed by shadowy figures. This evolves into a desire to protect the Prodigious and the values her father taught her.

Fei starts as a cynical thief, driven by a need for money and a desire for revenge for her father's death. Her encounter with the kind and trusting Marinette forces her to confront her own values. She undergoes a significant transformation, rejecting her path of vengeance to embrace her true calling as a guardian, ultimately choosing justice and becoming the heroic Ladydragon.

Adrien's motivation is to connect with his distant father while in Shanghai. As Cat Noir, his motivation is simpler: to protect the innocent and assist Ladybug wherever she is, immediately traveling to Shanghai upon learning she is there.

Adrien's role in this special is more limited compared to other installments. He arrives in Shanghai with his father and is largely unaware of the central conflict. His arc is minimal, primarily serving as Cat Noir to support Ladybug in the final battle. He demonstrates his unwavering loyalty and concern for Marinette when he believes she is a lost tourist.

His motivation is to acquire the Prodigious, a magical item he believes is powerful enough to defeat Ladybug and Cat Noir, allowing him to finally obtain their Miraculouses. He sees it as the key to achieving his ultimate, albeit still mysterious, goal.

Hawk Moth's character is expanded, revealing the long-term nature of his plans. The film shows he is not just an opportunistic villain but a calculating mastermind who has been waiting 15 years to acquire the Prodigious. His arc in this film solidifies his ruthlessness and global ambition beyond Paris.