Does noir mean cat?
No, the French word "noir" means "black". The phrase "chat noir" translates to "black cat" in English.
The Meaning Behind Cat Noir‘s Name
In the TV series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, the character Cat Noir gets his name from the French term "chat noir" meaning black cat. This matches his black cat-themed superhero design and powers based on bad luck and misfortune.
As a passionate gamer and fan of the show myself, I think the black cat name and theme fits Cat Noir perfectly. Black cats have a long history of being associated with bad luck in Western superstitions, contrasting nicely with Ladybug‘s good luck powers. It also matches the destructive capabilities of his Cataclysm super power.
Black Cats and Bad Luck
The superstition around black cats bringing misfortune dates back centuries in Western history. In the Middle Ages it was even believed that witches could transform into black cats to avoid detection. This demonization of black cats sadly led to them being killed across Europe.
So when creating a black cat themed superhero with bad luck powers, the show‘s creators were likely drawing directly from this historical folklore. It‘s clever use of cultural superstitions around black felines to influence the audience‘s perception of Cat Noir. As well as foreshadowing his Cataclysm ability.
Contrasting Powers with Ladybug
Ladybug has powers of good luck, creation and repair – the opposite of Cat Noir‘s bad luck and destruction abilities. So naming him after a black cat immediately sets up that stark contrast for audiences.
We instinctively associate ladybugs with positive superstitions and black cats with darker ones. These opposing mythological connections are then manifested directly in their contrasting miraculous powers.
The Purpose Behind the Name
So in summary, Cat Noir‘s black cat theme serves multiple creative purposes:
- Matches his destructive, bad luck based abilities
- Provides contrast with Ladybug‘s creation/repair powers
- Foreshadows his Cataclysm superpower
- Draws from familiar cultural black cat superstitions
It‘s a testament to the great character design that so much meaning has been conveyed just through Cat Noir‘s name alone!
Why People Sometimes Call Him "Cat Noir"
While the original French name used in the show is "Chat Noir", many English-speaking fans call him "Cat Noir" instead. This is because "cat" has the same meaning of feline animal as the French word "chat".
So while not canonical, "Cat Noir" has become a widely used and recognized name for the character amongst English speaking audiences. Calling him "Cat Noir" conveys the exact same black cat meaning, it‘s just more intuitive for English speakers.
