akumas

Akumas are supernatural entities central to the plot of the animated series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. They are created by the villain Hawk Moth, who uses a magical brooch called the Miraculous of the Moth to transform ordinary people into supervillains. Hawk Moth selects individuals who are experiencing strong negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, or frustration, and then corrupts their emotions, amplifying them to empower the akuma.

When an akuma is released from Hawk Moth's brooch, it is a black, winged butterfly-like creature. It seeks out a person experiencing intense negative feelings. Upon finding a suitable victim, the akuma enters their possession, often through an object they are holding or wearing. This object becomes the "akumatized object." Hawk Moth then communicates with the victim, offering them powers in exchange for retrieving Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculous.

Once a person is akumatized, they gain superpowers and a new costume. They are often referred to by a new villainous name, fitting their powers and their emotional state. The primary goal of akumatized villains is to defeat Ladybug and Cat Noir and obtain their Miraculous. Ladybug, who possesses the Miraculous of the Ladybug, has the power to purify akumas, while Cat Noir, who possesses the Miraculous of the Cat, has the power to destroy them. After defeating an akumatized villain, Ladybug often uses her Lucky Charm to restore any damage caused, and then uses her Miraculous Ladybug ability to fix everything.