Yo-yo

 

The Yo-yo is the tool of the Ladybug Miraculous.

The current owner of the yo-yo is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, who uses it as the superhero Ladybug.

Appearance

The yo-yo is red with five black dots, resembling a ladybug. Ladybug usually attaches it around her hips when she's not using it. The length of the string is unlimited and can be controlled by willpower.^[1] The string is black and at the end of the string has a small red hoop to put around the finger.

In "Stalac Mode", as seen in "Frozer", the yo-yo has a different appearance, having black hexagons over it instead of spots.

Abilities

The yo-yo is extremely versatile. Ladybug uses it as a weapon, both offensively and defensively, to hit enemies with it like a projectile or tie them up with its string. It works like a grappling hook, which Ladybug can swing from and use to travel far distances. The yo-yo's string never runs out and is unbreakable. When swung in a circle very quickly, it lights up and creates a pink shield able to deflect and withstand strong attacks. In "Stormy Weather", Ladybug uses the yo-yo's shield to protect herself and Cat Noir from a bus launched at them by tearing a hole through it. In "Gigantitan", the string of the yo-yo is strong enough to cut through the Eiffel Tower. It can create safety nets used to catch people from falling or even something as big as a police car and even a helicopter.

The yo-yo is useful for some of Ladybug's special abilities. Whenever something corrupts or infects an object or animal, like butterflies infected with the Butterfly Miraculous' energy to become akumas, the yo-yo can capture and purify them back to normal.^[2] The yo-yo opens up, showing glowing pink energy, and it closes around the infected animal or object. It opens again with them healed or clean, such as akumas getting purified into ordinary butterflies again or Mr. Squid in the fourth issue of Miraculous Adventures being purified from the unknown black substance. The yo-yo can contain things larger than the yo-yo itself, and it can hold more than one object at once, from a stuffed animal to a huge swarm of akumas.

The yo-yo is also used for Lucky Charm: Ladybug throws the yo-yo in the air, and it releases a pink energy that produces an object that Ladybug uses to save the day. However, the Lucky Charm is also Ladybug's weakness because, as it is used in the middle of the summoning process, she can't use the yo-yo to attack or defend until the process is finished, as seen in "Sandboy", the power will be canceled out if the process is interrupted.

One side of the yo-yo can slide open, revealing a screen. With this, Ladybug can use the yo-yo as a tracker, a map, a communicator to contact Cat Noir, or a cellular phone. Additionally, it can access the internet, as seen in "Simon Says" and "Pixelator".

In and out of "Aqua Mode", the yo-yo can also work as a breathing apparatus for those who can't breathe underwater, like Kim in "Syren", Ladybug herself in "Queen Wasp", "Reverser", and Otis in "Mayura (The Heroes Day - Part 2)".

In "Backwarder", it is revealed that the yo-yo can store or hold other objects like letters, and it also has its own timer. The yo-yo can also purify amoks, as seen in "Miraculer".

Also seen in "Weredad" and "Miraculer", if the holder can't use the Miraculous Ladybug (superpower) as the result of having no Lucky Charm, the power can be activated by using the yo-yo.

While under the power of fusion with the Dragon Miraculous, the yo-yo's shield making ability was expanded when combined with the Water Dragon in "Miracle Queen".

Sightings

Episodes

Comics and books

Other

Trivia

• In concept art and test animation in the 2014 licensing video, the yo-yo appears to have more abilities, like being able to split in half to become a staff, generating a wing-like shield, and exploding like a bomb. These abilities have not yet been seen in the show.
• In "Copycat", one side of the yo-yo can be seen with inverted colors (black with red spots) at times, like when Ladybug is using it as a communicator. Thomas Astruc said that it was a mistake that couldn't be fixed.^[3]
• Antibug also uses a yo-yo like Ladybug's, except that the colors of the yo-yo are inverted to black with red spots.
• Ladybug's yo-yo can purify multiple akumas at a time, as seen in "Stoneheart" and "Mayura".
  • Hinting that the yo-yo could have infinite space during the purification process which is one of the laws of Anime physics called the magic satchel. As it can hold or store things bigger than an a akuma like a stuffed toy or a letter.
• In "Animan", Ladybug mentions that the string of the yo-yo is unbreakable.
• In "Miraculous Adventures Issue 4", the yo-yo can also purify or clean other objects that aren't affected by an akuma, like Mr. Squid.
• In "Dark Owl", it's revealed the yo-yo also has an ear communicator and camera so the holder can communicate with others.
• In "Captain Hardrock" and "Simon Says", the string of yo-yo is shown to be able to hold that the weight of a police car and helicopter with ease meaning that it's capable of holding a weight of 1000-3000 pounds or more.
• The yo-yo is the first Miraculous tool introduced needed for a holder to access their superpower.
• When it's not worn the string is black but when wrapped Ladybug's hips the string is red like her costume and it's unknown if that is an continuous error of the writers or not.
• It is the first Miraculous tool based off of a toy preceding the Bee Miraculous's spinning top and the Mouse Miraculous's jump rope.
• As seen in "Backwarder", anything stored in the yo-yo can be transferred to Marinette's purse when she isn't transformed and stay in her yo-yo when she is transformed.
• A recurring gag involving the yo-yo has Adrien/Cat Noir getting struck in the head with it, usually by accident but occasionally on purpose when Ladybug is irritated by one of his comments or to prove a point.
  • Which she also does with her staff as Lady Noir in "Reflekdoll".
• In Jeremy Zag's Instagram, Ladybug's yo-yo gains a new appearance although it's unknown if it's a result of her becoming a guardian, the effect of a fusion form, transformation power up form or another reason.^[4]

Gallery

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References