Three years following the release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which grossed over $850 million worldwide, Marvel’s profitable sub-franchise has returned with a fresh take. The upcoming series, titled “Eyes of Wakanda,” deviates from the traditional formula and combines animation with an anthology format, exploring the rich history of Wakanda over centuries. Boasting innovation, creativity, and stunning visuals, the question remains: is it truly enjoyable?
For the third consecutive major Marvel Animation series, the visual style has been altered significantly. “X-Men ’97” mirrored the original show, “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” blended a traditional comic aesthetic with contemporary 3D animation, and now “Eyes of Wakanda” resembles the critically acclaimed series “Arcane”. This creative flexibility and room for experimentation is one of the reasons why animation plays such an appealing role in the MCU, especially when critics argue that Marvel’s blockbuster live-action films have a uniform feel. The visuals are impressive, stylish, and clearly draw inspiration from African art forms.
Instead of arranging an anthology series and leaping through history (initially in the era of 1200 BC, then 1400 AD, and eventually to 1896), it’s a fascinating approach to observe the progress of Wakanda in relation to actual historical advancements. It additionally offers a glimpse into Wakanda’s abundant cultural legacy, although I can’t help but feel that more of this heritage was not fully explored. In its current form, encountering some of their ancient technology seems somewhat amusing, despite our knowledge of Wakanda’s capabilities.
The voice performances are usually top-notch, and introducing primarily new characters helps keep the focus. There’s enough about Iron Fist’s persona, and the twin twists in the last episode (no spoilers!) to connect with the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe without being overly tied down. It’s like a blend between a superhero version of Forrest Gump and Quantum Leap, offering glimpses into real history where Wakanda was subtly present. The fact that one of these historical events is Homer’s Odyssey (which Chris Nolan will adapt soon), is an exciting bonus. However, it does retain a slightly peculiar vibe.
So far, throughout all the episodes of “Eyes of Wakanda”, it’s been quite like a showcase of animation, entertaining but lacking significant tension or high stakes. However, the final episode delivers a clever twist that makes everything feel more meaningful and connects the different episodes together. Nevertheless, this finale breaks some rules which might be overlooked by only the most dedicated MCU fans. Keep in mind, though, that rules are essential, even if it’s sometimes fun to bend them.
To whom would I suggest watching “Eyes of Wakanda,” you ask? Well, it’s not suitable for younger viewers due to its unexpectedly violent scenes and somewhat dry socio-political undertones. History buffs who value factual accuracy might find it a bit challenging too. However, if you’re a fan of the Black Panther franchise, particularly fond of Ryan Coogler’s world-building, then this is definitely worth a watch. It serves as a reminder of the depth and richness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Wakanda that the limited number of projects might not fully convey.
Final Verdict On Eyes of Wakanda
Ultimately, I found myself wishing that “Eyes of Wakanda” had been extended or given more depth, as it felt more like a one-off event rather than a full series. While it wasn’t a bad thing, I believe there was potential for a more comprehensive finale storyline, perhaps spanning another episode. The visuals were exceptional and the storytelling generally enjoyable (though occasionally marred by some peculiar humor), but it didn’t quite reach the level of memorability due to its lack of substance.
Score: 3 out of 5
All 4 episodes of Eyes of Wakanda are streaming on Disney+ now.
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2025-08-01 19:25