Disney+’s latest animated entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eyes of Wakanda, sees Wakanda’s secret agents, the War Dogs, across different periods and their globe-trotting missions to recover vibranium artefacts scattered across time.
Eyes of Wakanda is a visually rich and conceptually bold MCU entry that is let down by its limited runtime and format.
- Stunning Visual Style
- Voice Acting
- Great Action
- Too Short
- Very little Emotional Payoff
- Underpromoted
Eyes of Wakanda is a four-episode American animated anthology miniseries created by storyboard artist Todd Harris for Disney+, marking the 15th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Produced by Marvel Studios Animation in collaboration with Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media, the series is set firmly within the MCU’s “Sacred Timeline,” distinguishing it from Marvel’s other animated multiverse explorations.
Eyes of Wakanda offers rich historical backdrops and striking visuals based on real-world myths, but unfortunately stumbles in execution due to its short runtime and lack of emotional depth.
From the opening episode set in Bronze Age Crete to the finale that ties into Black Panther’s modern-day timeline, Eyes of Wakanda embraces the idea of legacy and the price of duty. Each episode focuses on different agents sent to retrieve vibranium artefacts that have fallen into the wrong hands. Along the way, we witness their personal struggles, cultural conflicts, and moral dilemmas.
Visually, Eyes of Wakanda is one of Marvel’s most artistic animated ventures yet. The hand-painted animation style draws inspiration from fine art.
The result is a textured, painterly aesthetic that gives the show a unique identity, far removed from the sterile CGI sheen of many modern animations we’ve seen so far. The action choreography is fluid and intense. Each fight sequence is expressive, tightly choreographed, and beautifully coloured.
Thematically, the series treads bold ground. By focusing on the War Dogs, it shifts the lens away from royalty and superheroes to everyday warriors working in the shadows. It explores what it means to carry the weight of Wakandan secrecy and responsibility across continents and centuries. The idea of Wakanda quietly influencing global history through retrieval missions is ripe with potential, and in many ways, it succeeds in planting those seeds.
One standout episode introduces a new take on Iron Fist: Jorani, a warrior monk from 15th-century China, who acts as a spiritual and martial counterbalance to the War Dogs. This version of the character is a powerful, if subtle, retort to previous problematic portrayals in the MCU and Netflix adaptations. It’s a promising nod to how Marvel can course-correct its past mistakes and offer more culturally respectful reinterpretations.
However, despite the compelling storytelling and fresh characters, the only thing hampering Eyes of Wakanda is ultimately its format.
Each of the four episodes runs just under 30 minutes, and with new characters introduced every time, there’s not enough time to establish meaningful connections.
By the time you start to care about a character’s struggle, the episode ends. As an anthology, it is technically cohesive in its themes; however, emotionally, you don’t develop a strong attachment to the characters in each episode.
The series finale attempts to tie things back to the main Black Panther storyline, even referencing Killmonger and the weapons theft seen in the first film. While this helps situate Eyes of Wakanda within the broader MCU, it also raises the question: Should this series have been a longer, episodic story following a core cast?
There’s also the issue of release strategy. Buried under Marvel’s crowded content calendar and receiving minimal marketing, Eyes of Wakanda feels like an afterthought despite its creative ambitions, which is disappointing—especially when considering the originality of its premise and the artistry of its execution.
What the show desperately needs is breathing room, either in the form of extended episodes or a season-long arc with recurring protagonists. The anthology format, while refreshing on paper, ultimately undermines the emotional stakes.
Eyes of Wakanda is a gorgeous, imaginative, and thematically rich series that offers a new perspective on Wakanda’s influence across time and space. But despite its artistry and ambition, it struggles to tell fully developed stories within its constrained runtime.
For die-hard fans of Black Panther and those intrigued by the hidden lore of the MCU’s history, it’s absolutely worth watching, but it will leave you wanting more. For those seeking something different from the Marvel formula, this is a worthy detour into the shadows of the War Dogs.
