Thrilling Animated Anthology Expands Black Panther Lore

Eyes of Wakanda brings thrilling action to Disney+, in a brief but fabulously entertaining animated anthology that provides historical context to the Black Panther franchise. The four-episode series takes place over several thousand years, as the Hatut Zeraze — elite Wakandan warriors nicknamed “War Dogs” – are tasked with returning vibranium artifacts that have been stolen from the kingdom. New characters are introduced amidst ancient battles, setting the stage for significant future events. Fans of Wakanda and its lore will get a kick out of the series, a deeper dive that starts off strong, balancing humor and heart as the narrative progresses.

Premiere episode “Into the Lion’s Den” begins in 1260 BC with a marauding army attacking the island of Crete. Terrified citizens flee as their soldiers are easily bested by superior Wakandan technology and armaments. Captives are ordered to swear loyalty to the masked Lion (Cress Williams), but one woman isn’t cowed. Her ferocious skills are revealed with thundering brutality in a flashback that frames the beginning of a legendary Wakandan hero. Cut to several weeks earlier, as Noni (Winnie Harlow), an expelled member of the all-female Dora Milaje, is brought before its leader, Akeya (Patricia Belcher), for a top-secret mission.

Ancient Wakanda Explored

Eyes of Wakanda

3.5
/5

Release Date

2025 – 2025-00-00

Network

Disney+

Franchise(s)

Marvel Cinematic Universe

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  Winnie Harlow

  Noni (voice)

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Akeya informs the resentful Noni that she wasn’t kicked out for a lack of skill, but her inability to follow orders and operate in a group dynamic. Now, these flaws are the perfect traits to capture a rogue Wakandan. The Lion was the head of the royal guard, until he betrayed his duty and fled the Golden City with powerful weaponry; he defeated every fighter who was sent after him, because he trained them and could anticipate their every move. Akeya needs an unpredictable operative who the Lion will not see coming, which is where Noni comes in. Noni accepts this opportunity to prove herself, beginning a storyline that unfolds over many years.

Eyes of Wakanda’s strong beginning continues with the ass-kicking second episode, “Legends and Lies,” which adds a clever twist to the mythology of the Trojan War. We follow the friendship of Achilles (Adam Gold) and Memnon (Larry Heron) as they try to breach Troy’s walls under the leadership of Odysseus (Kiff Vandenheuvel); the twist here is that Memnon is actually a Hatut Zeraze tasked with retrieving an amulet worn by Helen of Troy. “Legends and Lies” addresses heady themes of betrayal and guilt, as a torn Memnon struggles to complete his decade-long mission without alerting Achilles. The surprising heart and depth of this episode makes it a series highlight.

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The remaining episodes, “Lost and Found” and “The Last Panther,” switch up the tone. “Lost and Found” takes a humorous, almost slapstick approach that honestly feels strange after the searing drama of “Legends and Lies.” Set in the mountains of China, the arrogant Basha (Jacques Colimon) bites off more than he can chew while stealing a dragon statue, angering a formidable opponent who’s closer to him than he realizes. Meanwhile, finale episode “The Last Panther” closes the anthology during the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1895, with a plot that leads directly to the first Black Panther film. This is probably the series’ most middling effort, with the least interesting characters. But it has vital importance to how Wakanda is depicted in the MCU.

Showrunner Todd Harris makes his directorial debut with Eyes of Wakanda after many years of working with Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios. Harris clearly understands the source material, making him the perfect choice for a deeper dive. Harris never loses sight of Wakandan culture while delivering spectacular action scenes. African vibrancy remains the focus, with laudable representation of other ethnicities as well. There’s a thread of finding common ground and becoming stronger together, and the conversations between Memnon and Achilles are particularly thoughtful when discussing their backgrounds. That being said, Harris and the series writers are never preachy or political. The goal is to deliver blockbuster entertainment, and that’s certainly accomplished here.

Memnon Faces Achilles

Eyes of Wakanda incorporates CGI with traditional hand-drawn 2D animation: The opening titles, which summarize each episode’s plot, are cleverly done like charcoal sketches on drafting paper, for example. The animation also has a brushstroke look that gives the characters and backgrounds a painterly aesthetic. This is artistically done, and never strays far from realism; Harris and his animators are visually bold, but aren’t trying to impress the art crowd. Instead, huge set pieces and epic action are the primary goals — three of the four episodes feature a siege on a walled city, for example. Harris wants the audience at the forefront of battles, whether to infiltrate, escape or destroy. The result is pure eye candy, and the series can be enjoyed solely in this regard.

Meanwhile, Eyes of Wakanda‘s biggest weaknesses are the length of the season and its dramatic shift in tone, as well as the massive time jump between “Lost and Found” and “The Last Panther.” Why should this series have only four episodes, when every other MCU Disney+ animated series has at least six? This is especially evident in the thematic change between “Legends and Lies” and “Lost and Found;” more time would have allowed for a smoother transition into comedy. Budgetary restrictions must have led to a truncated season, as there’s definitely enough meat here for more stories. That’s kind of disappointing, as Eyes of Wakanda leaves viewers wanting more.

Eyes of Wakanda is a production of Marvel Studios Animation and Proximity Media. All four episodes premiere August 1st on Disney+. You can watch them here.