Eyes of Wakanda Season 1 (TV Series) | Review

Animation has been hit-or-miss lately from Marvel, but Eyes of Wakanda arrives with serious pedigree behind it. Ryan Coogler's involvement as executive producer immediately signals this isn't another throwaway animated project designed to fill Disney+ slots.

This is supposed to be the Black Panther universe expansion fans have been waiting for. The four-episode mini-series drops with bold ambitions and stunning visual peaks but here's the reality check: ambition doesn't always translate to consistent execution.

What initially presents itself as Marvel's definitive answer to premium animated storytelling gradually reveals those all-too-familiar structural cracks and narrative inconsistencies that have consistently plagued anthology series projects everywhere.

Eyes of Wakanda chronicles the historical missions of Wakandan secret agents across different time periods, centering on the covert operatives known as War Dogs as they hunt down stolen vibranium technology scattered around the world.

The opening episode introduces Noni, a former Dora Milaje warrior who unexpectedly gets caught up in a dangerous mission that fundamentally reshapes her entire understanding of Wakanda's far-reaching global influence.

The anthology format strategically allows the series to explore different characters and historical periods without getting bogged down in complex ongoing narrative threads that might potentially confuse casual viewers.

What works here is the deliberate focus on ground-level stories rather than world-ending threats. These are deeply personal missions with cultural stakes, giving the series emotional weight that many Marvel projects struggle to achieve.

The series pulls straight from Ta-Nehisi Coates' "A Nation Under Our Feet" and his complete Black Panther run, especially how he masterfully wrote Wakanda as this secret global powerhouse with highly trained spies everywhere.

The War Dogs idea started way back in Christopher Priest's legendary Black Panther run from late 90s, and while the movies touched on it, this series actually digs into what these operatives do day-to-day.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

The historical scope mirrors what made Jonathan Hickman's "New Avengers" and Don McGregor's "Panther's Rage" compelling – showing how Wakanda's isolationist policy was actually sophisticated global engagement hidden in plain sight.

Each episode feels like it could have been pulled directly from classic Jungle Action #6-18 storylines or Jason Aaron's compelling "See Wakanda and Die" arc, with the kind of detailed world-building that makes longtime fans feel genuinely respected.

The series respects comic continuity established across decades of Black Panther stories while making the stories accessible to newcomers. That delicate balance is harder to achieve than it looks and Eyes of Wakanda mostly nails it perfectly.

The voice cast includes Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint and Anika Noni Rose.

The voice performances feel remarkably grounded and authentic throughout, carefully avoiding the overwrought delivery style that sometimes plagues superhero animation projects and creates unintentional melodrama that breaks immersion completely.

Winnie Harlow brings real depth to Noni, capturing both the character's warrior training and her emotional vulnerability as she questions her place in Wakanda's hierarchy. Cress Williams delivers his lines with the gravitas you'd expect from someone playing Wakandan royalty, never letting the performance slip into caricature.

The supporting cast maintains consistent quality across episodes, which becomes crucial given the anthology format. When you're introducing new characters every episode, voice acting becomes the primary tool for immediate character connection.

Character designs blend traditional African aesthetics with futuristic Wakandan technology in ways that feel respectful and imaginative. Each historical period gets its own visual language while maintaining the distinctive Wakandan visual identity established in the films.

Costume design deserves particular praise– the War Dogs' gear across different time periods shows real thought about how Wakandan technology would adapt to different historical contexts. The attention to cultural details in clothing, weapons and ceremonial objects adds authenticity that elevates the entire production.

Facial animations capture subtle expressions effectively, which matters when you're dealing with characters making morally complex decisions. The designs avoid the generic superhero look in favor of something that feels distinctly Wakandan.

Here's where things get complicated. Eyes of Wakanda brings stunning animation to Disney+ at its best moments, with a painterly aesthetic that rivals premium animated features. The action scenes flow with kinetic energy that makes fight choreography easy to follow and exciting.

But the animation noticeably drops off at times as the illusion of that painterly aesthetic gives way to less polished computer-generated images, particularly in close-up shots. This jarring inconsistency becomes genuinely distracting when it happens mid-episode, breaking the visual spell the series works so hard to establish.

The environmental design consistently impresses– different historical locations feel lived-in and authentic, from ancient marketplaces to modern urban settings, while vibranium-enhanced technology gets creative visual treatment that feels magical yet scientifically grounded.

This is where Eyes of Wakanda stumbles most noticeably. The series struggles to maintain its initial energy beyond the opening episode, falling into traps that make anthology storytelling challenging. Animation quality fluctuates dramatically between episodes, with some sequences looking feature-film ready while others feel rushed.

This is where Eyes of Wakanda stumbles most noticeably throughout its run. The series loses momentum after the strong premiere as it succumbs to the familiar pitfalls of anthology series. The animation quality fluctuates dramatically between episodes, with some sequences looking feature-film ready while others feel rushed.

Voice performance consistency varies depending on which characters carry each episode. The strongest episodes maintain tonal cohesion, while weaker entries feel like they're trying to figure out what kind of show they want to be.

The binge-ability factor works in the series' favor– four episodes make for a manageable viewing experience that doesn't overstay its welcome. But the anthology format means viewers might connect strongly with one episode's characters only to never see them again, which ultimately limits emotional investment significantly.

The series progression makes complete narrative sense but unfortunately lacks the essential building momentum that makes great television truly addictive. Each episode feels more like a standalone short film than part of a cohesive whole.

The musical score successfully bridges the gap between traditional African instrumentation and the futuristic sound palette established in the Black Panther films. Each historical period gets its own musical flavor while maintaining the distinctive Wakandan sound identity.

Sound design in action sequences creates real impact– vibranium weapons have significant weight and commanding presence that makes fights feel genuinely consequential rather than typical weightless CGI spectacle throughout episodes.

Environmental audio brings different historical periods to life with appropriate ambient details.

The voice mixing stays clear even during complex action sequences, which isn't always a given in animated productions where effects can overwhelm dialogue.

Popular review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a solid 90% approval rating based on 20 professional reviews, but that impressively high score doesn't tell the complete story about the series' actual execution quality and consistency.

Eyes of Wakanda is fun and engaging. Still, it doesn't deliver the storytelling experience that Black Panther fans were probably expecting. The series shows flashes of brilliance– moments where the animation, voice acting and storytelling align to create something special. 

The series works best as a supplemental companion to the Black Panther films rather than essential viewing on its own individual merits, ultimately leaving viewers expecting consistent quality throughout all four episodes disappointed.

Eyes of Wakanda proves Marvel can create visually ambitious animated content when properly motivated. The question is whether they'll learn from this series' inconsistencies or repeat them in future projects. For now, it's worth watching for the highs but don't expect them to last.

Eyes of Wakanda Season 1— a four‑episode mini-series from Marvel Studios Animation— streams exclusively on Disney+. All episodes drop at once on August 1, 2025, as part of Disney+ subscription; it's not available on Hulu, Max, Netflix, Prime Video or others. No purchase or rental is needed when you stream with Disney+.