REVIEW: ‘Eyes of Wakanda’ Blinks At Greatness, But Doesn’t Quite See It Through

Marvel Animation's Eyes of Wakanda returns us to the vast and brilliant world of Wakanda, just maybe not in the way audiences had hoped and or expected.

© Marvel Animation/Marvel Studios

The series naturally follows certain unknown Wakandan warriors ("War Dogs") throughout time as they retrieve vibranium artifacts that have made their way into the outside world. But the most interesting part, to me, was the use of known characters and artifacts. While some characters that appear may not be specifically from the MCU, there are plenty of familiar faces combined with brand-new ones to further expand on storylines and the overall history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since this series is confirmed to be canon. These are the kinds of connections that fans can easily point out and appreciate from the very first viewing.

The animation is not dissimilar to what we've seen from Marvel Animation before and even builds upon it further, which elevates the overall viewing experience. The fight scenes are beautifully done, bursting with color, and the character and costume designs are completely unique to this series (specifically those featured in the finale episode). It's very refreshing to be able to say that the animation and visuals remain consistently strong throughout. It's also well known that Wakanda is an intensely fleshed-out world, resembling a character in its own right due to its sheer importance. Unfortunately, after two films set in this culture, there was nothing innately special about this series.

Furthermore, the cast performances, sound editing, and overall story are hindered by both the length of the series and the script. As impressive as the series may look, there isn't enough time to truly connect with its characters and, therefore, the story. The throughline between all four episodes is almost non-existent, with some recurring characters being the only real connection. While it does offer some exposition about the nation of Wakanda, it's not enough to make this as memorable a series as Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man or X-Men '97, which solidify themselves as worthy entries in an already established universe.

This is an acceptable addition to Marvel Animation's lineup, but with Marvel Zombies on the horizon (another series containing only four episodes), fans have every right to be skeptical. The four-episode format is perhaps the biggest limitation. This approach might work well for tightly focused stories where each episode runs close to an hour, but here, it feels like there just isn’t enough space to flesh out Wakanda’s history or its global impact in a meaningful way. There’s so much potential in the idea of Wakandan agents operating across eras and continents, yet the show only scratches the surface. This brings up a larger conversation within Marvel Animation — whether four episodes are enough to do justice to a high-concept series. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be another series of this length on the horizon after Marvel Zombies.

Is it a must-see for fans? Not necessarily. But if you're interested in period pieces or Wakandan culture in general, then this may be the series for you. Eyes of Wakanda is a visually rich and lore-deep addition to the Marvel universe, deserving praise for its cultural competence and visual design. Yet it often plays more like a collection of intriguing ideas than a fully realized series — my favorite being the Iron Fist of the 1800s. Ultimately, Eyes of Wakanda may be remembered more for what it teased than what it delivered.

All episodes of Eyes of Wakanda will be released on Disney+ on August 1st.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

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About Eyes of Wakanda

© Marvel Animation

Premiere Date: August 1st, 2025

Episode Count: 4

Executive Producer/Showrunner: Matthew Chauncey, Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Louis D'Esposito, Kevin Feige, Todd Harris, Kalia King, Sev Ohanian

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Director: Todd Harris

Production: Marvel Studios Animation, Proximity Media

Distribution: Disney+

Cast: Gary Anthony Williams, Cress Williams, Zeke Alton, Lynn Whitfield, Steve Toussaint, Winnie Harlow, Jona Xiao, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Jacques Colimon, Isaac Robinson Smith, Anika Noni Rose

Synopsis: Warriors of Wakanda travel the world retrieving vibranium artifacts.