The MCU's Black Panther is probably one of the most beloved films in that Universe and certainly one of the more profitable ones. In fact, it became one of the highest-grossing films of all time (9th). Of course, as with all things MCU, the powers that be have decided to squeeze every last inch out of the franchise, including numerous live-action and animated television series. This August, Eyes of Wakanda is coming to Disney+ as the twenty‑eighth television series and the fourth animated series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The four-episode anthology series will follow members of Wakanda as they search for lost artifacts.
The Hatut Zaraze or War Dogs are a group of Wakandan Warriors who work outside the purview of the Wakandan army and security. They are individuals who travel the world (think CIA) - far beyond the borders of Wakanda - to bring back what has been taken, consisting mainly of weapons and tools made with the mysterious metal known as vibranium. The retrieval of the artifacts is also meant to keep Wakanda itself and its technology a secret from the outside world.
In the first episode, an expelled member of the Dora Milaje is sent to find The Lion - a former Wakandan soldier who stole weapons and became a King. Episode two finds a Wakandan fighting in ancient Greece in a new twist on the Odyssey. Episode three starts in Asia and, at moments, has the feel of the animated version of Aladdin. Finally, without spoiling anything, Episode four is set in Ethiopia in 1896 and not only ties all four episodes together but also ties the limited series to the current day, Black Panther films.
The voice talent for these 30 minute episodes includes Cress Willams (Black Lightening), Amika Noni Rose (The Princess and The Frog), Gary Anthony Williams (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows), Patricia Belcher (500 Days of Summer), Lynn Whitfield (Madea's Family Reunion), and Steve Toussaint (House of the Dragon), among others. Their strong vocals breathe life into the animated characters we see onscreen, emitting a power that gives weight to the stories being told.
First-time director Todd Harris brings a look and feel to the four episodes that makes them a cohesive unit while still giving them individuality, as each story is a stand-alone yet still a part of the whole. However, besides the setting of Wakanda and the continued mention of vibranium, this series could have been about anything instead of incorporating it into the MCU.
The technical aspects of the series are especially strong. The animation is soft and subtle while at the same time offering depth and richness often brought about by the shading and the various hues. The audio is also well done, with a mix of ambient sounds and the score underlying the dialogue. The episodes are well written and ripe with symbolism that ties the episodes together and tethers them to Black Panther.
The biggest complaint I have with this short series - and I'm not sure you can actually call 4 episodes a series - is the necessity of it all. The Eyes of Wakanda offers a look into the past of a country full of traditions and mystical powers, but does it add anything to the MCU or the Black Panther films? Not really. Was it dreamed up to keep fans busy in between movies? Perhaps, but at a total of 2 hours for all the episodes, is it a distraction and/or what one might consider "binge worthy"? Again, not really. Some die-hard MCU fans will enjoy it, but a casual viewer probably won't search it out and won't have missed anything terribly important if they don't watch it.
I'm not sure what the MCU is doing, but I wish they would focus more on bringing their feature films back to the glory days of the early 2010s or at least give us a second season of Hawkeye.
Grade: C
