Eyes of Wakanda: Marvel stuns with its latest animated trip to Wakanda

Wakanda is back, like you’ve never seen it before.

I know it sounds cliché but I assure you that it’s true. With Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Animation’s latest incarnation of the world of Black Panther, they have yet again reinvented a franchise with such fresh energy that one cannot help but be enchanted by it.

With Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel takes us on the adventures of the bravest Wakandan warriors throughout history. With passionate fervour for their nation, these heroes execute the most dangerous of missions in an effort to retrieve lost Vibranium artifacts from the hands of Wakanda’s enemies. Called the Hatut Zaraze,they are the eyes of their homeland. And they’re willing to get their hands dirty, whenever necessary.

Noni (Winnie Harlow) prepares to face The Lion (Cress Williams) as he explains how he built his city of ships in Marvel Animation’s EYES OF WAKANDA, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel. © 2025 MARVEL. All Rights Reserved.

It’s worth noting that this is now the third straight series for Marvel Animation that has made the most of their opportunity to shine. After the revitalized X-Men ’97 and the startlingly joyful Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, Eyes of Wakanda creates another entirely immersive experience that stands on its own. Without need for the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wakanda remains laser-focused on its own storytelling, opening the door for new characters and new worlds for the audience to explore.

By removing (most) of the connective tissue that attaches the series to the rest of the MCU, Wakanda has the opportunity to truly spread its wings. There’s simply a freedom within this series that few other Marvel projects are offered. Each episode tells its own narrative with few strands between them. These aren’t over-arching stories, other than the overall theme of reclaiming their nation’s artifacts. There are no (well, limited) forced cameos to set up other projects. In short, every episode feels fresh.

And it works to perfection.

It’s hard to deny just how beautiful these Eyes are. Every story takes us into a different area that engages the senses and features stunning animation that seems to elicit its cultural roots. Whether it’s the Battle of Troy, the Far East or the distant future, the series leaps into the worlds that it creates with enthusiasm. Every thirty minutes is a different experience. (In fact, in this way, Eyes is reminiscent of Disney+’s other recent animated delight, Predator: Killer of Killers, another anthology series that elevates its material by exploring diverse environments with mostly limited connections.)

But, the core of Wakanda remains its desire to preserve (or protect) its culture from outsiders who would steal from them. Within these short narratives, the nation of Wakanda is fueled with a sense of rage. Through each generation, every ‘war dog’ that is unleashed upon the world remains fueled by one sole purpose: to reclaim what belongs to them. For years, Wakanda has been pillaged by those who view their resources as something to be taken.

And they have had enough.

As such, the soul behind these Eyes becomes one of reclamation. This is a series about knowing your identity and, by extension, your value. The Wakandan War Dogs do not fight for themselves or personal glory. Instead, it’s all about celebrating their homeland. Every returned item is a piece of their history. And every returned item rebuilds a fragment of the story that has been taken away from them. As such, this emphasis on restoration adds another layer to the beauty of Eyes of Wakanda. While the animation is stunning and the storytelling often superb, it’s the series’ heartbeat for justice that makes it utterly remarkable.

Simply put, every minute of this series is an utter delight. Eyes of Wakanda is joyful, furious and endlessly entertaining. In short, this is one vision of Wakanda that is well worth visiting.

Eyes of Wakanda is available on Disney+ on Friday, August 1^st, 2025.