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Eyes of Wakanda Review: A Compelling, Exciting, & Fun Trip To The Past

August 1, 2025 By Ashley Leave a Comment

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Ever since we were first introduced to Wakanda, it has been a land mostly shrouded in mystery. Eyes of Wakanda explores the history of one aspect of this culture: the Hatut Zeraze (or War Dogs) with compelling character-driven stories, rich animation, and a few surprises. 

Eyes of Wakanda Review

Eyes of Wakanda Review

Marvel Studios has released several animated projects over the last 4 years. Beginning with What If…?, each of the series have delivered something unique. From the throwback X-Men 97 to the straight from the comics Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, there hasn't been a project in this medium I haven't enjoyed. With varying visual styles and storytelling methods, these animated shows have allowed these well-known characters to stretch their legs a bit with fresh, canon-adjacent, adventures. This time, we are invited to explore some of the secret history of Wakanda, in a 4-episode anthology series from long-time Marvel Studios storyboard artist, Todd Harris. 

Eyes of Wakanda may only have four episodes but they are compelling character-driven stories, with rich animation, and a few surprises. Each one follows a different Hatut Zeraze (War Dog) on a mission to retrieve stolen Vibranium from across the globe with the final episode bringing them all together. Since their introduction, Wakandans have kept their history mostly to themselves even with T'Challa opening the borders. We knew the War Dogs were integrated into the world but no one ever knew how long they have been around, where they have gone, or what sacrifices were made in order to keep their identities secret. Eyes of Wakanda gives us a front row seat to some exciting stories from Wakanda's past, offering an alluring tease of what other mysteries are left to uncover.  

Wakanda is the most advanced nation in the world thanks to its stores of Vibranium and that isn't just something they achieved in modern times as we find out when Eyes of Wakanda picks up in 1260 B.C. The first threat to the nation comes not from outsiders but from one of their own. Lion (Cress Williams), a former War Dog, breaks from Wakanda and forms his own nation with soldiers loyal to him either by choice or by force. No one they sent after him has come back alive, so this time Noni (Winnie Harlow), a failed Dora Milaje, is sent to confront him and retrieve the stolen Vibranium weapons. Fights ensue and although Noni eventually “wins,” Lion's actions sets off the chain of events that lead the War Dogs to spend centuries searching for the lost artifacts. 

RELATED: X-Men 97 Review: Pure Classic Marvel Awesomeness

Eyes of Wakanda Review Disney Plus

Each episode covers a distinct moment in history beginning in the Bronze Age, before moving to the Trojan War, the start of China's Ming Dynasty, and the First Italo-Ethiopian War. While there is a visual aesthetic that defines the series as a whole, the animation team takes cues from their time periods and the cultures they are representing to add a greater depth and richness to the look of the show. Similar to the recent Predator Killer of Killers, these different periods and people allow for inventive fighting sequences. From Studio AKA's title sequence to Axio Animation's work within the episodes, Eyes of Wakanda is vibrant, intriguing, and at times just beautiful. 

Although I enjoyed the series as a whole, the opener “Into the Lion’s Den” and the finale “The Last Panther” ended up being standouts for me. The first one sets the tone for the series while also not shying away from a point Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) made in Black Panther– the isolationist tendencies have done more harm than good and why have all this technology if they won't use it in the outside world. Like Killmonger, Lion is also not thinking of all the consequences of freely letting Vibranium loose in the world but at the same time they both had a point. Noni is my favorite new character overall, with a fierce spirit and mind that makes me wonder if she is Okoye's ancestor. The fourth episode explores the Afrofuturist side of Wakanda, and not only cements the series' through line but also shows how it connects to the MCU Black Panther. That aspect alone makes this show solidly canon, rather than being adjacent or “multiverse” canon. 

eyes of Wakanda show review

Although it does tie-in to the greater story of the MCU, nothing is required viewing for the show. It stands on its own. Sure the final moments of episode 4 will be more impactful if you are in the know, but not knowing wouldn't detract from your overall enjoyment of the series. Iron Fist also makes an appearance in the show, which is exciting for fans wanting to see this character again (just not the Danny Rand version for the love of Bast). But again, you don't need to know or care about Iron Fist in order to be entertained by a War Dog fighting a martial arts powerhouse. 

Verdict

Eyes of Wakanda is an exciting, fun, and visually stunning addition to the MCU lineup. The compelling stories, rich animation, and intriguing characters make this a great watch, albeit a short one. That is really my only complaint. The four episodes flew by and left me wanting more. It successfully teased there are more stories to tell, I will give them that. But I really could've used at least 2 more in this first (?) season. I hope we return to Wakanda to hear more about the War Dogs or the Dora, or even the individual tribes that make up the nation. Basically, I want to know more and I am sure I'm not the only one!

All 4 episodes of Eyes of Wakanda are now streaming on Disney+.

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Filed Under: Entertainment, Film Reviews, Marvel, TV Shows Tagged With: Disney Plus, Eyes of Wakanda, Eyes of Wakanda Review, Marvel Studios, Marvel Television, Ryan Coogler, tv show reviews

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Avatar for AshleyAshley Saunders is a movie critic, writer, podcaster, and gamer from the Washington DC area who is always ready to travel.
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