The Eyes of Wakanda review why this 2025 Disney+ animated series delivers genuine excitement and cultural depth. Todd Harris’s focused direction transforms familiar superhero territory into something genuinely compelling and emotionally resonant.
What happens when you combine the rich mythology of Wakanda with globe-spanning adventures across history? You get animated perfection. Eyes of Wakanda (2025), directed by Todd Harris, stands as one of the most compelling animated series in recent Marvel Studios history. This intense anthology follows the Hatut Zaraze, elite Wakandan warriors who throughout history have traveled the world to retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts. While the series operates on familiar superhero territory, it succeeds because it never exploits its premise—every moment of action and character development is handled with complete cultural authenticity.
Synopsis
The Hatut Zaraze, an elite group of Wakandan warriors known as the War Dogs, embark on dangerous missions throughout history to protect the world from vibranium artifacts that have fallen into the wrong hands. From the Western Bronze Age to modern times, these brave operatives must navigate different cultures and time periods while maintaining Wakanda’s secrets and protecting global security.
The series follows multiple generations of these warriors as they face impossible odds in foreign lands, using their advanced technology and combat skills to complete missions that could change the course of history. Each episode reveals how these heroes sacrifice their own safety and sometimes their lives to ensure vibranium never becomes a weapon of mass destruction in the wrong hands.
Plot & Themes
Eyes of Wakanda operates on a deceptively complex premise: sometimes the most profound heroism happens in the shadows where no one will ever know your sacrifice. The historical setting serves as both adventure backdrop and metaphor for exploring deeper questions about duty, sacrifice, and the courage to protect others when everything depends on secrecy.
The series’ genius lies in its careful balance between action elements and character development. When the warriors face impossible choices between personal desires and global responsibility, the show never treats their internal struggles as secondary to the spectacle. These moments work because Harris understands that true excitement comes from emotional investment in the characters’ impossible missions.
Thematically, the series explores how different cultures can unite against common threats and how individual sacrifice can protect entire civilizations. The warriors’ journey isn’t just about retrieving artifacts—it’s about discovering that heroism transcends borders and time periods.
Animation & Visuals
The animation captures the epic scope of global adventure with visual techniques that serve both the action and emotional elements perfectly. The visual style emphasizes the contrast between Wakanda’s advanced technology and the various historical periods the warriors must navigate, using rich colors and dynamic character design to create mounting excitement while honoring different cultural aesthetics.
The series excels in building tension through environmental storytelling. The sequences showing warriors adapting to unfamiliar territories and time periods demonstrate excellent use of historical research and cultural details. The animation holds on meaningful moments of courage and determination just long enough to create genuine emotional investment.
Technical details reward careful viewing. During mission sequences, attentive viewers will notice how the warriors’ advanced Wakandan technology is cleverly disguised to blend with different historical periods while maintaining their tactical advantages.
Voice Acting & Characters
Gary Anthony Williams delivers a compelling performance anchoring the ensemble with his portrayal of a warrior finding strength across impossible odds. His character work across different time periods feels authentic and earned rather than forced.
Cress Williams provides excellent support as The Lion, bringing both warrior intensity and emotional depth to his role. His chemistry with the ensemble creates believable bonds between warriors facing life-or-death situations together.
Anika Noni Rose rounds out the core cast with a performance that balances fierce combat skills with genuine vulnerability. Her scenes during the most dangerous moments demonstrate authentic fear while maintaining character consistency.
The supporting cast, including Lynn Whitfield and Steve Toussaint, brings cultural authenticity without falling into stereotype, creating believable characters from different time periods that serve the story rather than overwhelming it.
Direction & Screenplay
Todd Harris’s direction maintains perfect pacing throughout the series’ runtime. Coming from his experience as a storyboard artist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harris understood that anthology series require careful balance between standalone episodes and overarching themes. Every mission and character moment is given space to resonate emotionally.
The screenplay layers excitement at multiple levels:
- Character development that explores duty and sacrifice authentically
- Historical elements that feel researched rather than superficial
- Action components that build naturally from each situation
- Cultural beats that never feel appropriative or oversimplified
The script’s structure follows adventure conventions while subverting them through genuine character growth. This creates familiarity that makes the unexpected moments of heroism and cultural exchange land with greater impact.
Sound & Music
The series’ score perfectly balances period-appropriate music with underlying heroic themes to create an audio landscape that mirrors the warriors’ psychological journey across time. The music enhances rather than overwhelms the natural drama of each historical setting.
Sound design plays a crucial role in building excitement. The way Wakandan technology sounds different in various time periods, and how the warriors adapt their combat techniques to different environments, creates an immersive experience that places viewers directly into their dangerous missions.
The use of cultural music deserves particular recognition. Key moments of connection between Wakandan warriors and local populations are enhanced with authentic musical elements that create genuine cultural bridge-building without appropriation.
Conclusion & Verdict
Eyes of Wakanda succeeds because it treats its superhero premise with cultural intelligence and respect for both Wakandan mythology and global historical periods. Every element—from voice acting to animation to sound design—works in service of both excitement and character development without sacrificing either.
Strengths:
- Exceptional voice cast that creates believable heroism across multiple time periods
- Authentic cultural elements that feel researched and respectful
- Excellent pacing that builds excitement while maintaining character focus
- Thoughtful exploration of duty and sacrifice through action rather than exposition
Minor Weaknesses:
- Some historical elements feel slightly simplified for dramatic purposes
- Occasional pacing issues in anthology format may leave some storylines feeling rushed
This series remains essential viewing for Marvel fans and anyone who appreciates character-driven animated storytelling. Eyes of Wakanda works for audiences who enjoyed Black Panther, Avatar: The Last Airbender, or Samurai Jack.
Rating: 9.0/10
Director: Todd Harris
TV Rating: TV-14 (for animated violence, intense thematic material, and language)
Starring: Gary Anthony Williams, Cress Williams, Anika Noni Rose, Lynn Whitfield, Steve Toussaint
For more Marvel reviews, check out our analysis of other Disney+ original series. You can also explore the series’ production details at the Internet Movie Database.
