‘Eyes of Wakanda’ Creator Reveals Why the ‘Black Panther’ Spin-off Series Is Animated

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The creators of the upcoming animated series “Eyes of Wakanda,” which follows the Black Panther storyline, have revealed a unique reason for its animation format. Debuting on August 6, 2025, this four-part series delves into the exploits of the Wakandan warriors called The Hatut Zaraze throughout history as they embark on perilous missions worldwide to secure vibranium artifacts. Unlike previous Marvel animated series like “What If…?,” “X-Men ’97,” or “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” “Eyes of Wakanda” stands out as the initial animated project within the MCU’s Sacred Timeline, making it canon to the events depicted in the films and other Disney+ series.

Todd Harris, the showrunner and creator of the animated Black Panther spin-off series for “Eyes of Wakanda,” discussed with ComicBook.com why they chose animation over live-action like other MCU shows in the Sacred Timeline. The primary reason was budgetary constraints; using animation allows creators to freely traverse any location without concerns about travel or set design, as the only limitation is the artistic talent’s animation skills. Harris explained this by saying:

Animation provides a unique leveling of settings, where places like Egypt and Ohio or even distant locations such as New York City and the moon all hold equal costs for production. The constraints associated with physical filming across various global locations are not applicable in animation. This freedom gives us the ability to creatively redefine an idealized portrayal of a specific era that remains untouched by human history.

The production company of Ryan Coogler, Proximity Media, made an exclusive five-year agreement with Disney TV on February 1, 2021. This deal opened the way for a Disney+ series based in Wakanda, though specifics weren’t revealed initially. With shows like WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki planned for later that year, many presumed this would be a live-action series. However, it wasn’t until December 2023 that an animated series titled Eyes of Wakanda was officially announced, contradicting the earlier assumptions of a live-action project.

The Legacy of the Black Panther in the MCU

It’s shrewd of Wakanda Forever’s approach to narrate their tale in animated form, enabling them to transport viewers to expansive landscapes spanning various time periods without fretting over budget constraints when altering the storyline. Unlike a traditional film, this Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe series doesn’t benefit from box office earnings to offset its production cost.

The character Moon Knight allegedly had a production budget of $147 million, while Secret Invasion’s expenses escalated to an estimated $212 million due to multiple script revisions and extensive visual effects. Shows such as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and WandaVision are also reported to have cost around $225 million each. Given that Eyes of Wakanda appears to be set across various time periods with diverse locations, it would likely have been one of the MCU’s priciest live-action productions. Therefore, the decision to produce it in animation seemed appropriate.

After Black Panther broke box office records and garnered widespread praise in 2018, it appeared that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) planned to emphasize the characters of King T’Challa and Wakanda moving forward. Rumors suggested that Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel were being considered as the main faces of the franchise during Phase 4. Tragically, Boseman lost his battle with colon cancer on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43.

In the upcoming movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Marvel Studios chose not to replace T’Challa after his character’s passing. Instead, they delve into the storyline surrounding T’Challa’s demise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with his sister Shuri stepping up as the new Black Panther. This film, titled “Eyes of Wakanda,” offers an opportunity for Marvel Studios to deepen our understanding of Wakanda’s culture and history in the aftermath of T’Challa. This exploration enriches the overall narrative of the MCU, potentially setting the stage for future live-action projects.

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2025-01-15 17:31