Just as the Marvel Cinematic Universe is making a comeback in an impressive way on the big screen with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the MCU's television output on the small screen will also be making a return very soon. Disney+ launches the new animated series Eyes of Wakanda on Aug. 1, but there's something extra exciting for fans with this new series.
Obviously, Eyes of Wakanda's already a highly anticipated release from Marvel and Disney+ as it's set in the fan-favorite location from the Black Panther films. The animated anthology series comes from creator Todd Harris and takes place within the Sacred Timeline of the MCU, but there's also a unique way that fans can watch the series that hasn't been done for Marvel animated shows.
Eyes of Wakanda sets binge release on Disney+, a Marvel animation first
For the first time for an animated Marvel series on Disney+, Eyes of Wakanda will release all of its episodes at once. Rather than releasing one per week or dropping in batches, the complete season will be able to binge on Aug. 1. It's worth noting that the first season contains just four episodes, a marked decrease in episode count compared to past and current animated Marvel titles.
Before Disney+ set a binge release for Eyes of Wakanda, the only complete binge-watch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was the live-action series Echo. The miniseries dropped all five of its episodes at once in January 2024, which hasn't been the norm for Marvel TV. Most recently, tested a seemingly hybrid binge model with fellow live-action miniseries Ironheart, which released its six episodes in three-episode batches across two weeks.
While other streaming services have seemed to find a release model that works for them, Disney+ appears to still be trying new ways to bring its content to fans. For example, HBO Max has truly mastered the art of the weekly release, thanks in part to the must-watch element of its Sunday night HBO dramas. But the streamer also perfected the once-weekly release with streaming originals like The Pitt finding word-of-mouth success during its 15-episode season.
Netflix truly originated the binge model, which the streamer still closely stands by with its live-action and animated originals, though batch and two-part releases have become increasingly popular. Stranger Things will drop its fifth and final season in three parts on three separate holidays this fall, though other Netflix originals drop all at once, like the 16-episode first season of debut sitcom Leanne on July 31. Other streamers also test binge, batch, and weekly releases.
There's no one-size-fits-all method for releasing shows in the streaming era, even for a brand as established as Marvel. Eyes of Wakanda has a unique release strategy that will definitely work in its favor. The episodes only being 30 minutes long, and the fact that there are only four of them, lends to a binge-watch that fans can finish in one sitting or spread out throughout an evening, a weekend, or a full week. It's definitely something different and exciting for Marvel TV moving forward!
Eyes of Wakanda premieres Aug. 1 on Disney+.
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