Upon viewing the Black Panther prequel, Eyes of Wakanda, it strikes me that another Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise could profitably extend into an animated series.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has seen a surge in interest for animated offshoots, particularly for franchises with unique cultural backgrounds and martial arts focus. One such franchise that could greatly benefit from this trend is the Shang-Chi series, introduced in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Why Shang-Chi could benefit from an animated offshoot:
Shang-Chi centers on martial arts, mystical elements, and rich Asian cultural mythology, which animation can vividly bring to life with creative freedom unbound by live-action budgets or physical constraints. Similar to Eyes of Wakanda, which explores Wakandan warriors' history and lore, an animated Shang-Chi series could delve deeper into the realms of the Ten Rings, ancient warriors, and the hidden corners of the MCU's Asian mythos.
Animation allows the exploration of visually dynamic fight sequences and mystical dimensions, offering a stylized narrative that complements the live-action storyline without overlapping. Serialized animated formats could alleviate MCU fatigue by providing compact, quality storytelling exploring character backgrounds and side stories, enhancing the main franchise’s depth without heavy production demands.
Other MCU franchises that could similarly benefit:
| Franchise | Reasons for Animated Offshoot | |--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Doctor Strange | Offers rich psychedelic and horror themes perfect for animation; can explore the Dark Dimension and mystical villains like Shuma-Gorath unfettered by live-action constraints[2]. | | Fantastic Four | Their separate MCU universe and characters like Thing could be explored in crossover animated adventures, building stronger connections within the MCU multiverse[2]. | | X-Men | Already embraced through X-Men '97 continuation; thriving animated fan base and complex multiverse stories fit well with MCU’s multiversal approach[3]. | | Spider-Man | Animation allows more flexible storytelling for different age groups and styles; Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man shows the success of this approach[5]. |
Given the critical acclaim of Eyes of Wakanda—an animated anthology that expands Black Panther lore with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score—similar animated projects can deepen MCU stories by focusing on cultural heritage, mystical worlds, and serialized formats that meet the appetite for quality over quantity[1][3].
In conclusion, the Shang-Chi franchise, with its blend of martial arts and mythological narrative, is particularly well-suited for an animated spinoff. This would allow Marvel to enrich the larger MCU multiverse with stories that explore cultural depth and fantasy elements beyond live-action capabilities.
Eyes of Wakanda and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are available for streaming on Disney+. The Ten Rings organization, led by the immortal, ten ring-wielding character Wenwu a.k.a. The Mandarin, is a significant part of the Shang-Chi narrative. A Disney+ subscription grants access to all episodes of Eyes of Wakanda and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as well as other MCU movies and TV shows. The ad-supported plan on Disney+ costs $9.99 a month, while the ad-free option costs $15.99 a month, and a yearly subscription saves 16%.
Simu Liu, who portrays Shang-Chi, is reprising his superhero role in another project, specifically in the team-up film Avengers: Doomsday. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, who worked on the original Shang-Chi film, is currently working on Spider-Man: Brand New Day and is a producer on Wonder Man, scheduled for 2025. While the possibility of an animated Shang-Chi series remains uncertain, the potential for further exploration of the mystical dimension Ta Lo and the Ten Rings organization is an exciting prospect for fans of the franchise.
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