Product Details

• Actors: Djimon Hounsou, Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott, Stephen Stanton
• Directors: Mark Brooks
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Shout! Factory
• DVD Release Date: January 18, 2011
• Run Time: 132 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00465I19C
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,919 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Who Is The Black Panther?

Deep in the heart of Africa lies Wakanda, an advanced and unconquerable civilization. A family of warrior kings possessing superior speed, strength and agility has governed this mysterious nation as long as time itself. The latest in this famed line is young King T’Challa, the great hero known worldwide as the Black Panther.

Now, outsiders once again threaten to invade and plunder Wakanda. Leading this brutal assault is Klaw, a deadly assassin with the blood of T’Challa’s murdered father on his hands, who brings with him a strong army of super-powered mercenaries. Even with Wakanda’s might and his own superhuman skills, can the Black Panther prevail against this deadly invading force?

From respected filmmaker/producer Reginald Hudlin and legendary comic book artist John Romita, Jr., comes the epic Black Panther story for which comic fans have waited 25 years. Starring Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator, Blood Diamond) and Alfre Woodard (True Blood, Star Trek: First Contact).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 85 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and Different February 19, 2011

By John Kress

Amazon Verified Purchase

1. First, people should be aware that this is not a movie, but an 8 episode mini-series.

2. The animation style is different, somewhere between "normal" animation and a motion comic, but the art is John Romita Jr.'s and is first rate. If you are the sort of person who gets upset that not all animation looks like your favorite "cartoons", this might bother you. If you are the sort of person who can relax and appreciate a unique style for what it is, then do that, and you'll see it is appropriate and really well done.

3. The voice acting is simply STELLAR. This voice talent and direction here is superb. We even get Stan Lee himself voicing a crotchety, loud-mouthed general, and getting it just right.

4. Characters of almost infinite lameness, e.g. Klaw (the guy "made of sound") and Batroc ("the leaper") are re-imagined in interesting and subtle ways, transforming them into both credible threats and working to build a Black Panther mythos.

5. Some people are upset that the Black Panther lays the smack down on Captain America. It *is* clearly emphasized that Cap has just started out (he has the old, pointy shield to prove it) ... and this Black Panther of the WW II era has MUCH more experience. And let's be honest, the Black Panther is in Captain America's weight class (I'd put Wolverine in there too). And do you know a better way to establish a character as a formidable fighter than to show him taking down Captain America (after a hard fight)? And as "generic state department guy" reminds us, the Panther did take out the Fantastic Four, all four of them, in his first appearance (canonically, in the comics).... The Black Panther is TOUGH, Cap was trespassing, assuming that an African country mainly counted as a stage for his fight with the Nazis, and the Panther showed him the door.

6. The music is remarkable, incorporating many African styles -- appropriate, since (nearly) all the action takes place in Africa. I understand the composer even created elements of the Wakandan language, appropriate that area of Africa.

7. The series succeeds in making it very much a family story, placing T'Challa's mother, uncle (the previous Black Panther), and sister front and center in the story, not pushed off to the side.

8. The series doesn't make any bones about taking place in a political context of a world where various European powers have felt that Africa belongs by right to them, rather than Africans, a history that is of course still very much with us. If you don't like your super-hero stories to touch on actual political and historical themes, go rent a Super Friends DVD, this isn't for you. (I take it back. Even the Super Friends tried to make a positive political statement, as painful and clumsy as it seems today, with characters like "Black Vulcan" and "Apache Chief '... *winces at the memory*). Is it coincidence that that the super-villain team that attacks Wakanda (which lies basically at the heart of Africa) is led by a Belgian, and includes a Frenchman, an Englishman, an American, and a Russian? (I also enjoyed Batroc's comeback to the Juggernaut's taunt about the US saving France during WW II, "Yes, you owed us one for helping you win your Revolution.")

9. The portrayal of the Roman Catholic Church is rather absurd if taken at face value -- and we're left wondering why the Black Knight is a Catholic zealot, instead of, say, a good Anglican, fighting for the Church of England. I believe the writers succeed in calling attention to the fact that political and economic imperialism rarely occur apart from religious imperialism. My guess is that this was less sloppy writing than a convenient way to portray both the Catholic Church's history in Africa as well as Great Britain's. "Christianizing and civilizing the heathen African savages" was a crucial part of the justificatory rhetoric of colonialism after all. The portrayal of organized religion is rather absurd and unfair, and does a disservice to all the good that was been done by the Church in Africa. There are more Roman Catholics in Africa today than in Europe, and it is likely that the future of Christianity will belong to Africa (at least the foreseeable future).

10. Minor point of annoyance for me: the substitution of the Juggernaut for the Rhino (who was in the comic book run). It's completely understandable why they did it: because it created an entirely plausible reason to work Ororo into the storyline. But 1. you can't stop the Juggernaut with knock-out gas. If you could, everyone would just do that, and he wouldn't be very unstoppable, now would he?; and 2. come on, who doesn't want to see THE RHINO actually in Africa? It's too hilarious NOT to do. Oh well. On the other hand, I can't think of a better way to get Storm involved in the action either.

11. In sum, Art: 5 stars, Voice acting: 5 stars, Music: 5 stars, Characters: well written and complex, Story: some implausible parts, but succeeds on a deeper level, touching on more serious social, cultural, and political issues, without being too heavy handed about it. Read more ›

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Shame it was never picked up in the US January 13, 2011

By Shrapnel

The Black Panther animated series has quite the difficult run behind it. It was broadcast in Australia and was available for a very short time on iTunes. Finally, it is coming to DVD.

At first glance, the animation takes some getting used to but once you're immersed in the storyline the animation, art, voice acting, and plot of the story are all perfect to complement the story of T'Challa, Marvel's Black Panther. Even though I've seen the series, I'm picking it up on DVD as well because the show needs to be supported. It was high quality, original, and powerful.

If you're in the least bit interested to learn more about the Black Panther, pick up this DVD. It's got a great story spread throughout 6 episodes. It features cameos of a number of other Marvel superheroes and teases a possible sequel at the end that unfortunately doesn't seem likely to be happening any time soon.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ...a Great Way to Introduce this Character to the Masses January 23, 2011

By Stephen E. Walls

Though this character has been in comics since the 1960's, mainstream noteriety has been minimal, aside from supporting roles in varying animated series and DVDs. The story arch here, interpreted from Reginald Hudlins run as writer on the comicbook re-launch is a formidable one to help non-comic followers understand the importance of the Black Panther to the Marvel Universe and to the world. With animation derived from the art style of superstar artist John Romita Jr, its visually choppy at times and just short 'motion-comic' quality. However, when you combine this visual style with high-quality editing, story telling, voice acting, and action, you have yourself a great overall product. Strap yourself in to the fiction world of Wakanda...the world ruled by the Black Panther!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Scott what a discovery July 25, 2011

By MantaRay

I purchased this out of curiosity, as I thought Black Panther was such an interesting character. But WOW! What a great series, they flush out the history and also re-write a lot of third tier characters and make them incredibly interesting.

Is there a Season Two??? Highly recommended for any Marvel Comics Fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great video July 3, 2011

By K. Johnson

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a fantastic story. I am so glad the people of Marvel did right by the black Panther. This type of
animation takes a bit of time to get used to but this one is the best. If you are a fan of the Avengers,
the X-men or Captain America you have to get this Movie.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Panther Rocks June 23, 2011

By David A. Smith

this is a great movie. love the story, the characters and the animation. this movie is awesome and so is the director. if they decide to make a black panther movie Reginald Hudlin needs to direct it, and djimon Hounsou needs to play black panther. if you have not seen this movie then i recoomend you do

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Panther DVD Review June 13, 2011

By AK

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent production. In fact, it's the best production for Black people in quite some time. It provides significant insight into the current world condition and is an excellent introduction to world politics to Black children in particular. This film should be seen by every Black person throughout the world. I hope they translate it into different languages.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars RETURN OF THE KING! April 18, 2011

By Hype Currie

Amazon Verified Purchase

Length: 3:11 Mins

"Panther power, you can feel it in my arm..." Public Enemy, "Timebomb", 1987

Marvel Comics' first Black Super-Hero returns for the first time in an all-new animated feature DVD. Originally commissioned to air on Black Entertainment Television, unforeseen complications scuttled an American broadcast, but now this eight-part mini-series is finally collected on a single DVD! Based on the works of filmmaker Reginald Hudlin ("House Party", "The Ladies Man") and comic-book artist John Romita, Jr. ("Spider-Man", "Daredevil", "X-Men"). Highly recommended! (see video)