On Sunday, Marvel Rising will return to television with its first animated feature. Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors will bring together fan-favorite characters like Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake and Patriot for a new adventure that will see them fighting to save New York City and beyond. Despite a few hiccups in the animation, the 80-minute feature is sure to win the hearts of Marvel fans young and old.

First, it's worth noting that Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors is very much geared towards a younger audience. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, of course; adults will find just as much to enjoy here as kids do. Because of this, though, the animated feature is rife with strong themes and obvious morals. The heart of Secret Warriors lies in its message of acceptance, and -- like Squirrel Girl -- it eagerly pursues this idea without worrying about what cynics might think. Secret Warriors takes a sincere approach to its subject matter, and the film is better for it. Marvel Rising simply would not work without this heartfelt drive behind it.

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That isn't to say Secret Warriors lacks complexity. On the contrary, the character dynamics in the film are anything but simple. Secret Warriors juggles its large cast with aplomb, weaving these strong personalities together in a comprehensive but organic way. Further, the film doesn't operate under the illusion that these characters would get along with one another 100% of the time. Even as they take on the bad guys, they have to learn how to resolve conflicts with one another, and there's something refreshingly real and grounded about that aspect of the film.

In terms of characterization, Secret Warriors is a fluid transition from the Marvel Rising: Initiation shorts, with everyone but Ghost-Spider returning. Secret Warriors maintains their status quo, solidifying the connection between the two projects, even though one can certainly jump into Secret Warriors without seeing Initiation first. This allows ample room to introduce new characters like Inferno and America Chavez. Their debuts are peppered along the events of the film and push the plot right along. No one feels shoved in or unnecessary here; each character has a certain role to play in accomplishing their mission. By the end of the film, all of our heroes are dynamic, well-rounded characters infused with vibrant life by a talented voice cast.

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Of all the characters introduced in the film, Cierra Ramirez's America Chavez is the standout. She is sure to be an instant fan-favorite. With an attitude and a penchant for stars, America is immediately gripping. Even on the visual level alone, she engages viewers with her star motif; the animators really came out to play with this aspect of the character, as the world erupts in stars every time she lands a punch or takes out her opponents with a forceful stomp. Secret Warriors also doesn't shy away from her background, which is welcome in a medium that so often struggles with LGBTQ representation.

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Though she isn't quite as well-rounded as the protagonists, Hala the Accuser is an entertaining villain. According to Senior Vice President of Marvel Animation Cort Lane, Ming-Na Wen genuinely enjoyed playing the character, and it shows. She chews the scenery as much as one can in animation, which results in a delightful performance. Though there isn't much dimension to Hala, she presents a formidable challenge and serves her purpose with a flair.

Unlike the lived-in settings of the Initiation shorts, the backdrops for Secret Warriors feel a little more lackluster. While the character designs remain strong, some jarring dependencies may pull viewers out of the story. For instance, Squirrel Girl's eyes inexplicably switch from green to brown and back during her training montage with Ms. Marvel; further, while the character had brown eyes in Initiation, she ends up with green eyes in Secret Warriors.

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What's more, Secret Warrior's settings are far less detailed than the ones seen in Initiation. Extras don't exist unless absolutely necessary, making the world feel surprisingly empty. School hallways are brown and bland with no accents on the walls; S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters is simply a conglomeration of long gray halls and a large empty hangar. There are some real opportunities for creativity here -- especially in the scenes that take place aboard alien ships or in space -- but everything aside from the characters themselves feels flat and generic. For an animated feature with such a strong story and characters, it's a shame Secret Warriors is sorely lacking here.

With vibrant characters, a heartwarming story and a killer soundtrack, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors is a joy to watch. In a post-Avengers: Infinity War world, Secret Warriors is like a shot in the arm, brimming with hope and heart. It's rare to find a project so genuine and candid these days, and Secret Warriors manages to pull this off without feeling cheesy or over-sentimental. Even when the credits roll on the feature, it doesn't feel like the end -- not even close. Instead, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors feels like the bold beginning of a new era for Marvel Animation.


Premiering Sunday, September 30 at 10 pm.m ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney XD, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors stars Chloe Bennet as Quake, Milana Vayntrub as Squirrel Girl, Kathreen Khavari as Ms. Marvel, Kamil McFadden as Patriot, Tyler Posey as Inferno, BooBoo Stewart as Exile, Cierra Ramirez as America Chavez, Kim Raver as Captain Marvel, Ming-Na Wen as Hala, and Dee Bradley Baker as Tippy Toe & Lockjaw.