Unicorn: Warriors Eternal Season 1 Episodes 1-2 Review

Join Swimpedia as we review screeners of the first two episodes of Unicorn: Warriors Eternal with minimal spoilers, to provide you with an overarching sense of the series!

[MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD]

Although originally slated for Cartoon Network, on March 29, 2023 it was officially announced that Unicorn: Warriors Eternal would be released as an Adult Swim original. The series comes from the visionary mind of Genndy Tartakovsky, who’s known for countless beloved shows ranging from Dexter’s Laboratory to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal. Thankfully for Warner Bros. Discovery, on June 15, 2022 it was publicly revealed that he had inked a deal with the company to create new animated programming through Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. The first of these shows to release is Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, which according to Genndy himself has been over 20 years in the making. On top of surviving recent write-offs at the company, Genndy stated in an Animation World Network interview that all of the past projects his team has worked on “were like a training ground” to prepare them to tackle this series. With everything that had to fall into place, we hope you continue reading and check out the two episode premiere of Unicorn: Warriors Eternal tonight on Adult Swim at midnight, next day on HBO Max, and this Saturday on Toonami!

As stated above, Unicorn: Warriors Eternal transitioned over from Cartoon Network, which happened alongside My Adventures with Superman. Although we may never officially find out why these programs shifted over to Adult Swim, the potential reasons may help us to better understand the shows themselves. Without spoiling too much about Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, the series follows three heroes, Melinda, Seng, and Eldred, on a continual quest to fight an unknown evil that reappears over the years. First tasked with defeating this foe in Ancient Egypt, the group has been reincarnated multiple times to take up the task once again, which brings us to the time period and setting of the series, London in 1890. Here, their trusty robotic companion, Copernicus, who is seemingly ageless, is tasked with once again reviving the trio to once again save the world from the forces of evil. That being said, this process occurs by finding suitable hosts to transplant the souls of the heroes into, fusing them with the unsuspecting individual. But of course, things don’t go as planned this time around, and that brings us to the start of the show.

Now, of all of Genndy’s previous series, this definitely has the most complex premise, which will seemingly slowly unravel over the course of the show. The summary above is only the surface of a longer narrative, with these concepts being explained in a montage at the start of the premiere episode. Already, this is likely one of the main reasons that not only justified a transition to Adult Swim, but also why it may have taken some time to get this series off the ground. Even though the first two episodes are rated TV-PG-V, which is in contrast to contemporary Adult Swim originals often being TV-14 or TV-MA, the concepts being discussed may be harder for younger viewers to grasp. Just from what was said earlier, for example, the show is likely to tackle the morality of fusing a soul with another, essentially taking over the body of the host. On top of that, there’s more adult ideas that range from marriage to potential loss, which sure aren’t too heavy for younger viewers to experience, but assuredly makes this show appealing to older audiences even if it was planned for Cartoon Network originally.

However, even for said older audiences, the complexity of the premise again could divide some audiences. For me, it was fascinating to begin the process of putting the pieces together over the course of the first two episodes, but for others that could be a turnoff. Similar to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, the show demands your attention in order to fully experience the totality of the series. Yet, with Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, this is ballooned with a mystery where no character has all the answers, and the viewer may have just as many questions at the end of the two episodes as answers. Ultimately, there are a lot of moving parts that aren’t easily strung together, but the series will definitely be rewarding for those who become fully immersed in what makes this universe tick.

With that in mind, premise aside, where the series most clearly shines is the depth of the individual characters and the beauty of the animation. Standing in contrast towards Samurai Jack and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, the characters speak a lot, share their feelings openly, and consistently interact vocally throughout the series. In this sense, the show may be more akin to the likes of Sym-Bionic Titan, where the dialogue, whether it's being serious or quirky, adds a different dynamic to the characters. This isn’t to say that the likes of Jack, Spear, and Fang didn’t have complex characteristics and perspective, but the way in which these are displayed, unraveled, or explored can vary when actions speak louder than words. Although the full story of Unicorn: Warriors Eternal is left to the viewer to piece together, the characters ground the premise with their open dialogue, provided by a wonderful cast of thoughtful, experienced voice actors. They are even the ones dropping the hints to help you along the way as you try to figure out the mystery.

Additionally, the aspect that is most likely to keep you glued to your seat is the animation style of the characters, setting, and fight scenes. With regard to the characters, each member of the team has their own distinct design, but the clear highlight has to be the robot Copernicus. His gold, metallic body often stands in stark contrast to everything around him, allowing the character to visually pop. Plus, Genndy is certainly having a blast with the character’s design, as Copernicus adapts to any situation, whether he needs to bring out a ladder to climb down a manhole or become a motorcycle for transportation. Speaking of the locations Copernicus and the other characters find themselves in, some of which are visible in the trailer, the world is such a visual treat to look at. Genndy and his team have put such care into creating this colorful steampunk inspired London, where multiple viewings would reward the viewer with new aspects to spot in the background. Even when the story takes the characters away from the main city area, the meticulous detail of sky, fog, and more will keep you watching.

But of course, many are likely wondering about the fights in the show, which Genndy has become known for in his recent programs. Each of the warriors have their own powers, which they are not afraid to use when it comes to fighting back the evil force. The ways these powers are used varies over the course of the first two episodes alone, but the motion is seamless whether or not characters properly executed them. Melinda in particular, who appears to be the most powerful of the warriors and is pictured above, will likely serve as the main character for the series altogether. She uses a pitch black magic that again provides this lovely contrast with the world around her like Copernicus. Melinda’s the kind of character that you want on your side, as her power can easily overwhelm respective locations, but as the viewer, it’s simply a fun time. There may not be blood, given the rating, but she and the other warriors will pack a punch on the monsters, and even London itself.

Overall, Genndy Tartakovsky has seemingly done it again, crafting another series with his team that will take the animation community by storm. There’s a lot to love here, from the animation of the setting to the personality of the individual warriors. The complexity of the show may be harder for some viewers to grasp at first, but for those interested in a show that builds on itself, unraveling from episode to episode, then this is for you. It’s the kind of show that will reward those who are dedicated to understanding its mystery even when a lot of information is being thrown at them. Either way, we’re excited to see how this turns out, as well as whatever else Genndy and his team may be working on.

The first two episodes of Unicorn: Warriors Eternal Season 1 premiere tonight at midnight on Adult Swim, next day on HBO Max, and this Saturday on Toonami!