Today’s quick review: Vixen. While investigating her birth parents, Mari McCabe (Megalyn Echikunwoke) discovers that the necklace they left her is actually an Anansi totem which allows her to channel the abilities of any animal. Mari puts her powers to use as Vixen, the protector of the streets of Detroit. But she soon finds herself targeted by Kuasa (Anika Noni Rose), a woman who wants the power of the totem for herself.
Vixen is an animated superhero movie based on the DC Comics character and set in the same universe as the Arrow and Flash television shows. Vixen follows the eponymous heroine as she connects with her roots, learns to master her powers, and establishes her own identity as a crime-fighter. The movie boasts impressive animation and a solid origin story, but its choppy character arc and episodic nature leave it somewhat uneven.
Vixen hits a sweet spot with its heroine, her powers, and the art style it uses. Mari makes for a balanced protagonist, tough enough to hold her own but not invincible. Her powers are a perfect fit for the animated medium, animal-like feats of strength and acrobatics that are varied enough to keep the action fresh. The art also works quite well, realistic enough to take seriously but dynamic enough to give the action some impact.
Vixen runs into a couple of hurdles whne it comes to its story. Due to its origins as a web series, the story feels episodic. Mari goes through two or three separate challenges that are stitched together, with only her growth as a heroine to tie them together. The script also takes a few shortcuts to get Mari to where she needs to be. Her arc has just about everything it needs, but crucial moments of growth are brushed past.
Fans of DC Comics or the superhero genre in general would do well to give Vixen a shot. Its ties to the Arrowverse do not give it quite the free rein seen with other DC animated movies, but the combination of good fundamentals and excellent action make it a fun watch. Just be aware that Vixen is not structured the same way as other stories, robbing it of some of the impact it could have had as a more cohesive whole.
For a less compelling animated superhero movie about a young woman with shapeshifting powers, try Mosaic. For another animated superhero origin from DC, try Batman: Year One, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, or Wonder Woman.
[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6945882/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for polished action and a decent story.