Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons (Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 Review)

Mark Pacis

Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons

Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons is a visually stunning film that falls short in several key areas. The movie attempts to combine high-octane space battles with mythological storytelling, but it ultimately becomes bogged down by its convoluted plot and ill-timed humor.

From the outset, the movie aims to engage audiences with thrilling action sequences. These scenes are undoubtedly exciting and well-executed, showcasing a CGI style similar to Blizzard’s Overwatch short films combined with anime-style character designs. With its bright colors and detailed settings, this animation style is visually appealing and a definite attention grabber. However, the visual spectacle alone is not enough to overshadow the film’s numerous shortcomings.

The biggest issue with Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons is its confused narrative. The plot tries to incorporate too many elements, resulting in a story that feels both convoluted and superficial. As a result, the rich and engaging backdrop of the mythological origins is lost amidst the chaos of crashing robots and interstellar conflicts. Additionally, the film’s attempt to blend multiple genres and storylines creates confusion rather than a coherent narrative.

Moreover, the movie’s attempts at humor consistently miss the mark. The film’s attempt to be funny completely backfires, leaving the audience disappointed and enduring uncomfortably cringey moments. Characters designed to be comic relief are obnoxious, contributing little more than cheap laughs that fall flat. This misguided approach to humor detracts significantly from the overall experience, making it difficult for viewers to connect with the characters or become invested in their journey.


Despite its animation style and action sequences, Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons lacks substance and coherence and may only provide superficial entertainment.

Furthermore, the film’s drive to be family-friendly means it lacks a certain edge. The creators tried to appeal to a broad audience by including elements suitable for younger viewers. However, this attempt to be inclusive dilutes the story’s impact, making it feel watered down and lacking the emotional depth or stakes that could have made it compelling. As a result, despite its action-packed scenes, the film feels strangely empty and unengaging.

Despite these flaws, Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons does have moments where its potential shines through. The animation quality is consistently high, and certain action sequences are genuinely thrilling. The underlying concept of merging mythological themes with futuristic battles is intriguing. It has the potential to be explored in a more focused and coherent manner. This potential leaves room for hope that future installments could address the film’s current shortcomings.

Overall, Mantra Warrior: The Legend of the Eight Moons is a visually stunning film with high-octane space battles and beautiful animation. However, it fails to provide a satisfying narrative or engaging humor. The convoluted story and unsuccessful attempts at comedy make it fall short of being a memorable or impactful viewing experience. Despite its animation style and action sequences strengths, the film lacks substance and coherence and may only provide superficial entertainment.

Rating: 2.5/5 atoms

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