Fetching data from within #React component. Loading component can be added for smooth transition.

apicall.js

class App extends React.Component {
  constructor() {
    super()
    this.state = {
      character: {}
    }
  }

  componentDidMount() {
    this.setState({ loading: true })
    fetch("https://swapi.co/api/people/1")
      .then(response => response.json())
      .then(data => {
        this.setState({
          character: data,
          loading: false
        })
      })
  }

  render() {
    const text = this.state.loading ? "Loading.." : this.state.character.name
    return (
      <div>
        {text}
      </div>
    )
  }
}


ReactDOM.render(<App />, document.getElementById("root"))