The «Witcher» franchise has long outgrown the book format, having firmly established itself in the world of video games, TV series, and animated films. After the remarkable success of «The Witcher: The Wolf’s Nightmare» Netflix has decided to continue expanding this universe with a new animated film, «The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep». The story is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s story «A Little Sacrifice», familiar to fans of the book series, but with significant additions. Did Studio Mir manage to impress the audience again? And is this movie worth watching for both longtime fans and newcomers? Let’s find out.
Pluses:
successful world expansion «The Witcher»; atmospheric animation and gloomy style; moral dilemmas that add depth to the story; voice acting of the characters is at a high level
Minuses:
some storylines seem stretched or unnecessary; fight scenes could be more dynamic; animation loses in some places «Nightmare of the Wolf»
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
Genre fantasy, adventure, action,
Directors Kang Hei Chol
Starring Doug Cockle, Anja Chalotra, Joey Baty, Christina Ren, and others.
Premiere February 11, 2025, Netflix
Geralt of Rivia is on another mission to deal with an attack by mysterious sea creatures on a coastal village. The people are panicked: they are sure that the sirens, creatures that have long inhabited the waters around their village, are behind these horrors. But, as always, the truth is not so simple.
It turns out that the sirens aren’t just attacking — they’re fighting for their survival, and the root of the problem goes much deeper. Geralt, of course, doesn’t believe in a black and white picture of the world, so he begins an investigation that leads him to an ancient conflict between humans and sea creatures.
An interesting element of the new animated film is the moral dilemma Geralt faces. His usual logic and cold calculation are shattered by emotional and personal moments, which adds depth to his character.
In general, the story works well, but there are problems. The original story of «A Little Sacrifice» was concise and expressive, but the attempt to expand it is not always successful. At some points, the movie seems overlong, and some plot developments are superfluous or predictable. This spoils the overall impression a bit.
Studio Mir has already established itself in the world of animation with «Nightmare of the Wolf», and this time the artists did not disappoint. Visually, «Sirens from the Deep» looks stylish and gloomy. The underwater scenes are the best — they impress with their detail and color palette. The sirens look both attractive and frightening, which adds to the film’s gothic aesthetic.
However, compared to «Wolf’s Nightmare», the animation here looks a little less impressive. Some scenes lack fluidity, and the battles, while dynamic, don’t have the «punch of the previous Witcher animated feature.
«The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep» is an animated expedition into darkness and magic.
As for the atmosphere, it conveys perfectly the gloomy, mysterious tone of the original stories. The depressing landscapes, the constant threat in the air, and the cold sea around create a sense of doom and mystery. This is a definite plus.
Geralt, played by Doug Cockle, once again appears in his classic character — silent, calculating, but not without sarcasm. This is the Geralt that fans of games and books love. The line with Essie Daven looks especially interesting. The minstrel adds humanity to the story, contrasting with Geralt’s gloom. Siren Shinaz is mysterious and ambiguous. She becomes not just a representative of another species, but a full-fledged character with her motives. As for Lyubystok, his role in the film is rather minor, although he adds lightness and humor that balances the overall gloomy tone.
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