Netflix’s latest animated Witcher tale looks spectacular and sounds incredible — but beneath the surface, it’s missing the soul that made the books and games legendary.
Netflix’s second animated adventure set is The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. The first was the critically praised Nightmare of the Wolf. Since it was made by Studio Mir, the team behind Legend of Korra and Voltron: Legendary Defender, hopes were naturally through the roof. Nightmare of the Wolf wasn’t just a great introduction; it might have been the best Witcher show Netflix has ever made.
When it was announced that Sirens of the Deep would adapt “A Little Sacrifice,” one of Andrzej Sapkowski’s most famous short stories, people got really excited. This story is often referred to as “The Witcher’s dark, mature take on The Little Mermaid.” To make things even better, Netflix brought back Doug Cockle, who voiced Geralt of Rivia in the CD Projekt Red games.
It was perfect, the same company, the same tone, a story that fans love, and the voice that gamers know and love. Things don’t always go as planned in The Witcher world, though.
What starts as a simple job to hunt monsters quickly turns into something much bigger. While looking into strange attacks near a coastal town, Geralt finds an underground society of merpeople who are about to start a war with humans. Tensions are rising, and both sides are getting ready to fight. To keep the peace, Geralt must deal with politics, racism, and an ambitious young bard named Essi Daven. He does this with the help of Jaskier.
A Little Sacrifice, Sapkowski’s story, is a quiet, emotional piece that is more about hearts than swords. It’s about hunger, love that isn’t returned, and the hard decisions that come with both. That idea is turned into something much bigger, flashier, and more action-packed in Sirens of the Deep. Instead of the more personal stories of the first game, there are now troops of merpeople, monsters the size of krakens, and huge underwater cities.
It makes sense on paper to give artists these freedoms. Animation lets you do scale and drama that you can’t do in real life, and Sirens of the Deep takes full advantage of that. The problem is that it takes away from the story’s main dramatic punch. The love triangle between Geralt, Essi, and Sh’eennaz, the mermaid, is pushed to the side in favor of fight scenes and political drama. It’s a fantasy war story, rather than the sad, bittersweet tale about love and suffering it was intended to be.
“The Little Mermaid meets The Witcher,” but it lacks the heart and eerie sadness that made the first story so memorable.
Still, there are times when they really shine. Geralt’s friendship with Jaskier is still one of the best parts of the movie. Their banter gives it a sense of fun and humanity. Doug Cockle’s voice acting remains as captivating as ever, effortlessly blending the White Wolf’s rough cynicism with a quiet compassion that makes him truly unique. In his second appearance as Jaskier, Joey Batey brings the perfect mix of charm and frustration to the part.
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep tries to tie everything together with a big moral lesson about getting along with other species and living in peace, but it feels a little too neat for The Witcher’s world. This show is based on moral ambiguity, where there are no clear-cut answers, and Sirens of the Deep plays it too safe.
The graphics in Sirens of the Deep are, without a doubt, the best thing about the movie. Once again, Studio Mir shows that they are one of the best at making smooth, dramatic animation. The action choreography in this movie is stunning. Geralt moves with such speed and grace that even video games would have a hard time keeping up with him. He mixes swordplay and signs in ways that feel both elegant and brutal.
The underwater scenes are the most captivating. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep has its own unique look thanks to its glowing coral towns, creepy ocean trenches, and ethereal merfolk designs. Color, texture, and motion were all carefully chosen, from how Geralt dodges fluids to how light bends through the ocean.
But not everything is perfect. When 2D and 3D graphics are mixed, they don’t always work well together. Some 3D characters look weird against the 2D backgrounds, which takes away from the realism. Even though it’s a small flaw in a beautiful visual show, it’s hard not to notice when it happens.
Even when the story isn’t very good, the animation is really amazing.
Still, these technical problems don’t take away from how beautifully this world is made. The lighting, especially in the ocean scenes at night with the moon, gives the movie a creepy dream glow that fits The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’s mood perfectly. It looks like each frame was made with great care, even if the writing isn’t quite as artistic.
Without a doubt, Doug Cockle’s return as Geralt is the best thing about the movie. His rough voice gives the character all the weight, knowledge, and weariness that make them who they are. For people who have played the games for a long time, hearing Cockle growl lines in a Netflix show is almost strange, like two different worlds coming together in a way that makes sense.
The supporting group also does a great job. Joey Batey’s performance as Jaskier is warm and funny, and Anya Chalotra’s short return as Yennefer gives the movie a sense of stability. Newcomers do well, like Emily Carey as Sh’eennaz from House of the Dragon, even though the script doesn’t give them much to work with.
The music in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is somewhere between scary and brave. The music by Jaskier is catchy and well-placed, but the ethereal choir tracks that go with the merpeople are what really make the song stand out. Their musical language, which they made up on their own, adds a layer to the worldbuilding that makes it feel real and beautiful.
Then there’s that famous song number that clearly pays homage to Disney’s The Little Mermaid. It’s risky and surprising, but it also completely changes the tone, swapping out The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’s gritty style for something more like the energy of a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s funny for a second, but not when put in the right context.
Doug Cockle is perfect as Geralt. His voice alone gives the character more depth than half of the script does.
To be fair, the movie’s music is also very good. It feels full and detailed with every sword swing, magic blast, and echo from the water. The movie sounds great, even though the speech doesn’t always say what the story needs to say.
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is a strange thing because it’s beautifully drawn and voiced, but it also feels empty. Fun and action-packed, this adventure movie has a lot of show but doesn’t say much that’s important. The sad and sweet pain of love, loss, and the decisions we can’t change in Sapkowski’s “A Little Sacrifice” is replaced by big fights and a moral-of-the-week ending.
Still, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is still a good movie to watch for what it is. It’s full of funny moments, thrilling action, and that recognizable Witcher grit (when it remembers to use it). Hearing Cockle again will bring back memories for people who played the games, and the animation alone makes the length worth it.
This isn’t another Nightmare of the Wolf, though, and it’s also not an accurate adaptation of one of the most emotional Witcher stories ever written. The story in Sirens of the Deep is pretty but not very interesting. It looks good, but it makes you hungry, like a pretty pie that doesn’t have any filling. It’s not a bad movie; it’s just a missed chance.” It’s beautiful, well-made, and fun, but it doesn’t go deep.
In the end, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep shows both the good and bad things that can happen when you adapt The Witcher. When Netflix lets animation take the lead, some truly amazing shows can happen. But they need to remember what makes Sapkowski’s world unique: its soul, if they want these stories to really hit home.
