**Fans of The Witcher Have Something Fresh to Dive Into with *Sirens of the Deep***
Lovers of *The Witcher* are well-acquainted with waiting. It has been half a year since we said goodbye to Henry Cavill’s interpretation of Geralt, with Liam Hemsworth poised to assume the character later this year. Although news of a fourth RPG entry in *The Witcher* series has maintained the buzz, it will take time before players can journey through the Continent as Ciri.
For those craving additional *Witcher* experiences, Netflix has unveiled a new animated feature that intertwines elements from the novels, video games, and the live-action series. *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep* brings back Doug Cockle, the voice behind Geralt in the games, alongside Joey Batey as Jaskier and Anya Chalotra as Yennefer from the series.
### A Recognizable Story with a *Witcher* Flavor
Directed by Kang Hei Chul (*The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf*) and brought to life by South Korean studio Studio MIR, *Sirens of the Deep* acts as a side adventure for Geralt and his ever-enthusiastic bard ally, Jaskier. The tale plunges them into a rising conflict between humans and merfolk, featuring fierce battles, daunting creatures, and the franchise’s hallmark awkward romance. Notably, the storyline closely resembles *The Little Mermaid*, albeit with a sinister and violent twist.
### What Is *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep* About?
Set between episodes 5 and 6 of *The Witcher* Season 1—after Geralt’s initial encounter with Yennefer—*Sirens of the Deep* draws from the short story *A Little Sacrifice* from Andrzej Sapkowski’s *Sword of Destiny*. Crafted by Mike Ostrowski and Rae Benjamin, with series showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich producing and Sapkowski contributing as a creative consultant, the film serves as a canonical side tale.
Geralt and Jaskier journey to the coastal kingdom of Bremervoord, ruled by King Usveldt (Simon Templeman), where the strain between humans and aquatic creatures is intensifying. A proposed peace agreement in the form of a marriage between merprincess Sh’eenaz (Emily Carey) and human prince Agloval (Camrus Johnson) faces opposition from both factions. The only advocate for the union is Sh’eenaz’s cunning aunt, Melusina (Mallory Jansen). As violence ignites and casualties mount, Geralt finds himself ensnared in yet another political turmoil.
As is typical, Geralt becomes embroiled in the turmoil after being contracted to eliminate a creature. Nevertheless, his ethical standpoint nudges him toward an alternate route, leading him into a royal court rife with accusations and calls for retribution. Additionally, the film introduces Jaskier’s bard companion, Essi Daven, a lesser-known figure from the novels who presents in *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* as Priscilla.
### A Grittier Version of *The Little Mermaid*
Surprisingly, *Sirens of the Deep* mirrors Disney’s *The Little Mermaid* in multiple aspects, even showcasing a scene that echoes *Poor Unfortunate Souls*. However, this depiction of mermaid-human romance is considerably harsher, culminating in a violent conflict between the factions. Similar to Ursula’s destructive whirlpool, Melusina has her own nefarious schemes simmering.
### Spectacular Combat Sequences Steal the Spotlight
While the film weaves in a tepid romantic subplot between Geralt and Essi and offers a glimpse into Jaskier’s background, the greatness lies in the action.
Thanks to the creative liberties of animation, *Sirens of the Deep* provides stunning combat sequences. Brutal, gory, and masterfully choreographed, these confrontations surpass the film’s storyline in significance. The opening scene alone showcases a dazzling skirmish against an Allamorax sea beast—something that would be prohibitively expensive to portray in live action. Studio MIR, celebrated for their contributions to *The Legend of Korra*, *Dota: Dragon’s Blood*, and *Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge*, demonstrates their skill in these high-stakes battle scenes. Expect bulging eyes, mangled bodies, and monstrous tentacles being sliced apart.
### The Return of Doug Cockle
One of the most gratifying elements of *Sirens of the Deep* is the chance to hear Doug Cockle reprise his role as Geralt. Henry Cavill drew inspiration from Cockle’s performance for his own portrayal, making it a delight for fans to hear the recognizable gravelly tone in the Netflix adaptation. No one delivers a perfectly timed “Fuck” quite like Cockle, and the film fully embraces this. His