Overview (Spoilers Below):
Hired to probe seaside village attacks, mutant monster hunter Geralt of Rivia (Doug Cockle) unravels an age-old conflict between humans and sea people that threatens war between kingdoms. Aided by allies, he must solve the mystery before hostilities escalate.
Our Take:
Regarding my video gaming experience, I don’t get attached to some of the well-known franchises as much as others. There were some exceptions to the case, like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy, but those such as Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft? I didn’t even bother because they don’t appeal to me that much. Another example I would likely add is The Witcher, a fantasy adventure series involving a superhuman monster hunter battling mythical creatures. The franchise started as a series of novels and short stories by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, which would later be adapted into different media like films, television shows, and comic books. In the United States, many of us would likely be introduced to The Witcher through its video game series and the currently-running Netflix show, which starred Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia for the first three seasons. For the latter, it’s approaching its fifth and final season, although its exact release date is unknown at this point.
Until then, we have ourselves another anime Witcher film on Netflix, Sirens of the Deep, an adaptation of Sapkowski’s short story “A Little Sacrifice” from Sword of Destiny that continues the fantastical adventures of Geralt following the 2021 origin film centering on his mentor, Vesemir. This time, we see the protagonist, Geralt, and his allies, Jaskier the Bard (Joey Batey) and Essi Daven (Christina Wren), embark on a perilous mission to prevent a war between land and sea. However, they would soon uncover a conspiracy involving both sides that could turn the tide of the war. Sirens of the Deep is my first exposure to the Witcher franchise, as I have not played any of its games nor watched the shows and movies because, again, they didn’t appeal to me as much as they did to others. So, if you’re hoping for a Witcher super fan to share their thoughts on this film, you’re looking at the wrong reviewer for this occasion. But that hasn’t stopped me from answering whether a newcomer like me would enjoy it without knowing the source material.
As it turns out, there’s actually no harm in watching Sirens of the Deep without viewing the other adaptations first. The film provided enough subtle details in the characters and their backstories to get even the casual viewers up to speed with the world-building and feel immediately attached to the characters. One such case is Geralt, who struggles to open up his heart due to his complicated past with one of his earlier lovers, Yennefer of Vengerberg. Bonus fact: Anya Chalotra reprised her role as Yennefer from the live-action series. Amid his mission to stop a war, Geralt has a chance to find love again when Jaskier’s childhood friend, Essi, comes into play, although those familiar with the protagonist may know how it’ll turn out at the end. Another element involving Geralt is that his reputation for killing monsters is tested when people start doubting him for letting some of them go.
As far as storytelling goes, Sirens of the Deep is as straightforward as a Netflix anime movie could get. However, for those who grew up with The Witcher, it’s a serviceable addition to the franchise that contains the brutal violence and fantastical imagery it is known for. Looking at it as its own film, I would also say that Sirens of the Deep is an approachable introduction for casual viewers whose uncomplicated and formulaic plot prevents it from rising above the surface. The film’s narrative often treads into familiar territory amid its reflection of war caused by greed and pride, resulting in some predictable moments. I would even go as far as to say that it took a few pages straight out of “The Little Mermaid”, including the love between the mermaid princess Sh’eenaz (Emily Carey) and the human prince. There’s also the scene where Sh’eenaz’s aunt gives her a potion that’ll turn her human while performing a short musical number. If that doesn’t convince you that this movie is the equivalent of an R-rated “Little Mermaid” anime, I don’t know what will.
The film sees the return of Doug Cockle, who reprises his role as Geralt as he did in the video game series. As someone who hasn’t played the Witcher games, I was impressed with Cockle’s ability to exude Geralt’s stern and conflicted personality. With Geralt’s brief backstory and Cockle’s voice work, it’s enough to immediately get me invested in the protagonist’s background and badass skills without needing to research him. Along with Anya Chalotra, Joey Batey returned to voice Geralt’s bard ally, Jaskier, after playing him in the live-action series. While Batey made a decent effort in his vocal performance, Jaskier plays off like any other comic relief sidekick to their polar opposite, although not in an annoying way. There were a few moments that made Jaskier feel like an actual supporting character, especially his connection to his former childhood bully turned commander, Zeleste. However, when it comes to his humor, Jaskier might be better off playing tunes instead.
Sirens of the Deep also marks the latest film to be animated by Studio Mir, Platige Image, and Hivemind after they previously collaborated on Nightmare of the Wolf. I have yet to watch Nightmare of the Wolf, but considering the high praise it’s been getting, it’s giving me some hope that this style would deliver the goods in Sirens of the Deep. Of course, that could be due to Studio Mir’s consistent trend of successful projects, some of which were animated wonderfully based on what I’ve seen. Unsurprisingly, I wouldn’t mind adding Sirens of the Deep into the mix as well, as the animation exudes the bleak coloring and water-color palettes of its backgrounds. Along with Studio IAM, the animation companies successfully envisioned the Witcher universe in anime form once more, especially regarding the stylized action scenes and the mixture of 2D animation and CGI.
I don’t see myself as the right person to talk about anything related to The Witcher, as my experience with the franchise is next to none. However, despite that inexperience, I found myself tolerating The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep more than I thought I would. Was it a groundbreaking masterpiece in the animation department? Not even close. Would I consider it an agreeable watch for both fans and specific casual viewers? Sure, I would. It’s a suitably stylized and narratively passable anime adaptation that functions as an enjoyable distraction for fans as they wait for the live-action series’ fifth season. More importantly, it offers plenty of moments in its brief character backgrounds and the franchise’s concept to serve as a gateway for newcomers eager to jump into the fantasy universe. Regarding its solid voice cast, decent animation, and hit-and-miss storytelling, Sirens of the Deep is another serviceable addition to the Witcher universe that doesn’t swim far in its narrative but doesn’t sink that much when it comes to pleasing its fans.