Netflix has quietly dropped The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, an anime adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s short story A Little Sacrifice, but the release has gone largely unnoticed. The film, which premiered on February 11, 2025, has failed to generate much excitement among fans, both within the anime community and The Witcher fandom.
Despite featuring familiar voices like Doug Cockle as Geralt and Joey Batey as Jaskier, the film has not received the same level of attention or marketing as The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. This is puzzling, given Netflix’s previous success with animated adaptations of popular franchises. The release of Sirens of the Deep seemed like a prime opportunity to reignite fan interest in The Witcher, especially with the recent departure of Henry Cavill from the live-action series. However, the anime’s arrival was largely overlooked.
One of the film’s major draws is its direct adaptation of A Little Sacrifice, a fan-favorite story from Sword of Destiny. Unlike Nightmare of the Wolf, which expanded on Vesemir’s backstory, Sirens of the Deep stays true to Sapkowski’s original narrative. The story follows Geralt as he investigates a siren named Sh’eenaz and her tragic romance, mirroring his own complex relationship with Yennefer. This should have been a key selling point for long-time fans, especially with the return of established characters and the faithful adaptation of beloved source material.
The film was produced in collaboration with Studio Mir and Studio IAM, both known for their high-quality animation. Despite these strengths, the release felt more like a quiet drop than a major event in the Witcher universe. The lack of promotion meant that even dedicated fans seemed to miss the film’s debut.
One potential explanation for the film’s lack of attention is Netflix’s shifting focus on the Witcher franchise. With the upcoming Liam Hemsworth-led season of the live-action series, Netflix may have chosen to allocate its marketing efforts to the live-action series rather than the anime. The transition away from Henry Cavill has been controversial, and the company may have been cautious about drawing more attention to the franchise during this period.
Additionally, Netflix’s recent track record with animated releases has been inconsistent. While shows like Castlevania and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners found success due to strong promotion, other animated projects have failed to gain traction, often buried under the platform’s algorithm. If The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep had received a more strategic marketing push, it could have become a major expansion of the Witcher universe, much like Nightmare of the Wolf. Instead, it risks fading into obscurity as yet another overlooked entry in the saga.
Related topics:
- No Anime Titles Win at the 52nd Annual Annie Awards, Western Animation Dominates
- “Solo Leveling Surpasses Jujutsu Kaisen in Crunchyroll Ratings, Eyes Demon Slayer’s Top Spot”
- China’s ‘Ne Zha 2’ Poised to Challenge James Cameron’s Box Office Records