The Witcher Animated Spin-off on Netflix: Viewer Reactions and Controversies

Overview

The recent animated film, *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep*, has faced criticism, resulting in disappointing ratings from both critics and viewers.
Despite the return of Doug Cockle as the voice of Geralt, the film’s animation and narrative have been met with considerable discontent.
The future of *The Witcher* franchise hangs in the balance as fans eagerly await Season 5 and potential spin-off series.

While the resurgence of Doug Cockle’s iconic voice as Geralt was expected to be a significant draw for fans, the animated feature appears to have missed the mark, sinking with a substantial number of its audience.

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of *The Witcher* has emerged as the platform’s most successful intellectual property to date. Sapkowski’s rich fantasy universe has continuously captured the imagination of fans over the years. The earlier animated entry, *The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf*, which debuted in August 2021, garnered widespread acclaim for its animation quality and engaging storyline—maintaining fidelity to the source material. Following its success, Netflix announced another animated feature titled *Sirens of the Deep*; however, the lukewarm reception upon its release has raised questions about the viability of future *Witcher* animations.

Concern Over The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep Ratings

According to Rotten Tomatoes, a site that aggregates critical and audience reviews for films and TV shows, *Sirens of the Deep* does not seem to resonate well with viewers. The film currently holds a disappointing rating of 59% based on critic reviews, with audience approval plummeting even further to just 40%.Initially, it made a brief appearance on Netflix’s top 10 list, reaching number 8, but its popularity has swiftly waned.

One reviewer describes *Sirens of the Deep* as an “unremarkable animation, ”characterizing it as “just another addition to Netflix’s endless stream of content.”Another critic remarked that despite the return of Geralt’s iconic voice, the storyline ultimately succumbs to the same flaws that have plagued the live-action series. Many viewers echoed these sentiments, expressing frustration with a fan chastising Netflix for “ruining a great story from the original *Witcher* book.”Another viewer voiced dissatisfaction with what they described as “shockingly poor animation and writing, ”although Doug Cockle’s “impressive voice performance”still managed to garner some appreciation among fans.

As for the live-action series, Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for Season 4, which will showcase Liam Hemsworth stepping into Geralt’s shoes. It has been announced that Season 5 will indeed happen but it will mark the conclusion of the series. This upcoming release raises intriguing questions about how the show will fare without the charismatic presence of Henry Cavill. Fans are left hoping that the series can thrive in the absence of its previous star.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

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