Geralt, Re-Animated: ‘The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’ Director Kang Hei Chul Dives Into the New Neflix Movie

This article was written for the March ’25 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 348).

The Witcher series, having received great acclaim in the literary, video game and live-action spheres, is expanding its presence in the animation world. Following up on 2021’s Nightmare of the Wolf, a spinoff from the Netflix show, is Sirens of the Deep — a stand-alone tale based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s short story and centered on Witcher hero Geralt of Rivia.

Connective tissue between both animated Witcher features may be limited on-screen but is plentiful in the background. For both films, Netflix enlisted the help of Studio MIR, the South Korean animation house whose recent work on Marvel’s X-Men ’97 and Star Wars: Visions has shown its capacity to deliver high-quality work with big IP. Directing the film is Kang Hei Chul, a storyboard artist on Nightmare of the Wolf who’s now in the hot seat.

“Being part of such a renowned franchise was an incredible stroke of luck and a deeply rewarding experience that I thoroughly enjoyed,” he tells Animation Magazine. “Shortly after that project wrapped, I founded my own studio, Studio IAM, and continued to collaborate with Studio MIR. Directing a feature film had always been a lifelong dream of mine, and they thankfully gave me that opportunity in the form of Sirens of the Deep. It felt like destiny had invited me back into the world of The Witcher.”

A Fresh Vision

With the universe of the games and show well established, it was key for Kang to bring a fresh perspective to Sirens of the Deep, even beyond what was present in the initial short story. “We wanted to make new grounds purely based on the script [by Mike Ostrowski and Rae Benjamin], but we believe the overarching values of the franchise were loud and clear,” he adds. “It’s ultimately the story of connection, where our characters who once felt destined to solitude discover each other to find redemption and hope, which is deeply reflective of the reality we experience in our lives. It became our source of inspiration and where we started with this film.”

“The live-action and animated versions of Geralt are essentially the same person, but I believe each medium required a distinct approach to his depiction and emphasis.”

— Director Kang Hei Chul

Sirens of the Deep focuses on a conflict between humans and a race of merpeople, which Kang saw as a chance to comment on real-world attitudes. “If there was one new theme I wanted to explore, it would be the idea of inviting the audience to connect emotionally with beings vastly different from humans and, through their perspective, gain a renewed understanding of humanity,” he says. “This theme becomes more pronounced through the relationship between Sh’eenaz [merpeople] and Agloval [humans], and their love, conflict and sacrifice.”

More new ground was broken simply by depicting The Witcher’s famous main character in a new medium. “This was actually the first time we’ve shown Geralt in animation,” Kang says. “We had to create Geralt from the ground up to adapt him to the animation world. The live-action and animated versions of Geralt are essentially the same person, but I believe each medium required a distinct approach to his depiction and emphasis. In the live-action series, Geralt’s internal struggles and his human side are the focus. He is constantly wrestling with his fate and responsibilities, often cornered to make difficult choices in complex situations. The series delves into his emotional experiences, relationships and the sense of isolation he feels within human society. His relationships with Ciri and Yennefer highlight his softer, more reliable side, allowing the audience to connect with him on a deeply human level.”

Sirens of the Deep focuses on Geralt’s identity as a legendary Witcher. “We amplified the use of fantastical and dramatic visual elements to showcase his fighting skills to capture his Witcher side,” explains the director. “The film is set in a mystical underwater world where Geralt battles powerful monsters. Naturally, we wanted the animated version of Geralt to look more mythical and majestic. We wanted to highlight his composed judgment, strategic brilliance and dynamic combat skills. Animation is an excellent medium for stylizing fantasy elements and action-packed sequences, elevating the visuals beyond what live action could achieve.”

Because fans of the franchise are already familiar with Geralt’s appearance as depicted in the games and live-action series, the project couldn’t change it too much without risking a disconnect with the audience. “We kept the essence of his iconic costume and hairstyle while adjusting his face and body figure for animation,” says Kang. “Our aim was to reflect his tough, aggressive personality through the character design.”

The film’s oceanside setting also required Kang to move away from The Witcher’s typically dark mood. “We realized that the darker approach limited our ability to capture the unique atmosphere of the ocean,” he explains. “To bridge the existing franchise with the new film, we drew inspiration from various myths, ranging from Eastern European sea legends to the Greek tales of sirens. We wanted to convey the mysterious and perilous beauty of the ocean through elements like shimmering reflections on water, the glow of bioluminescent sea creatures and vibrant, dreamlike colors set against the dark depths of the ocean.

“Animation gave us the creative flexibility to explore richer, more dynamic compositions, and the shift to a surreal, ethereal aesthetic was key to capturing the haunting allure of the sirens and the sea,” says Kang. “This approach extended to character designs as well. The sirens were not simply depicted as beautiful beings but as enigmatic and menacing. Their appearance and movements were inspired by the anatomy of sea creatures, blended with our artists’ imagination to create something unique. Ultimately, the visual style of Sirens of the Deep was an effort to combine the weight and depth of the existing Witcher universe with the mystique of ocean legends to deliver a fresh and unique experience to audiences.”

Animating a Complex World

Studio MIR’s successes with franchise projects requiring massive set pieces, often with a 2D look, are plentiful. Line producer Goun Choi explains how MIR’s pipeline is designed with this in mind, “We established a unique pipeline by integrating our CGI subsidiary into the traditional 2D workflow. Nowadays, utilizing CG is essential, even for 2D animation titles. The role and significance of 3D animation have grown dramatically since the previous film, Nightmare of the Wolf. Coordinating the 2D, 3D and compositing departments to create a highly intricate pipeline was definitely a challenge. In retrospect, our pipeline has evolved with each project we take on. I can’t even begin to imagine the level of complexity our next project will bring.”

Having worked on two films in the Witcher universe, Kang still finds himself drawn to Sapkowski’s creation. “It speaks to our increasingly polarized reality, where diverse biases and values collide, but what sets this world apart is its refusal to simplify morality into black-and-white terms. Instead, it invites us to step back and ask ourselves, ‘What choice would I make if I were in their shoes?’ We can imagine ourselves in the place of Witchers, shunned by the very people they protect despite risking their lives to hunt humanity’s enemies. To make matters worse, they are manipulated like pawns in a chess game by those in power. Yet Geralt stands resolute, bringing hope to others while navigating a world filled with corruption and villainy.”

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep premieres on Netflix on February 11.