Why Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf Is Animated

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Showrunner and executive producer of The Witcher franchise Lauren Schmidt Hissrich breaks down the ending of The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf and explains why it works better animated. Nightmare of the Wolf takes place before the events of Netflix’s hit fantasy series based on stories written by Andrzej Sapkowski, following mutated monster hunter Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and his exploits across the Continent. The Witcher season 2 will see Geralt bring his Child of Surprise, Ciri (Freya Allen) to Kaer Morhen, the Witcher fortress where he spent his childhood. There, the pair will meet the White Wolf’s former mentor/father figure, Vesemir (Kim Bodnia).

As a prelude to season 2, Nightmare of the Wolf introduces audiences to a young Vesemir (Theo James) and his origin story. Via flashbacks, the anime film, produced by the studio behind The Legend of Korra and Voltron: The Legendary Defender, details Vesemir's life as a servant. After meeting the witcher Deglan (Graham McTavish), Vesemir leaves for Kaer Morhen and grows into an infamous, swashbuckling monster hunter. When one of the Continent’s kingdoms becomes plagued by strange new monsters, the future of Kaer Morhen and witchers themselves is jeopardized. The film’s climax sees the mage Tetra lead hundreds of monsters and thousands of humans against a dozen witchers at Kaer Morhen. As previously mentioned, Nightmare of the Wolf is produced by The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Beau Demayo (who also wrote the screenplay) and directed by Kwang Il Han.

RELATED:Every Monster In Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf

NetflixGeeked on Twitter recently posted a video of Hissrich breaking down Nightmare of the Wolf’s ending and explaining how it fits into the flagship series’ second season. She talks about how the Fall of Kaer Morhen could never have been depicted in live-action or, at least never done justice when limited by budgetary concerns (among other things). As she puts it, stories are sometimes better told in animation, where imaginations are allowed to soar. Check it out below:

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As mentioned by Hissrich, when Geralt and Ciri arrive as Kaer Morhen in season 2, the fortress will appear dilapidated, filled with the bones of monsters and humans. Thanks to Nightmare of the Wolf, viewers know why this is the case. The Fall of Kaer Morhen and the other action sequences are certainly done justice in the anime, feeling epic and visceral. However, these battles might pale in comparison to the film’s final moments—when the audience finds out that one of the young witchers Vesemir has been looking after is actually Geralt, who is voiced by Hissrich’s son, Harry. The Fall of Kaer Morhen will not only be mentioned in season 2 but haunt Geralt, who is tasked with being a father figure to Ciri. Vesemir was willing to put his life on the line to protect the next generation of witchers, and Geralt will deal with this generational idea in season 2.

Unlike Delgan, Vesemir, and Geralt, Ciri will not undergo the Trial of the Grasses and become a traditional witcher. The Nightmare of the Wolf animated nature facilitates the depiction of what witchers are capable of but what it means to be one. With their extended lifespans, thirst for coin, and relevance, Delgan began secretly manufacturing monsters to hunt. When he dies, he tells Vesemir to lead the next generation into something better. This is why when Geralt states that everyone hates them, Vesemir smirks and replies, "There will always be more monsters, Geralt." He’s not just talking about that which goes bump in the night but evil itself.

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