Sherlock Hound

Sherlock Hound - Case File 4

Although Hayao Miyazaki directed and/or wrote the first episodes of Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes"), these adventures were made years later, as part of a Japanese-Italian coproduction that had a different crew. Holmes's steam-powered automobile and the primitive airplanes in the early episodes bear Miyazaki's stamp, but when the later artists tried to follow his lead, they got carried away with silly gadgets. Professor Moriarty flies a pteranodon-shaped airplane in episodes 15 and 18; he builds an elaborate underwater railway and a monster submarine in 17. Even the clever story in 16, in which Holmes uses optics to reveal the secret writing within a crystal sword case, is marred by the intrusion of a cartoony burrowing machine. The terminally inept Inspector LeStrade and Moriarty's put-upon assistants provide slapstick humor that may appeal to smaller children. Suggested 7 & Up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File 1

Meitantei Holmes (literally "Famous Detective Holmes," 1981) was the last TV series Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro) worked on, directing the first six episodes and writing scripts for some of them. Copyright disputes held up the Japanese-Italian coproduction until 1984, when it was continued with different artists. A few episodes relate to the original stories: "The Crown of Mazalin" is based loosely on "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet." But this canine detective acts more like a standard cartoon Good Guy than a calculating criminologist, and Professor Moriarty resembles Oil Can Harry from Mighty Mouse. The series invites the viewer to play Sherlock Holmes and pick out elements that Miyazaki would develop further as his personal style evolved in his features: the mechanic's daughter in "Small Client" is clearly the ancestor of Mei in Totoro. The English vocal cast turns in such uniformly drab performances (in affected British accents) that it's more entertaining to watch the Japanese version with subtitles. Suggested for ages 7 and up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File 5

Hayao Miyazaki only wrote and/or directed the first few episodes of Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes," 1981). Little of his vision of a canine detective survives in these later slapstick adventures, which were made three years later by different artists in a Japanese-Italian coproduction. Most of these episodes suffer from a surfeit of pseudo-Victorian gadgets and a lack of real storytelling. In "World Flight Championship," Professor Moriarty steals an advanced plane engine for a race, then attacks the other entrants with elaborate pincers, saws, etc. "The Rosetta Stone," in which a Japanese exchange student helps Holmes and Watson defeat Moriarty with a giant kite, recaptures some of the entertainment of the early installments in the series. The laughs are provided by Moriarty's overworked, underappreciated assistants Todd and Smiley, and the inept Inspector LeStrade and his Keystone Bobbies. (Suggested 7 and older: minor cartoon violence, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File 6

Hayao Miyazaki stopped working on Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes," 1981) long before these final episodes were completed in the Japanese-Italian coproduction, although some of the designs retain his stamp. The stories both satirize and invoke Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's great detective as he outwits both Inspector LeStrade and a comic version of Professor Moriarty. The Professor and his underfed henchmen Todd and Smiley almost succeed in stealing a fabulous diamond in "The Priceless French Doll." But, as Holmes predicts, no criminal can foresee every complication that may arise. "The Secret of the Parrot" and "The Bell of Big Ben" are needlessly complicated, but the comic denouements may please young viewers. In the final episode, "The Missing Bride Affair," Holmes and Watson aid a pair of star-crossed lovers--as the original Holmes did on at least one occasion. (Rated 7 and older: minor cartoon violence, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File III

Hayao Miyazaki directed and/or wrote the first episodes of Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes," 1981), featuring a canine cast. These adventures were made three years later, as part of a Japanese-Italian coproduction, with different artists: all that survives of Miyazaki's work are the designs of the main characters. Instead of mysteries, the stories play as slapstick adventures, with Holmes outwitting Professor Moriarty to recover the treasures of a rich industrialist or protect a stubborn banker. In episode 14, Holmes foils Moriarty's attempt to steal some diamond-studded carved coral lobsters from a private aquarium--which suggests just how silly the story lines are. Moriarty's perpetually starving assistants Todd and Smiley and Inspector LeStrade and his Keystone Bobbies provide most of the comedy in what became an innocuous but undistinguished series for small children. Suggested 7 & Up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

221 Baker street has gone to the dogs! Based upon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's d etective stories, Sherlock Hound delivers an inspiring introduction of these classic myste ries to new audiences. The wonderful storytelling and signature directing styles from Jap an's best talent such as Hayao Miyazaki (Totoro, Princes Mononoke), re-popul ate Sherlock Holmes' world with anthropomorphic dogs and a light touch suitable for all au diences! Presented on a DVD-10 format, the English version will be on a separate side of the DVD from the Japanese version and contains 30-60 seconds more footage per episode than the digitally re-mastered Japanese version. Case File III contains episodes 11-14: "The Sovereign Gold Coin," "The Stormy Getaway," "The Runaway Freight Car," and "The Coral Lobs ter."

Sherlock Hound - Case File II

Hayao Miyazaki directed the first six episodes of Meitantei Holmes (literally "Famous Detective Holmes," 1981) and wrote the scripts for some of them. Copyright disputes held up the Japanese-Italian coproduction until 1984, when it was continued with different artists. The rumpled designs for the canine versions of Holmes and Dr. Watson bear Miyazaki's distinctive stamp, as does the look of many of the vehicles, including Holmes's steam-powered automobile and blimp, the various biplanes, and an outsized gunship from the British Navy. Holmes repeatedly outwits the vulpine Moriarty, despite the bumbling interference of Inspector LeStrade, but the later stories grow increasingly silly. In "The White Cliffs of Dover," it's Mrs. Hudson who stops Moriarty's plot to sabotage the first London-Paris airmail service. The English dub is dismayingly flat, and the subtitled Japanese version makes more entertaining viewing. Suggested for ages 7 and up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon