Sherlock Hound

Sherlock Hound
Japanese Blu-ray cover art
名探偵ホームズ (Meitantei Hōmuzu)
Genre	Action, Adventure, Mystery
Anime television series
Directed by	Hayao Miyazaki Kyosuke Mikuriya
Produced by	Yoshimitsu Takahashi
Written by	Hayao Miyazaki Marco Pagot Gi Pagot Sunao Katabuchi
Music by	Kentarō Haneda
Studio	RAI Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Licensed by	NA Discotek Media UK Manga Entertainment
Original network	TV Asahi (Japan) Rai 1 (Italy)
English network	AU Nine Network
Original run	6 November 1984 – 21 May 1985
Episodes	26

Sherlock Hound (名探偵ホームズ, Meitantei Hōmuzu, lit. "Famous Detective Holmes") is an Italian-Japanese animated television series produced by RAI and Tokyo Movie Shinsha, based on Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series where almost all the characters are depicted as anthropomorphic dogs. The show featured regular appearances of Jules Verne-steampunk style technology, adding a 19th-century science-fiction atmosphere to the series. It consists of 26 episodes and aired between 1984 and 1985.

Production

The series was a joint project between Japan's Tokyo Movie Shinsha and the Italian public broadcasting corporation RAI. Six episodes were directed by Hayao Miyazaki in 1981 until problems with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate led to a suspension in production. By the time the issues were resolved Miyazaki had turned to other projects, and thus the remaining episodes were directed by Kyosuke Mikuriya. The show was finally aired in 1984. The same year a film version edited together of two of the episodes directed by Miyazaki (The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle and Treasure Under the Sea) was released alongside Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in Japanese theaters, entitled Meitantei Hōmuzu Gekijouban. Episode 12 of the series actually aired in the United States before it aired in Japan, as it was dubbed into English in 1982 (possibly commissioned by either TMS or RAI) and was broadcast on HBO in late 1983 under the title The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.

Music

Two pieces of theme music are used for the Japanese version: The opening theme is "Sora Kara Koboreta Story" (lit. "Story Spilled From the Sky") and the ending theme is "Thames Gawa no Dance" (lit. "Dance of the Thames River"), both performed by the Japanese duo, Da Capo. The series' international versions had a single piece of theme music for the opening and ending credits. The frequent soloists are Joe Farrell on soprano, tenor and alto saxophones and flute (in his final recording) and Milt Jackson on vibes. This English theme does not exist on the UK DVD's from Manga, instead instrumentals of both the Japanese opening and ending themes were used.

Characters

Sherlock Hound (ホームズ, Hōmuzu)

Voiced by: Taichirō Hirokawa (Japanese), Larry Moss (English); Elio Pandolfi (Italian)

Just like his original incarnation, he has a genius intellect and is extremely knowledgeable in multiple fields. He keeps a cool and logical head despite the situation. Unlike his original incarnation, however, his only drug habit is smoking a tobacco pipe. He keeps his apartment a mess and is regularly conducting chemical experiments that lead to clouds of noxious fumes. He also seems to have feelings for Mrs. Hudson, as does the rest of the male cast. He drives a Benz Velo. He is an either a Pembroke Welsh Corgi or a Red Fox.

Doctor Watson (ワトソン, Watoson)

Voiced by: Kōsei Tomita (Japanese), Lewis Arquette (English); Riccardo Garrone (Italian)

Hound's loyal companion, he is a trained doctor who returned to England shortly before meeting Hound. He tries his best to help Hound as he can, but has difficulty at times keeping up with Hound, both mentally and physically, being a bit overweight. Watson is a Scottish terrier.

Mrs. Hudson (ハドソン夫人, Hadoson-fujin)

Voiced by: Yōko Asagami (Japanese), Patricia Parris (English); Cristina Grado (Italian)

Hound and Watson's landlady. In most adaptations, Holmes's long-suffering landlady is shown as middle-aged or older, but in this version she is a comely widow in her 20s and a love interest of many, including Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty (mostly Holmes), and given the first name Marie (マリー, Marī). Her late husband Jim was a pilot and Hound finds her contacts in the world of aviation useful; many of the local aviators are also former buddies of Mrs. Hudson's late husband and/or have strong romantic feelings for the caring gentle-natured Mrs. Hudson herself, and so they are always eager to assist in any way she asks. Mrs. Hudson displays a serenely-dignified and level-headed personality comparable to Hound's; she can also be quite quick and resourceful herself when need be, plus she appears to be both an experienced high-speed driver and a crack shot with a revolver. Miyazaki actually wanted to present her as the real brains of Baker Street, running rings around both Hound and his enemy Moriarty, but he was overruled. Like many people in Hound's world, Mrs. Hudson is a golden retriever.

Professor Moriarty (モリアーティ教授, Moriāti-kyōju)

Voiced by: Chikao Ōtsuka (Japanese), Hamilton Camp (English); Mauro Bosco (Italian)

Hound's archenemy, Unlike the rarely appearing mafia donnish Moriarty in the books, this Moriarty is portrayed as working personally on his plans without any sort of support network and frequently encountering Hound and his allies, being the main antagonist in the majority of the episodes. Still an intellectual, he is a master inventor, often the one responsible for the steam punk technology seen in the show, including his personal "steam car", a tractor and tank combination rather than a car. His plans can occasionally be very complex or outlandish that rely on one questioning or linking together unusual acts, which is often how Hound figures out what Moriarty is up to. Sometimes he acts as a mercenary to other criminals who are after what he normally wouldn't steal. In this version, Moriarty resembles a gray wolf.

Smiley (スマイリー, Sumairī)

Voiced by: Mitsuo Senda (Japanese), Arquette (English); Angelo Maggi (Italian)

One of Moriarty's henchmen, created for the show. Smiley is tall, lanky, has something of a limited intellect, a thick Cockney accent and a positive attitude. In the episodes directed by Hayao Miyazaki, he is colored a pea green, while in other episodes, he's medium brown. Before working for Moriarty, he and George/Todd were members of the Bengal Pirates that appeared in the first episode, though they escaped being arrested with the rest of the crew. Smiley resembles some variety of scent hound.

George/Todd (トッド, Toddo)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Masuoka (Japanese), Moss (English); Maurizio Mattioli (Italian)

One of Moriarty's henchmen, created for the show George/Todd is small and squat, has a negative outlook on the situation, and is usually the first to criticize Moriarty or his plans. He is inconsistently called either George or Todd, sometimes within a single episode, early in the series, eventually settling on Todd, though the Japanese version shows that he's only called Todd. The two are often used for comic relief. Before they worked for Moriarty, he, along with Smiley, was a member of the Bengal Pirates that appeared in the first episode, though they escaped being arrested with the rest of the crew. George/Todd appears to be a pug. Director Hayao Miyazaki modeled the appearance of the character Todd on Kazuhide Tomonaga, the animation director for the series

Inspector Lestrade (レストレード警部, Resutorēdo-keibu)

Voiced by: Shōzō Iizuka (Japanese), Arquette (English); Enzo Consoli (Italian)

As Hound's go-to guy in the police force, he's also the first to call on Hound for assistance on a case. Though he is a well-meaning and passionate police officer, he's not the most attentive of people, and he also has a hotheaded and impulsive nature as well. He is usually assisted by several policemen in trying to catch and arrest Moriarty, but they always fail at trying to catch him and they seem to always end up landing themselves into comedic situations similar to that of the Keystone Cops. Lestrade is a bulldog.

Releases

DVD

In 2002, Pioneer Entertainment released the series on DVD (Region 1, NTSC format). 6 volumes or 'Case Files' were released. Each disk was double sided with the Japanese version on one side and the English dubbed version on the other side.

On 1 February 2010, Manga Entertainment released the complete series on DVD (Region 2, PAL format) in the United Kingdom as a HMV exclusive set. It has since become available in other outlets. It only contains the English dubbed version. This release also lacks the episode title cards, though the episodes are listed on the DVD case and menus.

Discotek Media released the series in a complete, unabridged DVD box set with English and Japanese versions on September 30, 2014.

Blu-ray

On 21 November 2014, Bandai Visual released the restored complete series on Blu-ray (Region A, Japanese language only) in Japan as a 4-disc set.

Episodes

Note: B = episode number by broadcast order, Y = episode number by YouTube order. The Original air date listed is that of Japan, the first country to air the show.

B	Y	Title	Original air date
01	11	"The Four Signatures" "He's the Famous Detective" (彼がうわさの名探偵)	6 November 1984 (1984-11-06)
Hound is returning to England, but while crossing the English Channel, the ship he's on is attacked by pirates who are after one of the passengers. With the aid of another passenger, Dr. John Watson, Hound attempts to save the day.
02	10	"The Crown of Mazalin" "The Evil Genius, Professor Moriarty" (悪の天才モリアーティ教授)	13 November 1984 (1984-11-13)
An aristocrat's son is the main suspect after a crown on loan from the Queen goes missing. Hound is asked to investigate, not knowing Professor Moriarty has been watching the location.
03	01	"A Small Client" "Little Martha's Big Mystery!?" (小さなマーサの大事件!?)	20 November 1984 (1984-11-20)
Hound suspects Professor Moriarty for the rising counterfeit money problem in London, but is unable to find any leads until a little girl comes asking Hound to help her find her father.
04	05	"Mrs. Hudson is Taken Hostage" "The Mrs. Hudson Kidnapping Case" (ミセス·ハドソン人質事件)	27 November 1984 (1984-11-27)
Professor Moriarty thinks he has found a weakness in Hound, his land lady Mrs. Hudson, and so sets about kidnapping her, but things don't go as he planned.
05	02	"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" "The Blue Ruby" (青い紅玉)	4 December 1984 (1984-12-04)
A little girl named Polly pickpockets a gem Professor Moriarty has just stolen, and he is determined to stop at no end to get it back. He bag kidnaps Polly and demands to know where the gem is. It's up to Hound and Dr. Waston to rescue her.
06	08	"The Green Balloon" "Solve the Mystery of the Green Balloon!" (緑の風船の謎をとけ!)	11 December 1984 (1984-12-11)
A mysterious green balloon lands in Hound's backyard, with a message asking for help as the sender is being held prisoner on Dolphin Island.
07	07	"A Sacred Image Disappears" "The Great Chase of the Little Detectives" (大追跡!ちびっこ探偵団)	18 December 1984 (1984-12-18)
Moriarty succeeds in stealing a large gold statue, but Hound is able to track his escape, learning that Moriarty hid it somewhere by the docks, and must find it before Moriarty returns.
08	12	"The Speckled Band" "The Speckled Band" (まだらのひも)	8 January 1985 (1985-01-08)
A young girl returns to England after several years in America and finds her uncle is not quite who she remembers.
09	03	"Treasure Under the Sea" "Treasures of the Seabed" (海底の財宝)	15 January 1985 (1985-01-15)
The Royal Navy asks Hound and Watson to help them recover a submarine stolen by Professor Moriarty.
10	06	"The White Cliffs of Dover" "The Air Battle Over Dover!" (ドーバー海峡の大空中戦!)	22 January 1985 (1985-01-22)
Someone has been sabotaging England's new Air Mail postal service to Europe, and it's up to Hound, Watson and Mrs. Hudson to find out who.
11	04	"The Sovereign Gold Coins" "The Targeted Giant Coin Bank" (ねらわれた巨大貯金箱)	29 January 1985 (1985-01-29)
Sherlock Hound and Doctor Watson are asked to investigate the disappearance of twenty Sovereign Gold Coins from a specially constructed safe.
12	09	"The Stormy Getaway" "The Professor's Big Failure in the Storm" (教授 嵐の大失敗!!)	5 February 1985 (1985-02-05)
A large shipment of cash is being taken by carriage across the country, and due to sabotage the police are unable to escort the shipment, and so Hound is asked to shadow the shipment to ensure it arrives at its destination.
13	15	"The Runaway Freight Car" "Missing Freight Car!? The Professor's Big Magic Trick" (貨車が消えた!? 教授の大魔術)	12 February 1985 (1985-02-12)
A freight car in the middle of a passenger train disappears en route to London, and Hound must figure out how.
14	14	"The Coral Lobsters" "Gourmet! The Coral Lobsters" (珍味!さんごのロブスター)	19 February 1985 (1985-02-19)
Moriarty has stolen a collection of diamond-encrusted coral lobster carvings and it's up to Hound and Watson to track him down.
15	16	"The Golden Statue of the Great Burglar" "Look! The Shining Thief" (見たか!ピカピカの大どろぼう)	26 February 1985 (1985-02-26)
When a bank's entire collection of gold is stolen the same night a sculptor disappears, Moriarty becomes the first suspect when sketches of a gold statue in his likeness are found at the sculptor's house.
16	17	"The Secret of the Sacred Cross Sword" "The Magic Castle! Holmes, Dead or Alive?" (魔城!ホームズ 生か死か?)	5 March 1985 (1985-03-05)
Hound and Watson are invited to the first unveiling of "The Sacred Sword of the Wizards" in decades, but when the safe containing it is broken into and the sword isn't even touched, it's up to Hound to figure out why.
17	20	"The Adventure of the Thames Monster" "The Monster of the Thames River" (テムズ川の怪物)	12 March 1985 (1985-03-12)
A sea monster seems to be attacking ships on the River Thames and devouring them whole, and after a passenger goes missing in one of the attacks and no body can be found, Hound is called in to find him.
18	18	"The Adventure of the Three Students" "Blundered Operation at Loch Ness!" (ネスコに散ったドジ作戦!)	19 March 1985 (1985-03-19)
Hound must find three art students on holiday in London from France who have gone missing, while Inspector Lestrade tries to figure out why someone would steal artwork reproductions.
19	19	"The Rosetta Stone" "The Soseki Kite Battle Over London!" (漱石·ロンドン凧合戦!)	26 March 1985 (1985-03-26)
When the Rosetta Stone literally floats away from the British Museum, Hound wonders if it has to do with various countries' claims to the stone.
20	13	"The White Silver Getaway!" "Chase the Airship White Silver!" (飛行船しろがね号を追え!)	2 April 1985 (1985-04-02)
Moriarty and his gang manage to steal a shipment of gold, but Inspector Lestrade's investigation is making it difficult for the gang to get the gold out of London. Meanwhile, Hound and Watson investigates an odd break-in and robbery at a company making a new blimp.
21	24	"The Disappearance of the Splendid Royal Horse" "Buzz Buzz! The Fly Fly Mecha Operation" (ブンブン!はえはえメカ作戦)	9 April 1985 (1985-04-09)
There's a new thief in London, one that puts Moriarty to shame, and their next target appears to be the Queen's favorite horse.
22	25	"Disturbance, The World Flight Championship!" "Grand Flight Championship of Chaos!?" (ハチャメチャ飛行機大レース!?)	16 April 1985 (1985-04-16)
Moriarty enters a prestigious airplane race, with the intent of sabotaging his way into first place, including stealing parts from other entrants to make his plane the best. Mrs. Hudson, Hound and Watson enter the race in hopes of stopping him.
23	21	"The Secret of the Parrot" "Game of Wits! Parrot vs Professor" (知恵くらべ!オウム対教授)	23 April 1985 (1985-04-23)
When Moriarty goes to great lengths to steal a parrot off a train, Hound takes up the case to find out what's so special about this parrot.
24	23	"The Bell of Big Ben" "Listen! The Tribute to Moriarty" (聞け!モリアーティ讃歌)	7 May 1985 (1985-05-07)
Big Ben's bell has been burglarized, but bureaucrats beseech Hound to keep that bit buried while they search, so as to burke blemishing England's dignity.
25	22	"The Priceless French Doll" "Chaos! The Doll Swap Case" (大混乱!人形すりかえ事件)	14 May 1985 (1985-05-14)
Moriarty is after a large diamond, but after hiding it in a doll, he ends up with more than he bargained for.
26	26	"The Missing Bride Affair" "Goodbye Holmes! The Last Case" (さよならホームズ!最後の事件)	21 May 1985 (1985-05-21)
A bride vanishes moments before she is to walk down the aisle, and the couples' families come to Sherlock Hound for help, but when secrets from the bride's past come to light Hound has to weigh his options.

See also

• Sherlock Holmes pastiches

External links

• Sherlock Hound at the Internet Movie Database
• Sherlock Hound (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Sherlock Hound at Nausicaa.net fan site
• Sherlock Hound net (jp)

Screen adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories
Silent films	Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900) • Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; or, Held for Ransom (1905) • Arsène Lupin contra Sherlock Holmes (1910) • A Study in Scarlet (1914) • Detektiv Braun (1914) • Der Hund von Baskerville (1914) • The Valley of Fear (1916) • Sherlock Holmes (1916) • Sherlock Holmes (1922) • Der Hund von Baskerville (1929)
Norwood series	The Hound of the Baskervilles (1921) • The Sign of Four (1923)
Wontner series	The Sleeping Cardinal (1931) • The Missing Rembrandt (1932, lost) • The Sign of Four (1932) • The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935) • Silver Blaze (1937)
Rathbone-Bruce series	The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) • Voice of Terror (1942) • Secret Weapon (1943) • Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) • Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) • The Spider Woman (1944) • The Scarlet Claw (1944) • The Pearl of Death (1944) • House of Fear (1945) • The Woman in Green (1945) • Pursuit to Algiers (1945) • Terror by Night (1946) • Dressed to Kill (1946)
Maslennikov series	Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1979) • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1980) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1981) • The Treasures of Agra (1983) • The Twentieth Century Approaches (1986)
Stoll series (shorts)	The Dying Detective (1921) • The Devil's Foot (1921) • The Man with the Twisted Lip (1921)
By actor	Clive Brook	The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929) • Sherlock Holmes (1932)
	Peter Cushing	The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) • The Masks of Death (1984)
	Christopher Lee	The Deadly Necklace (1962) • The Leading Lady (1991) • Incident at Victoria Falls (1991)
	Christopher Plummer	Silver Blaze (1977) • Murder by Decree (1979)
	Ian Richardson	The Sign of Four (1983) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) • Murder Rooms (2000)
	Ian Richardson	The Sign of Four (1983) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) • Murder Rooms (2000)
	Matt Frewer	The Hound of the Baskervilles (2000) • The Sign of Four (2001) • The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire (2002) • The Royal Scandal (2003)
	Ian Hart (as Watson)	The Hound of the Baskervilles (2002) • The Case of the Silk Stocking (2004)
Robert Downey, Jr.	Sherlock Holmes (2009) • A Game of Shadows (2011)
Other films	The Speckled Band (1931) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1932) • A Study in Scarlet (1933) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1937) • A Study in Terror (1965) • The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1972) • Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976) • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1982) • Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse (1983) • The Case of Marcel Duchamp (1984) • Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) • The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1987) • Hands of a Murderer (1990) • The Crucifer of Blood (1991) • 1994 Baker Street: Sherlock Holmes Returns (1993) • The Hound of London (1993) • Sherlock: Case of Evil (2002) • Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars (2007) • Sherlock Holmes (2010) • Holmes & Watson. Madrid Days (2012) • Mr. Holmes (2015)
Comedies, pastiches, and parodies	The Mystery of the Leaping Fish (1916) • The Limejuice Mystery or Who Spat in Grandfather's Porridge? (1930) • The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes (1937) • The Case of the Screaming Bishop (1944) • Deduce, You Say! (1956) • They Might Be Giants (1971) • The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975) • The Return of the World's Greatest Detective (1976) • Sherlock Pink (1976) • The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977) • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978) • The Private Eyes (1980) • The Great Mouse Detective (1986) • Without a Clue (1988) • The Adventures of Shirley Holmes (1997) • Zero Effect (1998) • A Samba for Sherlock (2001) • Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler (2006) • Aria the Scarlet Ammo (2008) • Tantei Opera Milky Holmes (2009) • Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes (2010) • The Empire of Corpses (2015) • Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes (2018)
Television series	Sherlock Holmes (1951) • Sherlock Holmes (1954) • Sherlock Holmes (1965–68) • Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House (1982) • The Baker Street Boys (1983) • Sherlock Hound (1984–85) • Sherlock Holmes (1984–94) (episodes) • Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century (1999–2001) • Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (2000) • Sherlock (2010–present) • Sherlock Yack (2011-present) • Elementary (2012–present) • Sherlock Holmes (2013) • Sherlock Holmes (2014)